The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1894-04-21
FREE SCHOOL EXAMINATION.
Only Three Graduates in Clay District
An Interesting Educational
Meeting.

JAKEs RUN, April l0.-According to
announcement an examination for com
mon school graduates was held at the
Wilson school house Saturday, April I.
1t was expected that the class would be
large, but owing to the inclemency OF
the weather there we're but three appli-
cants present, viz: Miss Maud Wilson,
Loran Robinson and Ellis Eddy. Our
worthy County Superintendent ID. B.
Waters, after a ride of twenty miles APP
peared on the tapis promptly at half
past eight, thus showing his great inter
est in educational work, and putting to
shame expected applicants who live
much nearer but were not present. The
teachers present who assisted the Super
intendent in his work were John Shriver,
stephen Mason, l.. j. Piles, w. n. Con-
ner, John Bane, J. Ray Conner, Misses
Lou Sine and Lena II. Conner. The
members of the class did well, making a
fairly good per cent showing their energy
and earnestness by their work and are
now entitled 10 their diplomas An edu-
cational meeting was appointed for the
evening. The house was crowded by 7
O'Clock, at which time the meeting was
organized by electing John Shriver as
chairman. The meeting was opened by
the song The West Virginia Hills. :"
The first exercise was recitation enti-
tied ''The Fate OF Virginia." by Miss
Estella Lemley. This was followed by
"Mollie's RAM" delivered by Master
q. Cleveland Conner. recitation, "a
School Girls Trials by Miss Polly
Wilson. Master Garfield Wilson reeited
"a Small School Boy" This was fol-
lowed by song Poor Little Nellie, ;"
rendered in very pleasing manner by
Miss Minnie Tenant. Next a recitation,
'E pluribus Unum, "by Miss Maud VIII
son, followed by "Sheridan's Ride, u by
Miss Effie Moore. Music by the choir
Down on the Farm" Miss Nora Piles
recited THE First Thanksgiving Day 3"
The manner in which these recitations
were delivered met the approval of all
present. The great event OF the evening
was the debate, Question, Resolved
that the parent exercises q greater innu-
ence In the formation OF character than
the teacher. Affirm, Stephen Mason
and d. b. Waters, Deny, w. n. Conner
and l.. j. Piles. As these gentlemen are
all noted for their oratorical powers and
are known as the biggest guns" of Clay
district the people were expecting to
hear some loud shooting, nor were they
disappointed, when Stephen Mason was
called upon to open the question His
remarks were confined to the influence
OF the parent and common school teach
er. BY very nice mathematical calcu-
latlon he showed that out of three hun
bred and sixty-fiye days the child is I'M
der the influence of the teacher but
twenty days. So great was his belief in
the influence of the parent that il the
rs nj q hnrlI Ill 1 Al. IL
Is white no teacher could convince him
to the contrary. The next speaker call
ed was w. n. Conner who defined char
acter as what we are and as being form
ed from the cradle to the grave. He
took the ground that all outside influence
brought to bear upon the person, are
teachers. He spoke of the influence
which few words, falling from the lips
of Mary Todd, had in forming the char
acter OF one of the greatest men of our
nations history Abraham Lincoln. So
engrossed was Mr.. Conner in his subject
that he was called from the floor think
ing his time had but half expired. SUI
perintendent d. b. Waters then arose
and said, they ought not to expect much
from a man of his stature and laboring
under such difficulties as a severe cold
and sleepiness (he having risen at three
O'Clock that morning He looked upon
the question as relating to parent and
school teacher and in his remarks he
said if a parent believed the teacher ex-
erted a greater influence oyer his child
than he himself he would not allow the
child TO atteld school at ALL He also
said that character is formed at the age
OF six and the parent exerts the greater
influence to this age. After this educa-
ton may be received but has no great
influence on character. So animated
was his speech that he gave out in II
minutes thus leaving four minutes of his
time unoccupied. Scarcely was he seat
ed when l.. j. Piles took the floor and
discussed the question from a Biblical
point OF view saying that Christ was the
great teacher and His influence upon
character has lasted for nearly nineteen
hundred years and will last till the end
of time. He referred to Mr. Mason's re-
mark that mo prison is So dark that
mother would not follow her son there
Was it the influence of the parent that
brought the child there, or was it the in
fluence of an outside teacher? The
chairman had appointed five judges viz
ID. l.. Ammons, l.. G.. Moore, Morgan
Conner, Sylvester Wilson and J. j.
Moore. Mr.. Mason was then allowed
five minutes to sum up the evidence and
charge the jury which he did in very
impressive manner. The judges gave
their decision, two for the affirmative,
two for the negative and one tie, max
ing tie vote. The Superintendent then
made short closing speech in which he
commended the people for their interest
in education, morality and temperance.
After listening to the song, 1.-The Silent
Shades OF Evening" the people were
dismissed well pleased with the even
ing's entertainment.
J.R. c. Reporter.