The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-11-02

| VIII CaTIetOn, the taVOrlte (WhOSe
writing leaves better impression than
his acting), was here introduced for
his promised lecture on the Drama
of Human Nature" A brief synopsis
can scarcely do the worthy intent and
purpose of his lecture justice, as it
touched the more important dramas
of life as they are played by erring
humanity, individually and collective
ly, and in our church and state affairs.
He ridiculed the weaknesses and APP
plauded the nobler aims and purposes
as he went along. He recommended
the Christian motives actuating the
Scotch printer, Robert Raikes, who
established the first Sunday school by
reaching down and out to the half
clad, the hungry, and, therefore, the
vicious youth, whom he found spend
ing their Sundays in all manner Of
vicious ways, upon the streets and else.
where, and of whom the church as
then run was entirely oblivious, think
ing, no doubt, that boys could COM
mence to count their beads, &c, later
on in life.
To the teachers he gave his individ-
ual experience and testimony of his
dealings with the sour and sweet kind
of teachers. The sweet-natured alone
impressed favorably enough to teach.
On the other hand, their greatest
study was how to resent the dominat-
ing tyranny of sour teachers. One
sweet.tempered teacher had taught
them more than all the cross ones
they ever had. The drama of human
nature began in the Garden of Eden,
and it will never end until the great
curtain of fire shall drop over the
whole earth. He closed by saying the
dramas Of the 10th century were mar
velous, have done more for the hu-
man race than any FIVE preceding
ones.
The introduction of purely business
matters, at the close of his lecture,
was rather disagreeable surprise, but
his recitations and appropriate re-
marks were fully appreciated by the
crowded house.
On Thursday the proceedings of the
Institute was opened by Rev. Fergu-
son, who conducted the devotional ex-
ercises, and Prof. Gresh, who led in
singing.
Supt. of Public Instruction, Nathan
Schaeffer, followed in some beneficial
remarks to the teachers upon the i'm
portance Of setting the pupils to think.
ing, this being, in his opinion, all I'M
portant. The best result emanates
from selfthought and self,opinion.
He said, "Grover Cleveland has the
reputation of thinking for himself, and
politicians inside and outside of his
party have found it out. The trouble
is to make boys think on the subjects
we wish to teach them. We must
give them something to think about ;
this is the true province of the teacher.
The father who keeps his boys at
home is keeping them away from the
means of getting thought. The So
crates method of asking questions is
the best tor teacher and pupil.
In his usual happy manner, Will
Carleton here gave the teachers an
entertaining talk. Going back to the
days OF his own experience as dis
trict school teacher, he declared he
found it harder to teach the parents
than the children.
Miss Moore next entertained the
audience on Arithmetic" The sue.
cessful teachers, she said, were those
who reached the hearts and goodwill
of the pupils.
"Thomas Jefferson was the sub
iect of the next entertainment, by Dr.
Gordy. He said, "when Jefferson
was ir the house of Burgesses he tried
, to llberate the slaves. He was first
to conceive the doctrine that event
,, ually elected Abraham Lincoln Presi'
dent of the United States. Jefferson
sympathized with France, but Hamil'
ton did not. In 1898 France had but
one enemy, and that was the rest oi
Europe. In many provinces men had
to live on grass and barks of trees, in
order that money might be raised to
let kings and priests live in luxury
!, We should take our pupils back to the
source of things and give them true
n | -urVNy an