The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-11-26

Reading or the EfeSiueitt iVS's'iAi'
ton Nellie Smith.
Reading Of the Governors Proclama-
ton. Gilbert Crabtree.
Recitation-For What Are we Thank
full? Sadie King.
Then Eugene Bagwell and DeSausure
Mackay brought in a basket of corn ana
praised it in some lines by Whittier.
They were followed by Clarence Utley
and Maple Mills, carrying two large
pumpkins, that recalled the happy days
Of childhood.
Susie Iden,~ with a basket Of grapes
praised the fruit from which the wine
is pressed.
willie Wyatt and Gilbert Crabtrea,
with basket of apples, told OF the virtues
of that homely fruit.
Jane Robbins recited a little poem IS
pecially appropriate to the day, ana
Ethel Young gave goodbye till the
next Thanksgiving.
SUPERINTENDENT Howell then nt.oduc-
ed Mr.. John r. Ray, Superintendent or
the institution for the Blind, who de
Iiyered an address to the children. The
subia.ct of his address was Helen Nellar.
lie began by saying that he thought the
most important and interesting thing IN
the world was child. they are the
only material in the world out of which
we can make men and women, ana the
time is coming when heaven will De filled
with beings just like these boys and
girls. They are the most interesting ana
beautiful things in the world. IF had
10 choose from the 10000 people IN KAT
cish-to have their loves and lives and
-roSBects-I would choose the people
now in this hall
Helen Kellar, he said, was born IN
Southern Alabama, the daughter of n
soldier. She was born with all her
senses. like any other child. She was
taken violently i'll, and, as a result, be-
came deaf dumb and blind. She is now
fifteen years old She was later put under
the care of blind woman from Massa-
ehusetts, to teach her The first thing
the teacher did was TO kiss her, then she
gave her doll, and then took the little
girls fingers and made the letters doll.
This went on for long while, two whole
weeks, and Helen seemed to learn moth
ing. Then one day her teacher took the
little girls water cup, put water into it,
touched Helen's fingers to the water
and then spelled il out, waiter, snd
from that she began to learn.
Mr. Ray then went on to explain TO the
children the different ways by which
Helen is now able TO communicate with
the outside world. She can even use q
typewriter Mr.. Ray said further, in
relating Helen's history: She was told
of little girl over in Norway, who was
deaf and blind, but could speak. SO she
went to Boston and learned how TO talk
She later learned how to hear other
people speak. He showed how this was
done by her placing a finger on her
teachers nose, another on her lips, and
the thumb under her chin. BY this means
Helen understood almost every word
spoken
Here the speaker related some most in
teresting incidents in Helen Kellar's life,
illustrating her pure life and sweet char
acter She had great desire to help
others, though she herself was in most
helpless condition. From this text, aud
from the offerings around him, brought
there by the children before him, Mr..
Ray preached beautiful child sermon in
few words.
After Mr.. Rays address, the large an-
| dience listened. Ia delighted silence, to a
solo sung by Miss Minnie Tucker, Be
| hold the Gathered Harvest" The words
| fitted the occasion, and the singing of
| Miss Tucker, always a fayorite with q
Raleigh audience, was never better.
| Prof. Howell then announced that 4
| collection would he taken up SO that
everybody, visitors and all. might have nm
| opportunity to contribute. Then tho
whole audience, standing, sang the hymn,
Praise to God Immortal Praise.
After the benediction by Rev. w. q.
| Norman, the children marched out, sing
ing a occasional hymn to the tune, Mary
land. Ny Maryland"
| This closed the program for the day.
| Now the fun OF hauling away the pres
ents began This the teachers hugely en-
joyed. Sugar, salt, tea, -four etc, in
Ipaper bags held by moist fingers until they
were miniature sleeves made white the
floor and the dresses of those who handled
them. The contributions were given to
the Kings Daughters for the poor of the
city
1t was a great dry for our public
schools, and it gave the people an insight
into what Prof. Howell and his assistants
are doing for the youth of the city-edu-
eating them in both head and heart.
Music was furnished by an orchestra
led by Miss Evie Ellis at the piano, with
Miss Maggie Moring and Master Charlie
Watson, violinists, and Messrs. Bruner
and Edgerton, cOrnetists.
The singing was led by a choir composed
of Miss Minnie Tucker, Mrs. w. III. Bob
bitt. Miss Mamie Robbins, Miss Lula
Holden Miss Maggie Harris Miss Pattie
Montgomery, DIR. w. s. Primrose, Mr..
Samuel Young, Mr.. w r. Overton
Mr.. Meares gave the free use of the
hall, and Darnell and Thomas the use Of
a good piano.
Too much praise cannot be given Prof.
Howell and his assistants for the admir-
able manner in which these exercises
| were conducted. The teachers in the
Raleigh public schools are:
Superintendent Logan ID. Howell.
Centennial Schedules Mabel Hale,
principal; Miss Minnie Redford, Mrs. Z.
| c. Patterson, Miss Belle Fleming, Miss
Lizzie Bellamy, Miss G. f. Bailey, Miss
l.. Riddle, Mrs. S. S. Williams, Mrs. M.
b. Terrell Mrs. J. NJ. Barbee, Miss Nj. T..
Barbee Miss Il. |. Register.
Murphy School-Miss Eliza A. Pool,