The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-07-12
IN HISTORIC eILMsR
Prof Crago Writes OF that County and
Institute Work.
Special Correspondence.


CHENILLE, w. Va, July This
finds me in Chenille, Gllmer county, in
the midst of institute work in assisting
to conduct one OF the best Institutes,
botiG as to numbers and everything
that goes to make up meeting OF this
kind. ever held In the county, so say
those who are present, and have at
tended In former years, Professor S, .,
Brown, of the university, is my col
league in the work which assures the
success of the meeting, lie was for
FIVE years principal OF the normal school
at this place, and has host of friends
here, which shows conclusively that he
did the same good work here that he Is
now doing at the university, and that
he has done wherever he has engaged
In teaching.
This is surely grand old historic
county, and the people true to the ira
dltlons OF their ancestors, love these
hills, pointing skyward, and fairly wor-
ship the school planted here by the
state. This Is the home of Miss Emma
Wlthers, author of the book OF poems
entitled "Wildwood Chimes" Those
who have read the beautiful poems con-
tanned in the little volume referred TO,
will remember I'm Camden Wood" on
account OF It's beauty of diction and its
fidelity to nature. but they Will have to
remember the wood only as something
that did exist from the fact that the
wood has fallen before the woodman's
axe, and corn grows now where once
the oak lowered toward heaven. This
Is also the home OF c. Il, Conrad, a
member of the Virginia convention in
1861, that took the old state of Virginia
out az the union and would have taken
our part OF the Old Dominion with It,
had 1t not been that the love for the old
flag kept 1t true. Mr.. Conrad stood
firm, as did also Senator Wiley and James
Burnley, He was one of the fifteen mag
Istrates who composed the court at the
organization OF Gilmer county, nifty
years ago He has served for forty
| five years as clerk of either the county
or circuit court OF the county-he haV-
ing just retired from the circuit clerk
ship being successded by Thomas j.,
Hardman, one of Gilmer's brightest
young teachers and general favorlte
with all and especially with the young
ladies'. whose smiles thus for have fall
ed TO take him from the ranks OF bach
elordom, though what rumor says con-
corning him, would not do for me to
make public
Chenille Is a beautiful little town.
full OF the most hospltable people !
have ever met, but were Ia tell OF the
trials and trlbulatlons OF one coming
here from Weston across the country.
twepty-seven miles away and that on
the hottest day of the season, July 3,
1897, fear 1t would take away the de-
sire of visiting here, to And out the
truth of what soy The weather up to
last evening has been the hottest ever
experienced by the Oldest Inhabitants
To-day Is an improvement, but 1t Is
still so warm as TO be unpleasant. There
now is enrolled as members OF the
institute, one hundred and fifty teach
ers. and those expecting to become
teachers: this being about twenty-five
In excess OF the enrolment Of last year.
A finer body OF teachers will not be
found anywhere. The good work done
by the Chenille normal school Is very
apparent. The majority Of the teach
ers are graduates OF the school and as
far us can be seen they are credit to
the school. Ninety-four OF the mem
bers OF the institute are gentlemen and
flfty-six are ladies'.
The normal school building Is not
specimen OF architectural beauty View
ed from the outside, though the halls
are spacious and the school rooms well
arranged,and theresa good library con-
nected with II. Professor Holden, the
principal, surely has great hold on
the people here and had he not been re-
turned there would have been pros
poets Of little riot to say the least.
BY the way, 1t is amusing to hear the
comments on the work OF the normal
school regents at Clarksburg. Some
think that much good was done, while
others seem to think that everything
would have been 5ust as well had things
been left Just as they were, for in look
ing over the field after the smoke of
battle has cleared away, the little
change that has been made cannot
show much for good. In more than one
instance, those who seemed to be most
popular, were set aside and those who
have rendered themselves very unpop-
ular are retained. The writer Is just
merely giving what he hears and but
very little of that. but It would no
doubt be interest (2) for the Republican
members OF the board TO hear some Of
the comments of Democrats on their
action: but be It as 1t may, the normal
schools will so on. and II given half q
chance, will do the same good work
they have been doing since they became
n part of our public school system.
Teachers may come and teachers may
90, but the normal schools go on for
ever. The people OF Chenille take
great pride In their normal. They
have so much interest In It that they
resent anything they think might harm,
There is an educational sentiment here
that will ever be n living influence for
the good of the school. A generation OF
men and women have been educated
within Its walls, that will ever work
for its good wherever they may go.
Gienvtiie Is surely q pleasant little town
to visit, and when the long looked for
railroad comes, and II will come there
Ia nothing 90 hinder rapid growth In
population, which will cause 1t to be-
come ono OF the important little cities
of our great commonwealth.
We are well cared for at the Whiting
House, and Mine Host and Hostess,
Mr.. and Mrs, Todd, viii long be remem-
t..,..l 80, NAnIe EInI hnunINultIts