The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-08-04

: ii ID. 81
Especial Correspondence of The Times
Dispatch.]
Fl MADISON, VA, August 3.--On Fri
day. July 26th, Madison county had the
honor of welcoming State superinten-
dent. ]. y. Eggleston and District ES-
amiNer .Maphis in er.midst The. eIi-,
tire day was given up&to a social meet
ing etween the above named GENTLE
men and the teachers, addresses :hyf
the distinguished visitors and promi-
nent citizens Of Madisons.Iand the
TEACHERS Association, offs, Madison
county. I. '.f7-' 4 Y
+; ,rhBtdwalls of. the courthouse vera
tastefullye decorated with drawings
done by the pupils of the normal, and
the ladies of the normal showed their
fine aesthetic taste by the beautiful
ever green ana flowers WHICH were ar
ranged in such a manner a S to gal
forth the highest .encomiums Of al
present.
At the social which took place at 10
O clock. every teacher had the rare
privilege of a personal meeting and
handshake with Mr.. EgglestonN and MI.
Maphis. Each of these gentlemen made
some very appropriate and spicy re- re.
marks to the teachers. "a t Fl O'Clock
addresses was carried out. ..535. 81.
The meeting was opened with prayer
by Rev. w. p. Huddle; then Hon. J. p.
Thrift delivered the address of well
I-come Mr.. Thrift was at his best.
He showed by his remarks that he WAS
both interested in. educational work
and capable of representing the hest
interests not only OF Madison and
Greene counties. but Of the entire State
in the coming session of the Iegisla-
l5ture. His remarks were timely anu
appropriate.
Rev. C. a. Hall rendered "oh. Promise
Me-, with emotion and skill, after
(which Hon. James Hay introduced SUI
| permtendent Eggleston in a. very ap-
Ispropriate speech which was made .es-
peclally happy by witty remarks in
spired by the song which preceded. His
/ talk showed his deep love for the pro-
| fession Of teaching and sympathy for
those engaged in this noble calling
He spoke of Mr.. Eggleston as being the
| peer Of any superintendent In our cour.
| try. His remarks evineed his owr
strong literary taste. which gave a pc
| cular richness and flavor to his
/ speech.
+ Superintendent Eggleston went al
EonGe, to. the heart Of his subject, Throw
/ presented facts and Figures with tell
i Ing effect. His arguments were I'M
| answerable. He touched the following
Imam points with a general survey and
4 then followed this up by full details
/ and arguments to- substantiate tn.
main headings of his speech. Taxation
i as applied to schools was handled ii
such a. clear-cut, forceful manner thai
4 the people who listened to him fel
Il that they must have education. TIL
Il expression on the faces OF those pres
I ent seemed to indicate that they wer
i in thorough sympathy with the fact
i he presented on this much ,cussed an,
Il discussed subject, The speaker mex
I dealt with the question of better teach
!: ers. He mentioned two ways In which
4 we could obtain better teachers. FRS
by offering better pay: second by civ,
. ing teachers the opportunity OF goot
!, summer normal schools convenien
to them, The next topic was better
: buildings. He showed by numerous
examples that we'll located AM
!. artistic school building would add
Ito the value Of real estate
4 for miles around such centr,
a OF culture and refinement. He ais
i showed that tllis was too low stand
! lard by which to Judge the beneficien
results OF a good schoo. He spoke II
i glowing terms OF the increased mora
a tone and the higher and nobler aspi
rations called forth and developed |
= the pupil by a we'll organized and con
Quoted school In neighborhood TIL
n consolidation of schools was handle
In such way that even the most Il
y credulous were wholly persuaded tina
consolation With the added feature o
transportation OF the children to Ath
4 building could be applied to alnos
a any district or section OF country IN
q der ordinary circumstances, lie demon
strated that the one-teacher schoo
|'could accomplish Just about one-fourt
! as much5ias a two5teacher school, I
other words. consolidation not only re
duced tbs teaching force necessary I
handle a given number OF children, bt
also that tho social value Of a create
number of children being brought Ia
gether and the increased progress l
their studies far more than compen
!, stated FOR the added expense in hiring
cling about better school organzatio