The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-04-15

The singing at the opening of yes
terday's session of the city teachers
institute was one of the principal fea-
lures of the day. When the opening
song had been concluded Superintend-
cnt Howell requested Professor Derman
to have 1.-THE Star Spangled Banner
sung. 1t was given with such a spirit
as to call from the superintendent the
remark: IF Spain heard you sing 1T
that way there would be no war" The
musical exercises closed with rendi-
tion of Freedom and Union" TO the air
| Of the Marseillase.
Professor II. j. Hockenberry, of the
Tarbondale public schools, gave II
lecture on the value OF declamations.
Iicsuggested that teachers should have
| their pupils learn and declaim the
gems of poetry and oratory both for
the good it effects in forming style and
! for the ennobing sentiment they
| teach. Among his contentious was one
| to the effect that it is best for the
| sake of style not to read too great a.
| variety of works. KoSsuth, he said
whose English orations are so much ad-
| mired. learned all he knew cf the Ian
| guage from a single volume of Shakes
| peare.
PROF WELLS DISCOURSE.
Prof. A. II. Wells instructor in chem
| istry in the high school, gave an inter-
| estns discourse on Great Princi pies
and Simple Experiments" Illustrating
| it with practical experiments. 1t was
one Cf the most entertaining numbers
of the institute programme.
Dr. Sprague closed the session with a
talk on poetry, analyzing several fam
| ous works to show their construction
and style and supplying examples Of
other styles by quotations from various
authors. One Of the remarkable fea-
! lures of DIR. Spragues talks is the fac
ulty with which lie draws apt illustra-
! tions from the best poets or prose
| writer's. Quite as remarkable is his
ability to recite, and in an appreciativa
| way, stan2a after stanZa of these
| works from memory. 1t would seem
that his mind is a vast storehouse
| nbounding in best things Of literature.
Superintendent Howell put the teach
! ers in good humor for the afternoon
session by announcing that Secretary
| Fellows had their March orders ready
and that they could secure them on
their way home.
CHILDREN'S CHORUS.
rhe pupils Of No. 10 school. of which
| Miss Josie Lees is principal, next came
on the stage to discount all former per-
formanccs of pupils Choruses. They
marched in bearing small flags and af-
ter executing q pretty drill sang a
couple of patriotic songs in a really
creditable manner, the singing being
directed by one Of the pupils, Howard
Griftiths, of Price street. Miss Nichols
and Miss Fellows, acted as lieutenants
to Miss Lees in the drill.
How Salvador Won," was recited
with much dramatic effect by Miss
Driesen and for an encore gave a snort
humorous recitation, evidencing rare
talent in this line also. Then for a
second encore, demanded with rapuur-
oll8 applause, she gave COCkney dia-
lect recitation with the same effect
as the previous efforts. 1t was re-
marllably versatile performance.
A MIXED QUARTETTE.
The Misses Lewis and Grinin and
Messrs. Edwards and Owens very
pleasantly sang a couple Of selections
the encore number, a Good Night
song being rendered in an exceptionally
| clever manner.
The concluding lecture of the day was
a continuation Of the analytical treat
ise Of poetry by DR.. Sprague. Like the
morning effort ii was a learned and
interesting talk and was eagerly lis
tened to by the audience.
The institute will close today at noon
A lecture on Geometry by Miss Matte
II. Gregg, of the high school, and an
address by Professor George P. Bible
of the Stroudsburg Normal school, are
the features OF the programme
| Yesterday a number of the teachers
went to Wilkes Barre to visit the
| schools there and observe the methods
| of teaching there employed.