The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1891-09-26
AN ESSAY
Writton by Miss Lou Saunders, and Read
Before the Teachers Association,
Ss,ttCmber 9Th, 1891.


Before the Teachers Association,
September 5th. 1891.
Ey way al preamble would say that III
writing the following, | had only to guide |
me the minutes of the regular meetings of
the association, which of course included
only such items as were necessary III IA |
aecretary's record. Had | known what was |
in store for me, might have been little
better prepared, and would suggest that if
this precedent is to be established for the (;
future that the office of historian be added
to our society. The meetings durlng the
past year of the Teachers Association
of the Sixth, Seventh and Eighth districts
of Cecil county, will be pleasantly re-
mem bered by all " no attended them. Much
of our success with our individual schools
is due to the help we obtain here by per-
sonai suggestion and comparison of
methods. The leading spirit in all our
work has been our honored president MIR.
L. S. Everist who with his colleague, the
Rev. Mr.. Squier, has never failed to be
present at every meeting, thereby at once
setting us d good example and stimulating
us to greater activities. Yet in our humble
sphere We have representative OF punctu
ality and regularity combined and EN-
bodied in MIR. j. S. Crothers. who is always
found at his post of duty. There have been
eight meetings held, the minutes of which
have been faithfully and accurately re-
corded by the secretary, Mr.. j. w. Tull.
Thanks are due to our executive committee
for faithfulness in their line of work.
Through their tact and excellent Judgment,
the programmes rendered each month have
proved not only entertainir G but iustruc
tive Essays both in prose and poetry have
been read that showed much thought and
careful preparation. Select readings and
music have been furnished for our enter
tainment and referred questions i'll all tie
English branches have been answered for
our mutual benefit
Visitors from abroad have honored us
with their presence, sometimes giving us
an entertaining talk, or a bit of personal
history in their pedagogical careers,
bringing before our attention some new
plan of instruction like labor saving
machine to lessen our toll ami to aid the
pupil in to ling Tor the lesson. | have re-
ferred to the essays possessing much
thought and careful preparation. Who of
| Us will not recaii The noble and powerful
plea of a not, Il lady teacher III which
woman was set forth in all the glory and
beauty of her mental, moral, ply steal, and
spiritual being, on the pedestal OF which
lt.,u i. /,
aud teach Jua young idea how to Shoot
while mau the degenerate specimen grovels
like a worm at her feet in pitiable irferi-
GRITTY. But behold the worm has turned
and in a months time rises i'll the strength
of all his outraged manhood and taking
the form OF Sir. w. r. Maxwell, hurls the
thunder bolt Of his wrath, not exactly at
this embodiment of womauly graces CHS
chiyairy forbade that) but Ut the doctrines
which she SO emphaticaly set forth. Too
bad, however that it should happen in the
manner in which It did, the lady not being
present at the time her antagonist was
leveing his broadsdes red hot from the
dictionary cannon, straight at her fortress
of superiority. To Us ordinary mortals who
| We're watching the onset it give the appear
| auce OF our goddess of war having fled in
| dismsy at the approach OF the enemy or
that the "conq uering hero" had chosen a
| time to procl i'm victory when there was no
enemy in sight. The debates were posi-
lively inspiring, at least they would have
been if we had heard them. Too bad that
| when some of us We're down on the pro-
| gramme for the purpose Of thrilling the
| souls of our hearers with sentences VIII, Sc
| profound logic, graceful rhetoric, and spark
| ling wit were TO surpass anything in the
| history of the association, we found our
| lofty ambition Frustrated in the dust, and
| ourselves Frustrated in bed by-a sore throat
or dreadful headache. OF course none of
| us would stay at home, disappoint the
committee, and crush the expectations OF
| the assem- bled multitude for any other
reason. But thus it happened that the
| waiting public are still left in ignorance as
| to the justice of Andres execution. But if
| the lllustrious British officer who has been
i'll his grave these hundred years can stand
it, l guess we can. One of our CO laborers,
| Miss Emma Brown has laid down the
| ferule and chalk to assume not the crown
of gold, but the ring of gold, and quite
early in the session shook from her feet the
dust of the school house by the road, and
| went forth to the music of the marriage
bells. But all has not been bright and
| pleasant AZ unto each life some rain must
| fall, some days must be- dark and dreary,"
so with us rain fell and the drearness came,
in taking away of two of our most efficient
mem bers, Miss Emma Wilson and Mr.
| George Johnston. The former was especi-
ally known among the residents of Port
| Deposit where her life work centered and
where she will ever be gratefully remem-
bered by both patrons and pupils. The
latter though not an active ember, was
| none the less jealous i'll our work aud
| knowing from experience all the trials and
triumphs incident to teachers calling was
eminently capable of rendering the sym
pathy and aid it was his delight to give.
| Appropriate resolutions of the death of
each We're passed b. the assOci 1tioA. l. pOk-
| ing ove1s our meetings, ~ y w lie we mu ST
pronounce them a success, hug that there is
| a room for Improvement We cannot f Ill To
| see.
Let us then 81 this opening meeting OF
the year resolve by our eff Jrts individual
| and united, 10 make meetings t"g4ih er
| of the utmost benefit to all int crested, so
that at the close We ~ look back on a
year well spent, and ous in which rapid
| progress has been made in our work.