Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-05-03

An Interesting Record Of Long and Eaithfu
Service
) Our contemporary, the Goodson Gazette
published at the D., D. & B. Institution
here, gives an interesting record of the
, terms of service of the officers there-a re
cord brought out by the publication of the
terms of service of the officers of a similal
educational institution in Michigan. Ii
says: ''Mr. Bear, the Oldest officer in the
house, has been in charge Of a class in the
deaf-mute department for twenty-six years
Mrs. johnson, our matron, came to the In.
stitution first in 1861, was matron during
the four years of the war, when the build
ing was hospital for wounded soldiers
and has been in this capacity connected
with the Institution ever since, excepting
two years. Miss Kerr, teacher and COVER
ness, has been an officer of the Institution
for twenty-four years. Prof. A. j. Tur,
ner, the head of the musical department
was elected musical director in 1867, and
has held the position ever since, period OF
% years. The Principal is by no means
new officer in the Institution. Entering
the school first in 1871, and losing two
years since ('S2-'S4 his actual term OF
office, either as teacher Oh Principal, ex-
tends over period of sixteen years.
''Messrs. Williams and Berkeley, teach
ers in the deaf-mute department have also
been long enough with us to be well known.
The former has been teacher in the school
for nearly nineteen years and the latter for
seventeen years. MI. Eur1tt, instructor
of the highest deaf-mute class, though yet
youthful in appearance, is nevertheless EN-
titled to 90 down on this list. He has been
connected with the Institution fifteen
years.
Prof. Poyntz, head teacher in the blind
department, is a gentleman Of experience
in his work. He is now closing his tenth
year as an officer Of the Institution. Messrs.
Ryan and Humbert also rank with the old
officers of QUIZ school. MI. Ryan, teacher
has an experience of eleven years. No one
looking at MI. Humbert would suppose
that he had been a teacher in the InStitu-
ton for nine years, but it is even so. This
we believe, completes the list of QUIZ oldest
officers, and it speaks well for them and
the school that the number is SO large. The
remaining number of our corps of officers,
though not as old in the Institution as those
mentioned, have, the most of them, several
years of experience, and do their part to
make up the complete whole.
''Several of the foremen of the industrial
department have also been at their present
posts of duty long time. MI. Mullen,
foreman of the mattress shop, has been here
since 1859; Nh. Hollar, foreman of the shoe
shop since 1867 Mr.. Graves, foreman Of
the tailor shop since 1867, and Capt. Moon,
foreman of carpenter shop. since 1865. MI.
Long, engineer, has also been at his post a
number of years.
''And we must not forget Mr.. Tyson,
who, though neither officer, instructor nor
foreman, is yet an old and important per-
sonage in the house. He is our musical
prodigy. He came to the Institution wee
little blind boy in 1850 and has been here
ever since. The Institution is his home.
We said he was not an instructor, yet there
is many a hard lesson he makes easy for the
boys and girls, many an accompaniment he
teaches, many piece of music, many a
song. He is always ready when music is
wanted and helps to make pleasant many
an hour. No, Tyson must not be forgot
| ten.
| ''And then there is old Uncle Dennis,
the Institution cook While we are men
tioning those long in the service of the In
stitution we must mention him, too.
Prompt and faithful in the discharge of his
duty for "a years, Uncle Dennis deserves
and has the respect of every one here. He
has lately been freed from the kitchen and
given lighter work to do. We expect the
old man will spend the rest of his days at
the Institution which he loves and calls his
home.
thinking it all over we are of the opin-
ion that the the Virginia Institution pos
sesses as able and as Jealous corps of Off
GERS and instructors as could be found to-
gether in any like school, and we know we
have as fine set of pupils as could be found
anywhere.
''We are getting along in way to be
most thankful for and are about closing a
very prosperous session Notwithstanding
the measles"