The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1895-12-06
EXCHANGE IDEAS
The Dawson County Teachers ASSOCia-
tiOn Held Its Winter Meeting Last
Friday and Saturday.
Friday Evening A. 8. Hitchcock Delivered
an Address to the Teachers on the
motive Force Of Character"
HAVE NEW OFFICERS
New Officers Were Selected to Manage
the Affairs Of the Association for
the Coming Year.
HAVE NEW OFFICERS
TO IMPROVE THEMSELVES.
The Dawson Cou,y Pedagogues Discuss
Educatioua Problems.

The Dawson Cou,y Pedagogues Discuss
Educational Problems.
The opening session of the teachers
association occurred Friday evening
when concert by local talent was
given in the court house. Most Of the
city teachers were present but hardly
any of the rural teachers arrived until
Saturday, however the concert was
enjoyed by a large crowd of citizens.
W. A. Barber was master Of ceremon
les and introduced the D. U. quartet
which sang very acceptable number,
A. E. Hitchcock was introduced and
read an interesting paper on the
"Motive Force of Character" and it
contained such good thoughts that we
give quite a large excerpt from it.
The speaker Introduced the subject
by saying that the educational atmos-
phere was a most healthful stimulant
TO the development Of character and
that an occasional breathing exercise
in this air would tend to strengthen
the mental lungs and quicken the pulse
of elevated conscience. 1t was merely
attempted in the brief address to out
| line some of the elements of character.
These elements were referred to as
| being fixed convictions and habits, the
result of growth which shaped the in
dividuals life. The assumption was
made that all teachers held some re-
ligious convictions, that these varied
widely with the human mind. He
mentioned five elements of character
designated as motive forces.
l. A conception of individual re-
sponsibility 10 the human race for the
result of this life. Man has power to
direct his actions. Under this power
his life leaves q record of wasted
energies Of injury to the conditions
surrounding him, which other lives
must repair, or of a noble life of pro
gress upon which after generations car
climb to higher planes. He drew az
outline of evolution in few sentences
showing that humanity crowded the
probress and with enobling faculties
was reaching toward higher destiny
2. Faith in the goodness Of human
ity and charity for its weakness. IL
work for fellow men there must exist {
confidence in their honor. To distrus,
man and woman evidences reelection
of moral weakness. 1t is better tc
bestow confidence and be betrayed
sometimes than TO lose the rich benefits
arising from an appreciated response 0
truthfulness Charity for mans weak
ness and respect for differences o
opinion, especially Of the nOn-essential
of life, is necessary for union of force
in working for human progress and th
mastery Of evil.
3. A determination to be loyal t.
the highest ideals. This thought wa
emphasized A life of honor come
from slow growth and when highl.
evolved man does right by instinc,
Common honesty, personal virtue an
everyday morality we're taught an
known by all intelligent persons. 1t
the courage and will needed to max
these principles the supreme test {
every action. The requirements c
riches, the retinements and luxuries {
life tend to the advancement of civi
ization but when their possession
obtained at the expense of the starvs
tion of the truer conceptions of charat
ter nobility is destroyed or degraded
The standard of success placed befor
the student and the business man,
popular thought, is that wealth an
distinction alone constitutes success
If the attainment of cultured min
and the welfare of society are held 0,
as the highest aims Of life the busine
man answers with sneer that sue
talk belongs to the preacher and tt
Sunday School and has no place
business life, thai the affairs of cor
merce and civilization are ruled
riches and influence BY reason
this popular thought corruption al
misrule has become prevalent. AS
result there has been q tide of soci
and political reforms demanded fro
Legislation. The character of Il
people of republic is represented
its laws and administration. The pc
pie themselves must be reformed /
: fore constitutions and laws. II t.
principles of honesty and justice CO
S trolled men who waged the conte
between labor and capital the problel
of the lay would become greatly 81
plified. Men are demanded who sh
see that the mechanism of business
the plan of the universe to distribr
wealth, comfort. intelligence and V
tue These higher reforms must col
through the armies of young reformt
v who leave high school and colleG
each year with convictions to ma
honor and justice a test OF success.
4. Self-reliance or American indiv
uality The rugged character Of
pioneers of the nation who braved ha
N ships to form the nucleus of this ]