Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-08-13

theme was early Influences. Cap
tain Evans is well known as a very
forceful speaker and he more than up
held his reputation. His address is
as follows:
1t has been my pleasure to have ap-
peared before the teachers of Mapello
county on several occasions, and each
time prior to this, have announced
theme and talked on the subject that
was advertised, more or less pertinent,
ly, as some of you may testify
On this occasion, however, | Will
have no set theme OF subject. Not |
that | propose to talk at random for |
that would be dealing unjustly with
an audience. 1t is a duty that speak
'er owes to his hearers to prepare him |
self the best that he can, so that he
may be able to say something that
will entertain, or be of benefit to those
who pay him the compliment OF listen
ing to what he may offer.
With these thoughts in view | will |
make brief address and then you
will be privileged to name or adjust a
title to it, and call it what you please.
Not to Platter.
| do not wish to offer tiattery at the
beginning in order to gain your good
Dul Call WIFI lllllH oeiJ, tLiut
I would rather talk to an association of
school teachers than any other class
of hearers. And why? Because | know
that although they are critical, they
are eminently just. Because they can
overlook any lack of oratory and dis
Germ only the thought that may be ex-
pressed.
Exercise Patience.
ole hot of
your lives you are compelled to eXer-
else patience IN your attempts to dis
cover good in the pupils over whom
you have control and | am sure that
you will as patiently endeavor to find
something goou in that which | shall
offer.
Congratulate the Teachers.
Before | go farther: Let me con-
graduate you teachers on your pleas
ant environments. You have comfort
able school houses over which you are
sovereigns; you have broad minded
state superintendent of public instruc,
ton; you have as county superintend-
ent man of culture who has your best
interests at heart, and you of Ottum-
wa have city superintendent who
has no superior in tie west as an edu-
Gator; you of Ottumwa have been ia
vored also in the past with county SUI
Derintendents who nave been men en-
inently well qualified for the place.
The board of school directors elected
as they have been as nonpartisans, are
gentlemen who lave no other wish.
nor interest to serve, except the public
good.
An Age OF Progress.
The existence Of an association such
as this, is of itsell evidence that we
live in an age of progress. A century
that has given to the world the steam
boat, the railway car, the house with
modern improvements, the telegraph
the monograph, is an era Of revela
--JtiouS. If, one century ago, such in
ventions as are now in daily use hat
been predicted, the prophet would
have been without honor not only ir
his own country but every other coun
try. 1t could not have entered into the
minds of men of that day, the thing:
that are now in evidence. VIVA
would have been thought of Caesar i
in his time, he had announced to thu
people that he had just received /;
message from Britain that his legion
on that day--only an hour before, hat
gained great victory. Yet his troop
had gained victories and it is possibl
now that news can be flashed from
Britain to Rome IN moment of tins
A Remarkable Achievement.
1t was deemed most remarkabl
achievement when st. Helen establish
ed line of signal posts between Jer,
salem and Constantinople, in orde
that she might the sooner convey t
the emperor, news of her dlscoyerie
whilst she was searching the Hol
City and it's environs for the tru
cross, but how startled would hav
been the ears of Constantine had b
heard the voice of the princes
through a telephone, announcing he
discovery.
So we may argue, that as scientif
inventions have multiplied SO soci'
conditions have improved and kel
edge of Things.
Restraints Are incongruous.
The restraints that hedged in won
en- during the Dark Ages are as incoi
gruous now as the rude inventions {
that day would De IN comparison wit
the splendid results of modern civiliz;
ton.
So, l feel honored in being permi
ted to address an association mad
UP mainly of women, who are devote
to the diffusion of knowledge, wome
as teachers are products of the highes
civilization of which we boast. 7
them is confided the task of maxim
early impressions on the minds of til
youth who are to be the future me
and women of the country. And tn
leads me to speak briefly of early i
fiuences:
A Great Change.
If the great Napoleon had perishe
at Moscow. or had been killed as
wished to be, at Waterloo, the wor
would not have known of some of tt
most wonderful traits of his characte
as they were revealed later on, duril
the captivity at st. Helena. He wi
was one of the mightiest of warrio
and the most august of monarch
who at one time aimed at universal {
minion, and almost secured twas