The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-08-03
r.,..-ponaenc. oLMe Inleutqence,.

MouSpsylLlE, August at was my
privilege and pleasure to look IN for
awhile to-day on the sessions OF the
teachers institute now in session here,
and / will give your readers On idea OF
what is being done. The institute
opened on Monday morning at 10
o'clock under the supervision Of Hon,
Henry Houck, of Harrisburg, Pa, dep.
uty state superintendent OF that state
lilo is ably assisted in his work by
prois. D, L. Williams and W. s. Powell,
while the new county superintendent,
James L, sivort, presides with grace
and dignity, and keeps things moving
right along. As the sessions Of the
institute continue through two weeks,
good, solid school work US we'll as insti'
tute work is being done, and the teach.
er5 are kept busy both in and out OF
tho meetings.
There has been good interest mani.
tested from the first, and it Is increasing
day by day, Last evening Prof. Houck
lectured to Il large and ap%preciatiye
audience, His subject, 1.-THE Old and
the New" was treated OF in u manner
that greatly delighted all who heard
him.
This morning the professor talked on
reading, and gave many forcible points
on the manner OF teaching reading. He
spoke especially OF its Importance, say
Ing that II he were confined In his
teaching to one branch, he would
choose that OF reading. II is a great
accomplishment to be a good reader.
Professor Powell followed and gave
quite a number Of problems in arlthme.
tic to be solved by the teachers,
After recess Professor Houck finished
his talk on the subject Of reading.
Professor Williams conducted an in
tcresting drill on the subject OF book.
keeping, and quite q discussion was had
on several points.
In the afternoon Professor Powell
gave an exhaustive drill IN words, es-
pecially treating Of prcfixes and sufixes.
Professor +. II. Crago spoke o few
minutes OH the same subject, and also
gave d short drill IN civil government.
A recess was taken, after which Pro-
lessor Powell questioned the institute
on United States History. Professors
lIouCk mud Williams followed in short
hut interesting talks,
In looking over the body Of teachers
] was forcibly struck by the absence Of
the faces that were seen in the Marshall
county institutes Of days gone by.
Nearly twenty years ago | attended my
first institute in Moundsville, and to-
day / sec but four teachers who were
actively engaged in the work at that
time. 1t seems as though another gem
Grafton OF teachers has taken the place
OF those who then were hard at work in
training the young idea, and it is true.
The query forced itself; Are these
teachers better prepared than we're
those who thon attended such meet
ings? To say they are not as q body
would be to speak disparagingly Of our
system OF free school education; but l
am sure they arc no more enthusiastic
in the work than we're those OF that
time. And where are all those teachers
Of twenty years ago? and why are they
not teaching to-day? A few are; they
have gone up higher in the profession.
But tho great majority OF those still
living are following other pursuits for u
livelihood. The law, the medical pro.
iossion and the pulpit have claimed
many, while others are engaged in farm
ing and mechanical pursuits, because
they pay better. And the ladies-where
arc they? The majority are married,
and their boys and girls answer to the
roll call in the institute OF to-day, and
arc doing better work. perhaps. than
their mothers did, because better
equipped than they could be.
There arc nearly $50 teachers already
enrolled, and before the sessions close
the enrolment will doubtless reach 200
or upwards.
Moundsville is holding her own dur
ing these paniCky times. New build
ings aro in process Of erection on all
sides. The fine new business oolns OF
D. l. Logan will soon be ready fsr occu.
pancy. He may sell 1t 10 and build
another, for that il his way, or has been
in times past, to his credit, and to the
benefit OF the city Of Moundsville. |
found u busy population on the "old
samp grounds" and things look lovely
there.
1t pays to leave the city this hot
weather and spend q day in this beat.
titul place beneath tho shady boughs
OF Gods green trees, so lavishly scat:
tered all through tho streets Of one OF
the prOttiest little cities in the great
Ohio valley. +. Il. G.