Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-08
NORMAL INSTITUTE.

Opening exercises consisted as usual Of
songs and devotional exercises. Roll call
developed the fact that our enrolment is
now 210. This shows Sedgwick county to
| be in the vanward OF educational enter
prise as in every thing else.
| In the grammar class we took up the
properties Of the noun and pronoun. Gen
der was defined as the distinction of a
noun as regard to sex and there being but
| two sexes it seemed to be the sense of the
| class that there should be but two genders,
namely, masculine and femme, instead of
| four or three, as nearly all grammarians
| give it in their treatises.
| After giving sufficient time to this phase
of the subject we proceeded to number.
Here we discussed the formation of the
plural of singular nouns and pronouns.
| One gentleman when requested to give the
masculine gender of the noun, duck. gave
'gander."
The reporter being person given to in
dulging his risibilities was compelled to
retire from the room and therefore is I'M
able to report further proceedings of the
grammar class,
When we had sufficiently composed our
selves we entered the room where the
genial Prof. Shull is wont to give disserta-
lions upon reading as she ought to be
taught" We spent very profitable half
hour in exercising our melodlous voices
upon selections which the professor with
profound wisdom and erudition had
searched out and dragged from their OBJ
security. We prosecuted SpaItacus, tor
tured Webster and slew Demosthenes.
The class in Constitution under the leader
ship of Prof. Larimer discussed the man
ner of holding elections, the method of
voting and all that pertains to elections
under the constitution. Quite an exciting
tine was made manifest and party lines
were found pretty closely drawn when it
was mentioned that there was possibility
of ballot box stuffing in the southern
states. Some disadvantages and imperfec
tions of the present system were shown,
for instance, that it is possible for one man
to get the majority of the popular vote and
still be counted out. Some time was also
given TO the qualifications of voters, to
judges of elections, clerks and the counting
of votes. There are quite number of
brilliant legal minds in this class and
they wrestle with constitutional questions
without fear of what might be the serious
consequences.
Geography was next visited and
there Prof. Naylor was found very busy
expatiating upon the uses of
globes and maps. The blackboard globe,
tellurian globe and outline globe were
brought into use, and on them Were Illus
trated latitude and longitude, the move
ment of the earth around the sun and on
its axis and the theory of eclipses.
This class is growing in numbers and in
interest every day, and Prof. Naylor may
well congratulate himself upon his sue
cess as normal instructor.
In methods was given an object lesson in
which several of us, as little boys and
girls. distinguished ourselves The object
of the lesson was to illustrate the use of
geometrical forms in developing habits of
observation, analysis, abstraction and
classification. The lady who conducted
the recitation had clear cut ideas of just
what questions to ask TO bring out the
required answer, and she will undoubt
edly make her chosen profession success.
The next recitation we attended was
physiology. Here we considered the sub
ject of muscles and also the subject of di-
gestion. Muscles were divided into the
Two GLASSES Win icSdil " tliC VI
their action on the bones, viz, flexor and
extensor. 1t was inquired, What is the
origin of a muscleW The answer devei-
oped was that the origin of a muscle is at
the point of Its attachment TO the immova-
bic bone We had the process OF digestion
considered and discussed at considerable
length. We did not leave the subject till
we had thoroughly exhausted it. Prof
Shull invariably accomplishes the feat of
leaving clear ideas and concise definitions
with the members of his class. lie does
not heap examples till they hide the rules
they were made to render plain.
We were pleased TO see among our Wis |
itors today tho familiar faces OF the fol |
lowing named persons, to-wit: Harry g. |
Wilson, Mr.. Turner, editor of Western |
School Journal We knew what was COM
ing from their presence as well as the ex- /
preston that reigned upon their benign |
and bespoke the Joy they 4
felt. Mr.. Turner gave Us very entertain |
ing talk as well as very Instructive.
Mr. Wilson followed with a speech which 4
was an excellent compound Of numerous /
original selections from the poets. Never /
theless, Harry, We are glad TO see you. /
We become wearied with SO much origin
atty and It's relief to our over-taxed be-
ings to hear a few sweet drops, dripping
from the caves. Good eve.
No COUNCIL MEETING.