River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1904-03-10
MISS BELLE FRYE,
MAY 10, 1860; MARCH Q, 1904.
A Tribute. Funeral Sermon, by
Rev. E. E. Clough, at the M.
E. Church, March 4, 1904.

This does not say very much, but
it is the almanac from the cradle to
the grave. 1t is the span of human
life, the beginnings and the endings
of an opportunity upon the earth.
1t is wonderful to be human be-
ing, possessed of unfolding capabil-
tiles, and the opportunities given to
mortal to be of service to his fell
lows. Some in one way, some in
others, but each seeking to do good
Some work in earth, some in clay,
some in stone, some in wood, some
in iron, some in gold or silver, some
in precious jewels, but others assist
in the moulding and fashioning of
human lives, equipping for life and
opening broader careers to others.
They fashion human souls. No
life can be given to anything so i'm
portant as to the training of youth.
This life was given to this work
from early womanhood to broken
health. Much of her life work had
been done in this city and vicinity,
and l, astranger, ann speaking to you
who were her pupils. esterday,
after the coming of the sad telegram,
her life and its influence was the
theme of the conversation of many.
Several remarked that she had help
ed to shape the life work of the
younger people of this city and
vicinity.
Among the teachers there are
various aptitudes; among schools
there are those that vary in degrees
of difficulty, and that by the very
logic of the case. 1t is no fault of
the youth-that the eth" and "Sth"
grades are the most difficult to teach
and to manage. These schools are
at the most difficult ages in the
period of adolescence. The youth
have in their own minds outgrown
their childhood, in their own minds
they are young men and maidens,
but to parents and teachers they are
in the transition period from the de-
pendence of childhood to the self
reliance of maturity, and are there
fore in the most critical period of
human life, physically, mentally and
morally. A period of great diff
Guilty in managing because of the
different temperaments. 1t is easy
to break down the child physically,
to mar it socially, to give it mis-
direction morally, to ALLEVIATE itfrom
a love for knowledge so that it be-
comes the educational turning point
in the public school life of the
American youth. If anyone doubts
this he has only to go through the
various grades and then come into
the High school. During the past
five years there has been discussion
of the public school, and the fact
that the great army of boys and
girls leave off school with the gradu-
alton from the grammar grade.
I have felt for years that the edu-
cational future of the multitudes of
Americas splendid young people
depended upon the inspiration and
influence of the grammar grade
teacher. Young people of that age
are moral chemists, they can ana
lyze the component parts of a teach
er's character with the skill and
accuracy of competent assayer.
And the capable teacher who is con-
tent to stay in that grade year after
year, each year taking new class
and each year sending another for
ward, keeping step in the march of
mental attainments, who can keep
the boys in line and the girls in am
bition, SO that they shall gladly pass
from grammar grades to the High
school, is of value beyond salary,
and beyond computation.
The modern High school is about
on a par with the college of CEN
fury ago, and it is open to all who
will enter its portals for ampler
equipment for life. I speak from
wide acquaintance in east and west,
when I say the most difficult place
or point in education is where the
youth debates the question: "Shall
l remain longer in school or shall [
go out and begin to earn my living |?
Haven't I education enough?" 1t
isn't SO much by advice, or by argu-
ment, as by that silent, yet most
potent power of personal influence,
somehow kindling the feeling of
'smatter of course" in the pupils