Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1890-06-20
WEST vIseINlA's SCHOOLS.

that's fostered by our State. Although
the writer was possessed of some in
formation on this subject, it was not
until personal visit was made to
several of these schools last week that
the incalculable benfits and advanta-
ges of our institutions were made
apparent.
A trip from Shepherdstown to
Wheeling-from one extreme OF our
lovely Mountain State to the other
is most enjoyable journey at this
season of the year over picturesque
b. & O. The valleys are smiling with
beauty and plenty, our towering
mountains are mounds of verdant
loneliness. Nature is robed in her
newest and most beautiful colors, and
the very air seems to be filled with
the sentiment that ''Mountaineers are
always free.
Starting from Wheeling early Tues
day morning with the State Superin-
drive TO West Liberty was begun. A
different landscape from our own fair
Shenandoah Valley, the journey over
that celebrated Short Creek hill coun-
try was no less pleasure than nov
city. The rolling hills were cultivated
from base to summit, and were ocular
70 hi
farming. The amount of grain is
small compared with what our farm
ers raise, that section being peculiarly
adapted TO sheep raising and grazing.
The wool from the focks that feed
upon those hills has reputation OF
its own that is unapproachable, while
it is here that epicureans find their
choicest West Virginia mutton. The
farms are all large, but they all seem
to be well-kept and neat.
West Liberty is modest little vii
lage browning great hill, and its
chief institution is the State Normal
School. The people evidently appre-
ciate the value of such an institution.
commencement Day was the day of
all the year. The people drove from
twenty miles around to attend it, and
when the little inn WAS filled, the
overflow picnicked on the College
grounds. Although the town con
tains scarcely more than dozen
houses, and the country around is not
very thickly settled, nevertheless the
school had an enrolment of about
112. The graduating class numbered
eight young ladies and gentlemen.
That they had been carefully in
structed and we'll trained was self-evi-
dent We have never heard better
orations or essays on any similar oc-
casion. The principal of the school
is Prof. X. A. Armstrong, young
man of great force and ability. Under
his management the school has be-
come great success, but it must also
be noted that the community has
given him solid support y couple of
wears ago, we We're told, u turbulent
element resisted the faculty. One of
the young men in the wrong was
son of member of the executive
committee, and when the youth was
summarily suspended his father pub
licly endorsed the teachers of the
c.ho,l onl o,oya biS nwn con no conn
tenance. The result of such backing
by the best people was soon seen.
The school steadily improved, the
teachers were encouraged, there has
not been the slightest trouble since,
and on Tuesday the young man re-
ferred to graduated with honors, hav-
ing a reputation equal to any in the
school. All of the exercises at West
Liberty were interesting, and the
great crowds that attended them en-
joyed them fully The people seemed
to regard the school as personal
possession which all should assist in
maintaining-a spirit that cannot
help but increase its usefulness and
prosperity and benefit the community
in which it is placed
On Wednesday a visit was paid to
Morgantown, where the commence
ment exercises of the State Univer-
sity were in progress. This pictur-
esque little city was literally crowded
with visitors from every section OF
our State and from other sections of
the country. jefferson county was
represented by DR.. w. w. Brown,
one of the Regents, Rev. l.. r. Mason,
who had stopped there on visit, and
others Many prominent gentlemen
from different portions of the State
were present. The graduating class,
which numbered eight young men,
held its exercises in the morning.
Mr.. F. H. Vickers, of jefferson county,
was among the graduates, and de-
livered most thoughtful and able
grafton on THE Solid Vote" We
were most highly grat,fied to learn
from those best able to judge that
Mr.. Vickers was SO well thought of
and had such an excellent reputation
in the school. His friends here long
ago prophesied that he would make
his mark, and right well is he fulfill
ing the prediction. In the afternoon
banquet was held, which was at
tended by the alumni of the school
and invited guests. 1t was most en-
joyable affair, and the responses to
the various toasts were eloquent and
happy. The speech of the day was
the response of Hon. John L. Nc
Graw to the toast The University
and the State" In classic language
Mr.. McGraw delineated his theme,