The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-31

clear and distinct enunciation which
carried force with what she said.
Miss McCloskey dwelt upon the re-
markable liking the great majority of
children have for pictures and the adj
vantage of pictures as an aid to the
education of the child. She suggested
combining the work in nature study
with works of art, and said that rep-
resentations of the best worixs Of art
should be used, the animal pictures of
I.andseer and Bonheur and the land
scapes of Carol.
VALUE OF PICTURES.
She told of the value Of pictures In
the study of literature but especially in
the teaching of the simple religious
truths, introducing the wonderful
paintings of the old masters to illus
tTate these truths. She said tina. the
use of pictures was nos only valuable
in refining the taste of pupils, but that
there is no doubt that they bring them
nearer to the truth that In the midst
Of the light is the beautiful, in the
midst Of the beautiful IL the good and
in the midst of the good is God, the
Eternal 'One."
The next speaker was Prof. w. w.
Grant, the new principal of the Scran-
ton High School, who spoke on Teach
ing Children to Think Prof. Grant is
concise, logical speaker, with good
delivery and he made a good impress
sion on his hearers.
He began by describing the complex
workings Of the human brain and how
little is known about it; what it is AMI
how we think. He stated that Herbert
Spencer once said that teachers wer,
responsible for the large amount of
stupid children He told of the differ
ence in various minds, the quick and
active, the careful and thoughtful ani
the slow ard sluggish
He told of the modern school OF phy-
si0logical psychologists known rs the
brass instrument psychologists" who
measure the time we require to think
and other mental facts with mathemat-
ical precision. He then told of tho
sense Of ''apperception" or association
of ideas and said that whatever new
truth is to be taught the pupil il must
De based on an old or familiar one.
In order to have comprehension of a
new IDEA reference must be made to
one already in mind. An utterly new
TACT cannot possibly be "apperceived."
he urged the teachers TO remember
thls fact, which is a basic principle OF
au teachings. In conclusion he told
'hem to be persevering as a human
mind is worth a vast amount of effort,
DIR. MOWRY'S TALK
The next speaker was Dr. Mowrv
who delivered the first of a series Of
lectures hn
speaking on The Battle of the Kings. -
IL Mowry has an easy conversational
hethod coupled with a peculiar brand
OF dry humor which made him friends
with his audience at once.
lie referred to the history of this
country as being the greatest history
IN the world, because it showed the
greatest development progress and up-
hft of man in the shortest time. He
described the discovery Of the country
by Columbus and the settlement of it
by the Spaniards, French and English.
lie referred to the splendid achieve
ments of the Jesuit missionaries
who discovered the Mississippi river
and the work they did among the saw
ages, illustrating his remarks upon a
large map of the country as it appeared
in the eighteenth century.
But the point he dwelt on particular
ly was the results of the battle OF
Quebec, which he spoke Of as being one
Of the worlds decisive battles. He
told of how the victory of the English
in this battle finally overthrew French
rule on this continent and insured the
blessings of Anglo-SaXon civilization
forever.
He also said that it had the effect of
more firmly uniting the colonies for
the blow for liberty which was finally
struck on account of the friendship
ensendered among the colonists from
the various colonies who fought shoul-
der to shoulder on the British side.
DR.. Mowry will continue his lectures
today, Miss McCloskey will again
speak and DR.. Schmucker will begin
his course of lectures.