The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-04-24

The afternoon session of the Teach !
ers institute opened with a piano
duet by Misses Ina Klnefelter and
Leola Mcclure Following this num-
Der, Miss Mildred Moss, accompanied
on the piano by Miss Louise Burgess,
sang a very pretty solo.
The opening address Of the after
noon was given by Prof S. ID. Fess,
president Of Antioch college, on the
subject, THE Tragedy Of a Soul The
speaker took for an object lesson the
soul of Jean Vatican the hero of
Victor Hugo's Les NIiserables." A
revew of the life Of Vatican revealed
the' tragic suTerings and misery to
which soul is often subjected. The
nrst step downward, OF Vatican, IS
rouud when he steals the loaf of bread
o give to his starving children. For
this. crime, society eXacts nineteen
years of slavery in the galleys from
aim. He makes his escape, but Is
branded as a, convict, and scorned and
bused by the world, because of his
former life. Daily. the man is be
oming more wicked and depraved,
Until. through the mercy of good
I'D bishop. he is reclaimed, and prom
.ses to lead better life. Here the
haracter of Vatican disappears and
submerged in the new life which
he takes up as a priest Now the
owe of the child, Cozette, enters INTO
he life Of Vatican, and he is happier
han ever before. His greatest sor-
ow comes. however. when he sees
her entering beautiful young woman
hood. and knows that Ger long he
must give her up. final attempt to
,ntrap Vallean, is made by his en-
smies, but TO no avail, and the life
If the old man continues peaceful to-
the end
Following the talk by Prof. Fess a
selection was rendered by male
1uartet, composed Of Mcssrs Hayes
Bolander Starbhck and Carmcan,
which was very pleasing.
DIR. II. A. Hartman made the last
talk OF the afternoon, on the subject
Character building in the School
Character as taught in the schools
Is supposed to be dishcd out in
,poonsfull. So much Bible reading so
much lecturing, so much talking to
ifter school hours. until the child be-
comes hardened To this method. We
have books printed from which we
lre to read to the children. But does
that develop the character Of the
,hild? Does It develop your char
1cter? If some one were to ask me
What Is the first element of char
lcterY | would say The system by
which YOU live. There is nothing
which so quickly disorganlzcs school
as lack of system An our motor ac-
tions affect every other person in the
world. Just as the waves spread
when pebble Is dropped into the
water, they grow and grow until they
extend 10 the other shore. so our ev-
cry action touches the lives of those
with whom we come in contact. An
.ther element of character is that Of
self-control The great men are only
those who have become Complete
masters of themselves II ] were ask
ID To whom / would commit my chill
dren for character building. | would
say TO that person who viii never
swerve from the path of duty What
effect can this have upon the child
Stability can have but one effect, and
that Is the building up Of strong
character. The next great element In
character building is will power DO
not confuse this with stubbornness.
VIII power means the determination
in myself to conquer the obstacle pre-
sented to me. Not to go around It,
but, surmount It. Above all things
that boy should learn is that propo-
sltion, BE a man