Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-04-11
5th SEMl.ANNUAL
Continued from page ~

F. Caldwell. instructor of history at
Kent's Hill. gave discourse entitled
History. Hints and Helps" Profess
sor c. +. Cook. suh-master of the Cony
High school of Augusta. gave an m
teresting article on Laboratory Work
in Physics" dwelling chiefly on the
work in Augusta.
Principal $. /. Graves of the william
r. Smith Grammar school of Augusta,
recommended the study of Latin IN the
highest grade of the Grammar Schoo!.
Principal Powers of the High school,
joined in the discussion.
The afternoon session began at :
O'Clock The following topics We're pre-
sented Methods in Geography,
Superintendent Mary S. Snow, Bangor:
Mature Study" A. l.. Lane. instructor
in science at the Coburn Classical in
stitute. Wateville: lis the kindergar-
ten a Necessity" Miss Nellie l.. Cloud
man, Gorham Normal school: What to
Do Next" W. w. Stetson. state super
ntendet: Teaching School" a. j. Rob
erts.' professor of English at Colby uni
versity; German Schools" Miss Annie
&c. Merritt, Gardiner. school Hy-
eiene" Or. W. p tiiddings Gardiner
At the business session. the following
officers were elected: President II. ii.
Goddard of Oak Grove seminary. Vas
salboro; vice president, a. l.. Lane of
Coburn Classical institute. Waterville;
secretary, Miss Emma l.. Howe of the
William X. Smith grammar school. Au-
gusta; executive committee. G. f. Cook
of the Cony High school Augusta; A
af \Nilliat,,
Grammar school. Augusta: G. w
Singer of the Hallowcll High school;
". H Estes Of Oak Grove seminary
Vassalboro: Miss Clara Reed, Water
vile.
The event.. Nession was held at TIL,
Congregational -hurch at 80 O'Clock
this evening. Singing was furnished
by the members of the Gardiner High
school under the direction of H. II
Combs. The address of welcome was
given by Hon. J. NJ, Larrabee and the
response was delivered by J. T.. Coch-
rane. superintendent of the Halloween
schools. Nathaniel Butler, d. D.. pres-
dent of Colby university. delivered an
address on The Historical Survey OF
the English Language" which was a
mastery effort and which held tn,
closest attention of the auditors
President Butler said in substance:
The English language is the younees,
and greatest of the languages. This
statement needs neither motive non
support from prejudice from patriot
ism. The fact that ii is the medium OF
the greatest literature ever produced
in every known tongue, and the fac,
that it is becoming the most widely
diifused speech in the world. show that
it has more complete adaptation Il
mans needs in expression than any
other known language
An English reader of average intelli-
gence can read with little or no dinl,
Guilty the poems of Chaucer. This can.
not be said of any writer of an earlei
date. This is true. however. only %
the language as we know it, Five
hundred years before Chaucer's time
the germs of English We're tirsl
dropped into british soil.
| The speaker then reviewed the the
DRY that attempts to account for the
! origin and diffusion and relation OF
/ those languages to which the English
| is related. He reviewed briefly thu
| circumstances that led to the intro
duction of Anglo Saxon or Old English
! into Britain in the fifth century. and
! The modification which the old English
| suffered in consequence of the Nor.
! man invasion in the 18th century. H.
then traced the further influence o.
| Chauccr and Wicliff in shaping the
I ianGua &c. He pointed out that tht
last of the great influences that have
| made modern English was eXerted
through the translation into English OF
the Hebrew Bible.
AS t. the present diffusion of Eng.
| ish, ii was shown that whereas at the
| beginning of the century not more
/ than .lN0o,0 GEO were speaking English
while Il much larger number ver,
speaking both German and French. a
the present time 121.0o0.O0o are speak
| ing English. giving our language vers
| largely the first place in diffusion. Ii
was further pointed out that the proba-
bilities are very strong that English
will soon be used by a larger number
Of people and for Il greater number of
purposes than any other tongue. Ii
i closing, the lecturer quoted from "
| w. Story's poem entitled THE Eng
lish Language" in which the poet re-
cites the superiority of English to othel
| languages in grace and utility.
TIE session was largely attended and
classes with a better understanding OF
their work, much interest being derived
| from the meeting.
| Professor Sandon of the High school
exhibited his X-rays apparatus to the
teachers, which was thoroughly en-
! ioyed 10y those present.