The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1898-10-27
REPORTED BY MIR. A. l.. LEE.
FRIDAY MORNING.

-
Singing Joy to the World. Read
ing the first chapter of st. John and
prayer by Rev. L. w. Roberts. Sing
ing, Scattering Freedoms Seeds
after which a very excellent paper
on English was offered by C. S.
Friend. A very earnest and enthusi-
astic talk on How to Reach the
Hearts of the Boys" was given by
Prof. George Little Singing, "Col-
umbia, the Gem of the Ocean"
Reading, Mr.. Spoopendyke Ex-
planning the Matter" by Miss Ella
Laughlin. The following paper was
offered by Miss Jennie johnson on
The School Library-its Place, Ben
eft and Value in a System of Public
Instruction.
Last winter while in Washington
visited the Corcoran Art Gallery, and
among the beautiful pictures | saw
one that made great impression
upon met was called ga Helping
Hand" A sad-faced old man was
seated in a boat; he was too tired to
hold the oars. Opposite him was a
I little flaxen haired girl about five
years of age, and who with cherished
confidence had placed her tiny hand
on his to help him reach the shore.
When | received the notice from
Mr.. Palmer that | was to prepare a
paper on the school library | was
greatly surprised, and my first i'm
pulse was to ask him to excuse me,
but | remembered the lesson taught
by that picture. | was willing to try
and lend a helping hand to this my
first institute. 1.-The School Library,
its Place, Benefit and Value in Sys-
TEN of Public Instruction. 1t seems
to be foregone conclusion that
libraries are considered advantageous
and beneficial when we call to mind
the nnmber of them that exist. There
is scarcely college in the land that
lacks library. Every city, town and
village has one or is making an effort
to secure one. Then we have the
numberless reading clubs and circles
which find good soil in busy lives and
bring forth fruit, also reading rooms,
for making men and women. Large
fortunes, in many instances, have
been devoted exclusively to the pur-
pose of establishing libraries. | am
glad to say that in our public schools
we have the nucleus of good one and
it is to be hoped that from time to
time we can add thereto and thereby
make it a greater help to the public.
1t goes without saving that every
child at some time in its life reads |
some books. 1t is equally true that |
tharn child ron who |
find their greatest pleasure in books, |
but who, alas! lack the fine art of
choosing them, or equally fine art of
reading them. He who reads that |
in which he is not interested merely !
wastes his time" and | believe this to |
be true. Children's books are the
first necessity, because the funda-
mental idea of the library is educa-
tion, and the children are more easily |
trained to enjoy good books than !
adults The best biography, history,
science and travel are alone worth |
buying. Some of the older poets,
beginning with Shakespeare, includ- |
ing the two Brownings, Byron, Keats,
Pope, TennysOn, Poe, and the best of |
all for the boys and girls is Longfel-
low History, both ancient and mod |
Vi II, anu lllN CbbllNtlltl |
works of fiction placed within the |
reach of our boys and girls in the
public schools would be of great ben
eft. In the homes of many books
are the exception and not the rule. |
Many a boy thirsts foran opportunity f.
to gain more knowledge, yet lacks
the means. A good public school
libgary meets this want. Teachers .
ap6 YNnTniIC otilyn honnf,f+aI
Books of reference are helpful to the |
teacher and Friday afternoon set
apart once or twice month for read
ing to the pupils and having them
read would add greatly to the general
knowledge.
DR.. Forman then gave an excellent .
talk on history. Singing Seeds of
Promise" after which the following
resolutions were read before the in
stitute by Prof. r. II. Sanner, after
which they were voted upon by the
institute and adopted unanimously; /
ReSOI0ed, That this years institute .
has been decided success considered .
from any point of view-surpassing
all previous Institutes in the history
of our county, and for the successful .
conduct of it we acknowledge our
obligations:
1st. To the State Board of Educa-
tion for the interest shown in direct .
ing our county Board of School Com .
missioners to pay its teachers for their
attendance.
2nd. To DR.. Forman, our worthy .
institute conductor, DR.. Y. b. Moss, .
w. L. Taliaferro, Col. j. A. NJ. Pass
more, Prof. Little and S. Il. Jones for
their excellent instruction.
3rd. To our esteemed examiner, U.
g. Palmer, for his untiring efforts in
perfecting the arrangements, neglect