Bridgeton pioneer., 1891-11-12
THE TEACHERS INSTITUTE.
PROFESSDR BRUMBAUGH ON
HOW WE TALK.
Interesting Sessions and q most
Entertaining Lecture.

session with an instrustive discourse
upon drawing. He was followed by
Prof. Rolfe, of Philadelphia, who ex-
planned the object of the University
Extension in very clear and minute
manner. Prof. Glen, of New York
city entertained the teachers upon the
subject of penmanship and last of all
Prof. Brumbaugh, of Hunderton, Pa,
concluded his remarks begun at the
morning session on language e-
Mr.. Brumbaugh spoke of the extent
of the vocabulary of the English Ian
guage and our paucity of its use.
People would be astonished at the
small number of words that were used
by ordinary people to express their
ideas, and even great takers did not
use near all the words in the English
language in their whole life time.
There were over 100000 words in the
English vocabulary, but the ordinary
person in long life would not use
more than 10000 or 1900 of them. To
be sure, there are great many rapid
takers in the world some who get off
words with almost lightning rapidity,
like the man who went to the camp
meeting; he was such a rapid talker
that he got to the camp meeting knelt
down and said prayer before the peo-
pie knew he had arrived. Another
man was such rapid talker that on
visiting house and being admitted
by the lady asked after her health and
the health of all the family and con-
cluded with ''let US have a word of
prayer" before she could wipe her
hands on her apron to shake hands
with him; and yet these men would
not use above $4,000 words in a life
time in their vocabulary. Another
very eloquent orator was asked how
many words he supposed he made use
of and he thought about $4,000 was
the number. He was delivering an
oration soon afterward and on being
timed for five minutes it was found he
used the word ''and' fifty-fve times,
and the word 'that" thirty three times
during that time. The greatest ora
tors and writer's make use of only a
small number of the words of the En-
glish vocabulary. Lawyers, physicians,
and perhaps Scientists have two vo-
cabularies, one their professional vo
cabulary and the other their every
day talk.
He wished to inculcate taste for a
more extended use of the words of the
language, which would tend to broaden
the scope Of human ideas, and give
versatility of expression to the mind.
His talk was charmingly entertain
ing as we'll as instructive.
We understand the Professor is the
energetic head of a large and flourish
ing Normal College at Hunterdon, Pa.
receiving no appropriation from the
State.
WEDNESDAY NIGHTS LECTURE.
Prof. Brumbaugh, of Pennsylvania,
lectured last night before the Institute,
upon "The Teche Country" of Louis
ana;this country bordered on the Teche
river in that State, and was populated
by a colony of French people, who
were expelled from Louisburg by the
English in colonial times. At the de.
struction of Louisburg. many of the
inhabitants were sold into slavery, and
these and their descendants escaping
from slavery, joined this colony. They
are Louisiana Creoles, and speak most
ly the French language.
The Professor begun his lecture with
a general historical sketch of Louisiana
as a Spanish colony, and also when it
belonged to France. He detailed the
principal incidents of the Louisiana
purchase which embraced all that
country extending from the Mississippi
river to the Pacic Ocean.
He gave fine word picture of the
country to be passed over in going
from the North to Louisiana the
Kentucky Blue Grass region was
graphically described.
He showed that the South was
breaking away from being strictly
agricultural region and was fast be-
coming a great manufacturing
country.
Birmingham, Ala, he spoke of as
becoming the great iron ntre of the
world.
He gave many incidents connected
With General Grants and General
Sherman's visits to the South more
than quarter of a century ago and
later-Re paid a glowing tribute to
Southern chivalry and hospitality.
Prof. Brumbaugh is a most enter
tanning speaker and the hall ought
to have been crowded with those who
love to hear fine speaking.
The Lectures as we'll as the sessions
OF the Institute, are free to the pub