Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1895-11-13
Arbor Day Erercises at the Graded
School.

The Charles Town Graded School, and red
letter day for teachers, scholars and the few
favored visitors. Owing to the large mum
ber of pupils in attendance the whole school
could not be present ot one time, 50 the pri
nary grade, large school of itself, assem-
bled AZ niue O'Clock, a. NJ, and had their
Arbor Day exercises.
The beautiful order maintained, the ex.
celent music, and the exceptionally good
recitations of the little ones spoke admirably
for their training. Too much cannot be
said in praise Of the teachers in this depart
nent of the school, nor too much in COM
.nenda,ion Of the children whose aptnesS IN
receiving the gold seed 81 faithfully sown-
brought firrh such admirable results
Would that more intimate acquaintance
enabled us to mention in detail tie little
people who distinguished them 'eive- 50 ad-
nirably.
After the recitaiion- etc. were over the
children repaired to the ,chonl yard, aud
,lan;el their tree, then their happy hearts
ound vent in merry gimbols aud joyous
shouts. until the htile one, were sent Co
heir homes % give place o. the pupils Of
the Intermediate and Higher Grade.
These last assembled at lO.30 aud went to
heir several class rooms, where the rnlis
we're cdl-l. H. mo.t of the r'ou' every
,upil re.ppudsi 20 DO, uam", and a. the
puadins Of the e,ng theg 6lei down in
their u.ud beautiful order The exercises
we're opened by the R.v. Mr C1.e. wh' im
lresNvry read some selection. from Ezekiel.
With re .erence to "trer. Rev Mr. Trip
eit. of Duihsl.. offered an impre.-iye
prayer, hyma was sung by the whole
school then the song "Pau'ins the Tree,
C., the familiar air of Audi Ltns Syur iu
which the fresh young voice, umfei in
volume oi m .l1ly THAR vault have delight
II the ear- OF the most critical The reel
tations e.siy-, etc that followed were OF q
iigh degree of excellence
Mr.. Pennock, one Of the members of the
.choo board next gave the scholars sn in
,tructive lesson in tree planting, 10y which
III present were edited The Rev. Mr..
stump then followed in a most feIieitou, ad-
lress in which he c4llei forth peals of mer-
riment by his humorous account OF The mode
of instruction in the "once upon a time Old
Field schoolhouses. Hts remarks upon the
improvement in pronunciation, diction aud
elocuton since "ye olden time" Wa graft
! fvin, tribute to t.aoher- of the present pc
Rod. Upon the decision of the ap ointed
committee, Rvs Stump, Tripleti and Cole
aud Mes,rs. Barr and Penuock, the medal
or the bet recitation WAS given to Miss
Jennie Web-ter of the eighth grade.
The exercises then closed with "Dedca-
ion Song" aud teachers and scholars re-
paired to the yard where the trees were
planted, under the efficient direction, and
with the help of our very successful hor'i-
cuturi-t, Mr. Pennock, whose attachment
tn. and interest in the school has ever been
Invarying.
If the citizens of the good old county Of
Jefferson need any confirmation of the wiz
lnm Of their action in establishing graded
school for the better educaion of the young
p.nple in whom lies the future welfare of
the community, it i. a pi. not more OF the
aforementioned citizens were present at the
Arblr Day exercises. They most -urely
= would have come away thorough converts,
not ouly 20 their own pre.irnce, but to the
,bihty aud Fl 'elty of those to whom WAS IN
ru-ted the ta.k of inauIuraiius this excel
.nt, far reaching Improvement ia our edu
.tiunal system.
The discipline Of the school isper!eei. and
notwithstanding the prnneue-s OF the aver
,se schoolb " to give vent TO his enthusiasm
"a uproarinu. anI un.eemiy applause, bet
ter order i never maintained anywhere
tnan always prevails during the public aud
,rivate exercises of this school. IL speaks
volumes for he principal, Prot. Denny, ~
disciplinarian, and evidences too, not the
object fear, the result of martinrt's train
az, but An esprit de corps" and an alto
sether admirable desire To maintain the dig
nity and excellent reputation OF the school
b. Too much cauuot be said in praise OF the
eh,rts OF Mrs Fowle, who deserves the
credit of training the children aud who-e
efforts ia elocution has given such good re
.ults in the schoul.-Spirh