Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1901-08-09
Maryland Summer School.

Mr.. Editor: Having just completed q
course of study at the Maryland Summer
School, held at the Maryland Agricultural
College, College Park, and having returned
home to rest and further development of
the various ideas gained, wish to tell you
OF what found there. / would feel selfish
indeed If failed to tell my friends and fel
low teachers few Of the delightful expert
ences that filled most beneficial and en-
joyable month.
As many of my readers will probably
know, (though did not the college proper
Is situated In a pleasant grove upon an emf
nence that commands lar reaching views OF
the surrounding country, and Is reached
latter leaving the cars) by drive which
certainly creates in ones mind an exp ectant
feeling of what will follow
Arriving at the college, an utter stranger,
late one evening, and, contrary to expecta
ton, having no friends to Immediately join
me, my first impressions are probably worth
considering.
1t was then about half past eight, had
been in the cars since four, so l hastily
changed my dress and went down to mingle
with the number that had already gathered
In the little company that joined found
a treat in store for me. Minds of culture,
minds keen, minds so bright and quick
that although quite tired had to periorce
join in or be reduced to a state Of perpetual
inanity, otherwise giggle)
This mingling of thought and flow of con-
versation is to my mind not one of the least
important features of ones culture or ave
nues of broadening ones mind. Facility
and ease OF expression, though more natural
to some than others, are gained only by the
exercise thereof, and although we may by
constant communion with books become
possessors Of ideas, yet 1t would be selfish
at least TO keep them always to ourselves. -
II Is what we give out that does US the most
good, not what we receive. have dwelt
upon this thought because II had entered in
with my preparations for study this sum
mer. AS teachers we have little time for
social intercourse, and we are constantly In
communication with minds supposed to be
inferior and certainly immature, and we
need this brushing up" and feeling OF un.
certainty to keep Us from over self conf
dence.
had not fully decided upon what course
to take, so the following day l took the
straight ticket to lectures One succeeded
another and found myself in class from
eight TO five. Here | was In terrible d.
lemma
Original experiments In chemistry always
appealed to me, for liked TO be Cup and
doing" Cutting up the bugs in entomology
of course was not quite so fascinating, for
could not fully realize that all feeling van
ished when the bug was lying inanimate
but then what wouldn't | give to roll off
such names Platyysylla or Proctotrypidsl,
etc., in such don't-care way as Prof Hines.
Physical culture Perish the thought OF
leaving that out. Why If kept that up I'd
soon be able to jump over the moon and
| find out II my suspicious were not true
that it is merely the idea of hero worship
latent in all OF US that makes us think the
only two inhabitants we can see there the
most beautiful man and woman ever known,
Rambles In the woods on botanical ex Pc
ditions, boring under ground in pursuit OF
soil-physcs, o, I'd give 1t all up rather than
torsake any one, and think another was get
ting that when couldn't.
My good angel must have decided in the
night for me, for the next week settled
down to physical culture, drawing, litera-
ture, mathematics, and an occasional soil
| physics lecture.
Each professor declared himself willing to
devote any amount of time to US individu-
ally outside of the class hour, 80 really the
lever classes we took the greater amount OF
real knowledge would he ours.
My letter would be incomplete, indeed
without mention Of the social feature Of
our stay. | have already touched upon It,
and had probably thought before going OF
the pleasure Of meeting few friends, but
the expectations of all were certainly "Out-
Heroded," and in solemn conclave each
night 1t was decided among the girls that,
"Ths was the best day since we've been
here"
Invitations came pouring in upon us not
only from our president, but from each
member of the faculty, and while study was
the order Of the day reception" was the
password of the night
would like TO describe them to you, but
will leave that for you to read in our Jour
nal" which was ready for publication when
we lett and which will tell you so much
more than can think Of. | can only say
that when think of those delightful gath
erings where we all felt 80 perfectly at home
and where pleasure seemed 30 much mat
ter of course, to me the idea OF the old Mary.
land and Virginia hospitality is no longer
matter of tradition. but will remain always
pleasant reality.
| REPRESENTATIVES,