Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1892-12-09
THE INSTITUTE.

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THE INSTITUTE.
The thirty. eighth annual Institute Of
Butler county met under auspicious cir
cumstances in the Opera House, Monday.
The weather was delightful, the accommo-
dations ample, and the teachers were in
the best of spirits.
Two-hundred and seventy five Of the three
hundred Seschers Of the county were pres
ent. The finance committee reported that
the assessment would be small, only $l50
each.
Music and devotional exercises came
first on the program, and then Hon. George
w. Flseger was introduced by Supt. Nc
Collough to deliver the address Of Wei
come.
He began by complimenting the schools
Of the state, county and borough; compar-
ed the schools of to-day with those of thir-
ty years ago, and gave some Of his past
experience as teacher; spoke of the posi-
bilities of the future, and what the country
expected; said that the greatness of our
county consisted in the greatness of its
common people; that the greatest country
on Earth was the one containing the great
est number of happy and intelligent fami-
lies; that the aim of the common schools
should be to fit the children for the duties
of common life; that teachers should teach
the dignity .and, respectability of labor;
that to be good citizen was the proudest
position on earth; that education should fit
all for the active duties of life; that good
housekeeper was better than good musi-
clan or linguist spons of the vices of pro-
family, and disho1ssty, and particularly
of the great vice Of gossiping and telling
tales, etc. His address was generally
commended.
School teacher John H. Wilson respond
ed to the address Of welcome. He said
they were all glad to be here, where they
would be fired with new ambitions and
new desires to do better. work; that they
were proud of their calling, though they
were the poorest paid class of workmen in
existence; plead for justice and better
rewards; said thu ithe teachers we're pa
tient, happy and hopeful, and never
struck; that they were law abiding and
always looked at the bright side of things;
that there was no danger from immigrs-
tion SO long - the common school system
existed; that the teachers would absorb the
new ideas advanced at the Institute, and be
found worthy of their calling, etc. His
address was short but good.
The regular progrsme, as advertised was
then taken up. Dr.. Winship led off with
discourse on Arithmetic, and Prof. Rus
sell followed with one on the teaching the
elements Of music, . thing that is gadu-
ally increasing in public favor.
Monday evening Rev. Willetts held forth
on the stage, and what dandy he isl You
never tire of Willetts. This was his sixth
appearance before Butler audience and
had it been his sixtieth the house would
have been crowded. There is q charm
about Willetts that makes even poverty
stricken country editor forget his dismal
and for the time enjoy life.
Though he is now three score and ten and
his head is gray, his eyes and his heels are
just as young % they used to be; and may
he live forever.
On Tuesday, W. r. Hockenberry led at
the informal meeting; e. q. Graham talk
ed about the duties of teachers and pupils; |
8. L. Chessman gsve his experience and
ideas in discipline in the school-room; A. |
W. Kelly gave an interesting address on
the teaching of Geography; Prof. H. R. |
Wilson Of w. Sunbury made an eloquent
plea for Higher Education, and Prof's |
Houck, Winship, and Russell continued
their instructions in the different branches. |
hon. Henry Houck's address that evening |
in 1.-THE old and the New" was instructive |
and humorous, and was enjoyed by all |
present.
The informal meeting of Wednesday |
morning was presided over by Mr.. e. ].
Miller Of Six Points. Devotional exercises |
followed, and then w. p. Sipe spoke on |
educating the scholars regarding their duty |
70 their common country, and illustrated |
his address BY citing several great and good |
examples.
Mr.. w. G. Russell Thought that teachers |
should be interested in their work on &C.
count of its grest importagce, and that |
their success a. teachers depend on their |
being interested themselves.
W. b. Scott attributed failures in teach /
ing to lack ofpreparation, and thinks no |
teacher can teach well unless well and |
freshly prepared.
DR.. Aaltby Of Slipperyrock spoke of the
Importance Of inculcating patriotism in the |
breasts OF the scholars, quoted Lincoln's |
speech at Gettysburg, and spoke against |
for examinations.
The Schuman Lady Quartette, that |
evening, played TO one of t he largest |
houses ever seen in Butler.
The informal meeting of Thursday morn
ing was presided over by Mr.. T. d. Pain
ter; Mr.. II. II. Young of Petrolia and |
Miss Aaude AcClymonds will make ad- |
dresses during the day, and the directors |
are in session in the arbitration this after |
noon. The Institute of this year has been |
an unqualified success.
THE great strikes during the last year,
and the votes cast at the recent election,
may not improbably open the way to sbet-
ter knowledge OF the relations between Ia
borers aud employers. 1t begins to be un-
derstood that the strikes were sustained by |
exceptionally well paid workers. As soon
Is it was generally known what wages
these workers were demanding, and how
they were sustained by many labor organi-
sstions on the theory that the policy Of the |
Government ought to secure practically
whatever wages workers chose to ask, two
distinct effects were perceived. There
were some employers of labor in cities and |
towns who began to think that it was bet
ter to stop the advance in wages, even
though at the cost Of some arrest of Nat
ional growth and development. There
were also many farmers who began to
doubt whether the National policy did not
render their labor too costly. Thus three
distinct bodies of men voted together
against that National policy, some farmers
because it raised wages, some employers
in cities and towns because it raised wages