The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1892-01-02
CHRISTMAS AT CONCORDIA
Vivid Pen Picture OF Scene at the
Evangelical Bethel Church.

Special to the Inteligencer.
C"NCoRpIA, No, December 2S.-I
This Christmas eve | had the GOOD
fortune of being invited to the Christ
mas jubilee of the school of the Evan
gclical Bethel church at Concordia,
with a. A!thoff as teacher. While
children will act as children all over
the world, yet had for once again a
chance to see how far rational training,
with IA free and easy kindness, to which
the ways and manners of the teacher
are joined as II practical sample, can
mould the mental and physical capaci-
lies of youth.
Many Years ago, far away from our
shores, ! witnessed Il sham battle be-
tween two brigades, composed of cadets
from Is 20 ID years. The lads drilled,
marched, waded Il river, and baltled
for fifteen hours, with Il Zcst as if they
were on n pleasure trip. Their coun-
| tenances, their tactics were surprising
ly fine, and their keen spirit of corps
had 10 be watched by officers of the
regular militia, whenever the youthful
soldiers hrcamG engaged in Il close
contest.
There was the easy grace of intclii-
%encc, guided by kind and rational
| instruction, with their result, vivify-
ing ambition.
was deeply impressed and pleased
when ! found II similar spirit in chill
| drcn from to ID years, siXty-four III
number, ut the Christmas festival in
Bethel church.
These exercises could only be the
result of II iirst-claSs drill; for this
drill had entered the minds of even
the tiniest ones, and had become natural
to them, tor the exercises were gone
through with an ease, an accuracy that
moved and surprised not only partial
because loving, parents, but accidental
spectators as well. There was no con.
straint, no hesitancy in going to the
platform by groups for defamation ol
song, by solos or choruses.
But where was the drilmastcr tC
manage the unruly siX-year-olds? In
the rear, up in The gallery, playing the
organ, he was assisted by two of his
pupils, Paula Althoff and Clara Cook
slight signs by teacher and adjutants
were rapidly understood and executed
by the children, when called for action
The cOuntenances of the pupils were
easy, pleasing, straight. yet natural; this
made their declamations impressive.
The songs: well have heard child,
rem who were raised with songs, al
home, at school and in church, but
never have heard finer voices, or {
more harmonious execution, there was
certainly again fine steady drill, EN-.
bodied in impressing melodies.
Young ladies and gentlemen of the
congregation were SO kind to assist tn,
Young pupils in several solemn hymns
The Whole program us designed by
Mr.. AlthOff was an uninterrupted
series of songs and discourses closely
connected with the most impressive
festival of the Christian world, some
times solemn and touching, once in I;
while. when executed by the younges
innoc with an unlooked-for earn
estness, their precious NATIVITY brought
smiles on the faces of the auditory.
The performance, of two hours dur
alton, rather Il trying length of time
passed with Il remarkable order; i
was not until the Christmas present,
were distributed that the ever busy
bees began TO swarm and to buzz.
think Mr. Althoff teaches as neaI
in the spirit of the great father anC
predagogrIe, PeStaloZZi, rs any teacher
| have met with in the two hemispheres
; Thence his brilliant success III tn,
hearts Of children: kindness kindred
to love, an impartial justice, IN untir
ing patience, joired to n genial way o
clrctrifyng the childrcn'S slumherin!
capacities and perSIstency of purpose
On their part the pupils, from tn,
foot of the ladder to its top, anSwe
their congenI&l friend and teacher
who strcws the good seeds into them
: and culivatcs their minds rs faithful
gardener, by giving him their love ant
trust.
Love and trust are not only IN ideal
they are bliSsful gift that rrovidcnc
in its boundlcss kindness strcws on tn
path of the inn0cents. OHM.
Why Governor Hill is II Bachelor