Year: 1859

Standardization Institute

 MR. EDITOR: Education exerts an in huence so powerful on the happiness of man, and so completely controls motives ahd all other principles in the formation and progress of a young State to a position of influence and greatness, that am in- duced to give to the public, through the wide extended circulation of your paper, brief notice of the public exercises had at the close of the second session of the Union Institute on the 18th and 17th inst.

 This institution is located at Three Creeks, Union county, near the southern boundary of our State, and about midway between Texas and the Mississippi river, and has been raised from the embers of an expiring district school to its present prom thence and superior excellence, within the past year, by the peculiar tact and energy of Prof. J. E. Trimble, A. M, and his ac- complished lady, They opened with Is scholars, and by their popular course, have just closed the second session with over 80 on the catalogue and without assistants, carrying their pupils through searching and rigid examination of two days, to the surprise and entire satisfaction of an ex acting and approaching audience, and de monstrating the peculiar fitness of the yfin- eipals to build up and sustain an 12stitu- ton of the highest order.

 Time and space will not permit me to speak of particular classes, and where all did so well, invidiouS distinctions would be out of place. Itwas evident the classes came forward without pre-concerted ar rangements and the questions were put to each pupil byname in regular rotation, and not to the whole class as is frequently done. This method puts the pupil upon his indi- viduality, and will test scholarship. The male and female departments are kept dis tinct and in separate rooms, under the inn mediate charge of the principals, but were brought together in the examinations, each alternating, thereby afording pleasing variety, and so arranged as to exclude the possibility of the pnpil knowing less than the whole lesson to be prepared to respond. Yet the questions were answered with aston ishing correctness and promptness in stu dies apparently far beyond the years of the pupil. The extent and strictness of the examination afforded convincing evidence of a thorough instruction and diligent ap- plication in the school room.

 The two evenings till late hour. were devoted to reading compositions, vocal and instrumental music and orations b, the young men, The sprightly compositions both for the stage ali for reading, evince a training of the mind of pupils for wri- ting, ofa high order, and the''speaking ould have been creditable in the highest college exercises. A dialogue written for the oc- casion by Mrs. Trimble, was spoken by the youg ladies, which elicited great applause. It was a beautiful omposition-the plot aoounding in instructive and thrilling in cident, and highly valued for its moral tendencies. All the exercises were inter- spersed with performances on the piano. by large music class. Considering the time we were told the young ladies had taken lessons in music-the spirit and cor rectness with which the class performed. their progress has been wonderful. We were persuaded to think that there were other < Jenny Linds, besides the Swe- dish nightingale"

 There were exhibited some pieces of em- broidery and other needle work, which for beauty of design, skill taste and industry Tn execution, presented high attainments Tn that elegant art. Also some oil paint ings, sketched from natural scenery, which would take high place in the American Art Union. It was also remarked that the pupils were governed and prompted to

 

 diligence by affection, and love of their teachers, rather than by stripes, and espe- clal care manifested for their moral train ing; and the young ladies instructed in all the elegant accomplishments of boarding school. Some estimate may be had of the progress made, the industry and intel ligence of teachers and pupils, when we consider the fact that crowd of neonle were kept in their seats without apparent fatigue or weariness fourteen hours each day, and the smiles of appreciation from parents must have been highly gratifying to teachers; it was really day of crown ing success. We were advised that the