Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-11-26
OUR ygACHERS AT SCHOOL
Annual Session of the County
institute.
RECEPTION TO GOV. REYNOLDS
proceedings of the interest
ing Meeting.

statI cOrresponaenco Of elazette nna .Ionrnal

btaff Correspondence of Gazette and journal
MIDDLETowN, Nov. 1S.-The sharp.
clear weather this morning has infused
Its electrical ardor into everyone here.
and institute matters recommended this
morning with added zest. The county
teachers arc in attendance in unabated
numbers and are thoroughly enjoying
the lectures and exercises during the
day and the social reunions of the even
ing.
Among the additional visitors are
Miss Katie A. Boehm of McDonough:
Miss Emma Sylverier, Blackbird; Harry
Whiteman, Hare's Corner; +. X. Arm
strong, Christiana; j. Il. Armstrong,
Milford Cross Roads; Allie A. Lamb,
MaIshallton; Emma b. Hayden, Taylor's
Bridge; Addie ID. Hayden, Greenspray;
Ella E. Naylor and Emma S. Hail,
Odesse; Fanny ii. Grant and Harry
L. Johnson, Newark; Alice l.. Down.
ing, Julia M. Boulden, Wilmington;
Lizzie Diesch, Townsend; Alice NJ.
Ogram, Hockessin; Maggie A. Lewis,
Glasgow; Lille G. Clayton, Carpenters;
Ruth Naomi Schreitz, Middletown; Will
liam S. Vandyke, Odessa; Ellen Il.
Campbell, Kelleyvjlle; A. J. Willis,
Taylors Bridge; Fannie NJ. Briscoe,
Flora Corkran, Newark; M. Hayes,
Falkland; Beulah b. Barnes, Eight
Square; A. D. Lyman, Claymont; Bessie
NJ. Clark, Hockessin; Annie l.. Smith,
st. Georges.
The devotional exercises at the open
ing OF institute session this morning
were conducted by the Rev. N. NJ.
Browne of this city. The "Star Spangled
Banner was sung with patriotic gusto
by the lady teachers and then SuDern-
tendent X. B. Handy of Virginia, who
is the elder brother of l.. Irving Handy
and Major Handy of Worlds Fair fame,
gave a very interesting talk on His
tory" lie referred to the characteristics
OF nations. He treated on the acquisi-
tiyeness of the English; of the wonder
ful recuperative qualities of the French
and their ability to meet with calm
face the greatest of national disasters.
Americas apparent destiny is to solve
the social prob.ei2s that are vexing the
world
sllas B. Nefr of Philadelphia gave
another address upon the "Function of
the Teacher"
A. Thomas Smith of West Chester
Normal School, whose address was a
very thoughtful discussion of the ques-
ton OF "Ihe Purpose of the Public
School and the Way That Purpose May
BE Reached"
Following the reading of the minutes
~ the afternoon session by the secretary
Miss M. II. Il. Withers, Professor A.
Thomas smith spoke upon the topic,
"Forgotten knowledge He deprecated
the custom of overlooking the pupil
with mass of indiscrminate facts.
The greater share of what is taught in
this manner is never assimilated or re-
tanned. 1t is forgotten knowledge. In
speaking on the subject of geography,
he believed that the ideal school book
in this branch of study should not con
tain single printed letter. 1t should
be maps alone.
y The speaker was followed in short
address by the Hon. Thomas NJ. Taylor
of New York, who gave some amusing
"reminiscences of his early school life.
A There was another large gathering at
the opera house this evening to listen to
4 the Hon. Il. M. Taylor in his lecture on
\ "Cranks."
The residents of Middletown turned
out in large numbers. Governor
Benjamin L. Biggs occupied scat on
the platform with the speaker of the
evening. Among the others present
were:
DR.. l. S. Vallandigham, Levy Court
man John W. Jolls and wife, Miss Mary
I 7. Cochran, Miss Bessie Foard, Miss
Corinne Cochran, Miss Helen Naudain,
\ q. W. w. Naudain, DIR. r. B. Mckee,
A. M. Chambcrlaiae, Miss Lillian Budd,
Mrs. j. Il. Budd, G. n. Kelley, Mr.. and
Mrs.Abram Vandegrift, Hugh Q, Browne,
Miss Ethel Parvis, Miss Viola Ennis,
Mrs L. p, Mcdowell, w. L. Metten, John
G. Kelley, 9. j. Freeman, w. IL. Moore,
Levy Courtman David P. lIutchison,
DIR. II. Vaughan, Mr.. and Mrs. Henry
Clayton, W. o. Stack.
The ladies seemed delighted at the
presence of the gray-haircd jovial ex-
II governor. He was in excellent health
4 and spirits and wore bright scarlet
sprig Of geranium for boutoniere.
A reading selection entitled "'rhe
Rose" was prettily given by Miss Kate
S. Henry, when Mr.. Biggs, amid clap
ping of hands, stepped lightly to the
4 front of the platform and in his usual
ornate style began "Through the
v patience of a witty committee and of
u good looking superintendent, ladies
land gentlemen, appear before this
audience to Introduce to you IL gentle
man, who for pure name and white
Nfame cannot be excellcd by any betwixt
tho Atlantic and Pacific oceans and in
|. deed his reputation has spread to the
N Old World. lie is here tonight. He is
on the platform. Prepare yourselves for
this great treat. In looking over the
beautiful young'faces before me see
Middletown. The speaker is to talk to
Won about sCrnnks' | looked II, fhn
glass after fixing myself up and saw no
such thing as q crank there. Last insti-
tute here | was i'll and could not attend.
i was, an old man then, | got well and
now l am young again. / have learned
10 my regret that since last institute we
have lost some of our bright, intelligent,
(. and affable young ladies. No, don't be
afraid, | did not mean that they are
dead. They have been candidates for
matrimony. They have been gobbled
up by these bad men.
N, tf'he young ladies themselves are
u te innocent of these conspiracies.
no, they know nothing of it. Only the
other evening, at my home, one of them
was bidding us all goodnight when she
mn whispering to me: If you sec
good-looking young fellow there, tell
me all about him-then introduce me,
seep
w "Yes, let all old fogeyism go. We
want none of it. We want Young
3 America to come forward on run. In
this education, too--what do you care
about ancient Egypt! That old coun-
sary, they say, was the mother of Greece,
stMFeece of Rome, and Roman civilization
RWE the English. So they want to make