The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-07-23
THE TEACHERS
BECOME PUPILS.
Some Reflections Which the Roanoke
School of Methods Brings.
ONE WAY TO SPEND A VACATION.
The Conscientious Instructor VIII
Never Let Her Powers Lie Dormant
and Aftcr All There Are Many
Worst Ways OF Resting.

ROANOKE, VA. July 1a.-special.-
Not long ago a pupil ga New York
school chose for the subject Of her grad
uating essay. "Humor a Necessity in the
Teacher" was struck with this subject
and on reflection I arrived az the cc--
clusion that that girl was right for yeriy
to become a Grst-class teacher, teach
or I'm the truest sense Of the word ono
must possess in a decree-and the greater
the degree the bctter-the sense Of hui
NOR together with the power OF getting
an the pleasure possible ont Of lie.
4 HAPPY CLASS.
A popular writer says. "lt IS a sad
mistake TO take things seriously. espe-
cialuy for women" Taking this for
granted Jet us suppose that an teachers
have this way Of looking at the world
making the most OF life. getting the very
best out OF every circumstance which
Providence throws I'm the way Then II
this be true (Which Of course In reality
10 is not I'm every case), teachers are as "a
rule "a happy class of people. Especially
arc they so when once cut OF from an
responsibility. when far removed from
their schools and their little charges who
but reflect the teacher I'm every word
and act.
TEACHERS ONLY KNOW.
Who but a teacher knows what tits 20
stand IN a sitting school room day after
day for perhaps nine long. weary months
teaching talking and smiling. Rain or
shine sick or well. happy or unhappy.
she must be on hand. No matter how
human she may be. how much she longs
20 throw off some Of her dignity, 20 fiirt
10 dance. TO do anything rather than to
be CoOd-oh. so good that all her pupils
think that she has attained 90 sancthca-
ton How many teachers. when hemmed
I'm bv four square walls and surrounded
by a score or more Of innocent little ag-
eravating beings have cried out; "ch
hvpOcrite. cease thy work and longed
Ike Sampson Of old 20 grasp the pillars
and level 10 the ground the prison that
held them. and soar upward. upward
Ike eagles until only the vast and in
finite heavens could hold their souls
Who knows but teacher what 10 is TO
have a last day of school
"Oh, gift OF God. a perfect day.
Whercon must no man work. but play;
Whereon it IS enough for me
Not 10 be doing. .but 90 be-"
Teachers know what it is, and as the
warm days come on apace. their hearts
turn to that which is restful. and cool
and calm.
Fain would they say 10 themselves:
Let MS rest ourselves a bit,
Worry, Wave your hand TO IT,
Kiss your hnger-tips and smile
il farewell a little while"
BID CARE FAREWELL.
Pity it is that they can't always do
this-bld farewell TO worry FOR "a whole
long rcstful summer. and like the lotus
eaters drca-l the whole vacation away
i'm some sylvan nook They some Of
them. feel lazy. sentimental and nOcdcal.
and indulge with Eugene Field In a de-
liehtful little spell Of melancholy and
sing:
IL look in tho brook and see a face
Heigh-ho. but the years go by
The rushes are dead I'm the old-time place.
And tho willows l knew when child
was /.
And the brook g. seemeth % say.
AS ever 30 stealcth ON ifs way
Solemnly now. and not in play!
oh. come W4ih me
TO the slumhrous sea
That is gray with the peace OF the even
ms sky
Heiph-ho bat The years go by
/ would TO God that q child We're T."
TO S. pleasant 90 sit by a stream and
imagine YOU see reflected 300 its placid
waters the face OF some friend or de-
parted loved one But wide-awake,
energetic, teacher SIS too restless, too
eager for something new something
higher and better and broader and n0bler
than TO Jet her intellectual powers lie
dormant an vacation. To such a teacher
come the question, How can 1 best spend
my h0lidays?'
ORDER REVERSED.
The answer has suggested itself 90
some of them, and they say. Let us De
children again. Let us 90 10 school and
not teach but be taught. I'm obedience 90
this voice Of the mind six hundred teach
ors not only of tho State of Virginia,
but representatives Of eight other States
besides. have come TO Roanoke. some
have come directly from the crowded
school room. weary and worn; others
From out the country places cool and
clear
They fash into the maze of city streets"
Some of these teachers have not had
so much as q Whit of the breath of a
locomotive half "a dozen times ln so many
months; others are rejoicing in tho
mountain air and cool. delightful nights
which IS so great a contrast 90 the hot
sitting air OF the eastern towns and
cities from which they hail. What q
philosopher IS Ella Wheeler Wilcox
when she says:
Laugh and the world laughs with YOU"
Never was there truer saying
VIRGINIA HOME LEAVING
Let us imagine few things for a lit
tie while and see what comes of IL:
u is early morning
The scene is an old fashioned COUNTRY
home I'm one Of the counties Of middle
Virginia. All Of the family are at the gate
to say goodbye to one Of ,he household
daughter who according 10 custom Is
going away, this time for a few weeks
recreation or study ia a summer school
AnectiOnate gOOdbycs are said. advice.
admonitions. fun, laughter a few signs.
kisses, perhaps tear, "a second gOodhre
an around ana she is off. 70 is q bright
lovely summer day. The eight miles drive
10 the station Is one Of exhilaration. First.
there are long vistas through cool, shady
woods. then river. an old mill. another
stream, corn-helds and farm-houses. Pc
destrians and wagOners by twos and
threcs and singly Now and then a IA
miiiar face Is seen, and once a fresh. rosy
checked. green-looking young farmer. driv.
ing wagon. calls out in passing
"Howdyi' WHATS the natter" asks
the teacher Of her brother. who seems
much amused. "That IS a new acquaint-
ance Of mine. DO you think you could,
with your eiocutionary talent initiate
that toner" She thinks not. but the
freshness Of that boy will remain pleas
ant memory.
TWO TO- PLACES.
Once AT the station-of course. an hour
too early-there IL nothing TO be done
but walk around. buy fam chat with the
depot agent and sit down and wait. \
crowd Of loungers outside are killing time
by listening TO an old negro who is