Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-04

memories And it makes no difference how
old we become we still occasionally think OF our
good old school days, and sometimes uncon-
sciously find ourselves humming one Of the
tunes that we learned in one OF the Garner
grades Perhaps one of these taught us by
that dear old man, Prof. Daniel who visited
our school at least once week and had us
sing for him:
Baby by, here's fly;
We will watch him, you and J.
How he crawls up the walls
Yet he never falsl
believe with those six legs
You and could walk on eggs!
There he goes on his toes,
Tickling baby's nosel
or maybe that little pony song. the words
Of which went something like this:
Hop, hop, hop, 60 and never stop,
where tits smooth and where It's stony,
Trudge along, my little pony;
Go and never stop; hop, hop hop. hop, hop
-t1ey hey, heyl Go along. say!
DO not kick, and do not stumble;
Do not tire, and do not grumble.
Go along. sayl Hey, hey, hey, hey hey?'
And on the days when the old professor or
one of his assistants did not come the teacher
would review us on the pieces In our Song
Garden" that are still so near and dear to us,
like winter, Adieu" "See where the rising
sur. in splendor, decks the skies; Lightly
row! Lightly row! Ger the CLASSY waves we
CO.; what does little birdie say in her nest
at peep of day. Come roam in the wood
lands" and "Tripit lightly along. singing gayly
q song"
NHAYBE it is because we have been out Of
touch with such matters for so long and
are not familiar with present-day teaching yet
whatever the reason Is, it does seem to the old
timer that the songs taught the children today
do not carry the same patriotism and devo-
ton and the same morals as did the songs
Of bygone days. Take this one, for instance,
that was taught in the schools at least half
century ago and which Is 50 true and instTuc-
tive In its meaning:
ANGRY words too oft are spoken
In rash and thoughtless hour;
Brightest links OF life are broken
BY their false and evil power.
Angry words too oft are spoken,
Evil thoughts by them are stirred:
Brightest links in life are broken
BY single angry word.
Angry words Oh let them never
From the tongue unbridled slip;
May gentle spirit ever
Check them ere they soil the lip."
n there Is ever a time in which to shape
child's character and its future, that time IS
most assuredly in its youngest days. Prof
Daniel knew this, and the early school board
was not slow in taking advantage Of the oppOr-
tunity, and many Of the good men and good
women of our beautiful city viii today give
credit TO the instructions received in the schools
Of washington for all they are or expect to be;
instructions faithfully impaired by fine type
Of men and women, past and present, who
have made the teaching of children life study,
. LIES work. and in many cases real sacrifice
for the benefit of humanity.
To carry on successfully any line of endeayor
and particularly so the professions requires
fitness for and a love Of the subject. Prof.
Daniel was in every way qualified for the duties
Of his position to which he first appointed
in 1856. He was not the first instructor of
music In the public. schools, that honor going
to Prof. J. H. Hewitt, who was appointed in
1845, but Prof Daniel continued In office until
the end when he was than four score
Of years.
OCCASIONALLY we come across man who
In some particular activity in which he
gained Tenown was absolutely self-taught, and
Humphrey Daniel, who was born at Dover
Mills, Aldie, Loudoun County. Va, on
June TO- 1916 and came to this city before he
had reached his majority, ostensibly for the
purpose of developing his voice and improving
his knowledge of music. Like Andrew john
son he early became tailor. and by 1843,
when he was just ~ years Of age, we find him
conducting a merchant tailor establishment on
the north side Of Pennsylvania avenue between
Sixth and Seventh streets, along about where
rs the Metropolitan Hotel, and in what was
then known the Concert Hall Buildings In
1850 he was still following this occupation, his
home being the north side Of q street be-
tween Fourth and Fifth streets northwest.
Mr.. Ernest H. Daniel, well known Washing
tonian, and a grandson OF the old music teach