The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-06-17

Athens, Ga, June I6.-The most in
teresting feature of to-day at the
University chapel was the reading of
', the essay OF Miss Isabella Jordan Of
the State Normal School. The subject
was What will she do with it7'
Among other things she said:
I'VE are inclined to doubt the prop
osition that a little learning is a dan
gerous thing for. as little light is
better than total darkness, so a little
knowledge is better than absolute ig-
norance. II we who go forth from
the Normal School can bear aloft the
torch of education and illumine some
benighted section of Georgia we shall
have repaid. in some small measure,
What would she do with it7 She
would irrigate the desert Of igno-
rance and make 1t blossom; she would
unstop deaf ears and open 'eyes that
see not; she would create healthful
social atmosphere in the school COM
munity; she would band her pupils
into a civic beauty league; she would
their mental growth; she would put
into their lives. all the beauty the
Creator intended should be there. In
a word, she would teach them, not
ploddingly to exist, but to live--to
live lives ennobled with meaning, with
purpose, with possibilities.
Again she made her vow to teach,
but this time she consecrated to the
high calling an abiding faith a tire
Lac Ave
indeed. 1t was, that she made 1t
fixed purpose.
The first day, at her little country
school was one to put her mettle to
the test. The only ornaments on the
wall were a bundle of well-worn "hick-
cries." greasy papers and ragged text
books Uttered the floor, thick coat
of dust covered the rude, knife-hack-
ed desks. But dust an inch deep will
give way before a broom welded by
a brave hand. The teachers courage
rose. This was the very field where
she could put her theories into prac-
tice. How dingy and bare were the
walls! They should have a coat of
whitewash and pictures TO break the
monotony. Then, there were no black
boards, but of course the trustees
would supply them when she told them
that states were menace to health
and cleanliness. She smiled as she
broke the switches. With infinite love
she wduld apply psychology before
she applied the rod.
The patrons had begun TO arrive
"Lawsy mel" said one of the mothers.
look at the child breakin' up them
switches. It's a good thing the woods
is full OF 'em. Wal. I'm mighty glad
ter see yer, fur we didn't 'spect ter
have no school after Bill Jones quit,
and it's a powerful relief ter git sket
of the chillun durin' the day. Now,
here's my Sally. She's mighty smart;
knows ev'y one of her A B C's, an
hit amt goin' ter he no time tell she
kin read"
Another parent claimed the teachers
attention. MY Lula's mighty fur ad-
vanced. She kin say ev'y one of the
states and capitals; and as for rith-
metic. she's got sech head fer figgers
that, do you know. she kin say her
multipercation table baak'ards.
waneher ter push 'er in her 'rith-
metic."
wal. Lawd knows" said another
"sammie n have ter be pushed, and
n you kin larn him anything, you'll be
dom mon his pa or ma or anybody
else has liver did. Don't you hesitate
ter lick I'm. fer ! low II takes beatin
and a plenty Nv Il 10 learn kome folks
anything" with this and kindred adj
vice the fret day. az least. wore itself
out
Bvt one day. even such q day could