Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 September 1881 — Teachers' Institute. [ARTICLE]

Teachers' Institute.

The teachers of Jasper county eonvened in their annual institute August 15th, and were called to order by Supt. Nowels. Immediately after opening the house proceeded to organize. The election of officers resulted as follows:. Vice President, Lee Glazebrook; Enrolling Secretary, Frank Hunt; Recording Secretary, Madge Osborne; Newspaper 'Reporters, Lillie Bartoo, Boyd Johnson and Alice Irwin. Each member was authorized to act in capacity of Treasurer in that he stored away as much as possible of the excellent mental provender furnished by our able instructors, Messrs. Ransburg, Allen, Hooper and Ufakeever. The following committees were selected: On resolutions, Mr. Roney, Myra Price and B. Johnson; on re-union, Mr. Allen and Allie Johnson; on music, W. de M. Hooper, Miss Hogan and W. W. Watson; on introduction, C. B. Antrim, May Miller and Laura Rathfon.

The Superintendent welcomed the 72 “fair girls and brave boys” assembled, in a short address, in which he clearly defined the aim of the convention to be that of mutual improvement, and not personal aggrandizement; The earnestness and good huraor manifested the first day were characteristic of sessions throughout the week.

Tuesday we had the pleasure of greeting two valuable workers, Mi's. C P. Mitchell, the long expected bride, and Prof. Ransburg, of Valparaiso. Meanwhile a petition had been circulated to hold the remaining sessions in the court room, as the four walls of the high school proved too narrow for the accommodation of such large, audiences as were drawn by the wonderful “outpourings” of eloquence. About 1:30 Wednesday, there might have been seen numerous small, boys on gale posts gazing wondering]y after the procession of pedagogues as they wended their way to 1 lie court room where all were duly and comfortably seated. Mr. Ransburg' then favored us with an hour’s discourse upon the subject of Natural History as a part of Elementary Instruction. The closest attention was elicited. In his opening remarks Mr. Ransburg surprised us with the intelligence that he had “lieat the thunder.” This undoubtedly should be set down as the most remarkable feat of the age. After lecturing two hours the following day upon Natural History as the basis of object and language lessons, and manner of securing and preserving specimens, our “foreign speaker” bade us a kind adieu. In one of his excellent talks upon music, Mr. Hooper claimed that any teacher with a little patience, common sense and skill, though without voice, taste or ear, could teach muaic successfully. Thursday was marked by exceedingly lively discussions upon Administrations, Mrs. C. P. Mitchell taking the hazardous position that secession might be traced as fur back as the organization of our government. It is needless to say that our expectations were great when Miss Bowles appeared Tuesday morning, and our disappointment bitter when we failed to hear one of her instructive talks.

Bro. Wood came up during the afternoon of the same day with the demeanor of one on. whose mind there was a matter of weighty importance, of which he relieved himself later in the session, when, to the, intense surprise of all, he arose and announced the ball to be held in Starr’s HaH the same evening. The Superintendent made a pointed speech ’ upon dancing, in which he neither denounced it as a crime nor held that it was an essential accomplishment. That was not the question at issue. But he knew that the popular sentiment of the county was againftt it, and if we • would secure perfect harmony in our schools, and the hearty support, of patrons, it would be best to yields to that popular sentiment, and it would be a slight concession when compared with those others have made. * . <

The usual programme was followed until Friday, 1:30 p.m., when the forces were iqpstered for the last time and the final roll called. Prizes were awarded by the Superintendent to Chattie Sayers, Ruby Bruce and 'Rosa Coons for the greatest improvement in penmanship. ■.-j. £ f!'. ■ L The report of the committee on h”' '• ‘ ■’ -.‘Tc--- ‘CT’ »

resolutions was accepted ancl the following resolijtioiis adopted: BES(fIWwNSFhSt we favor some plan by whichteachers may be paid according to grade or license. BebolveD) That we express our disapproval of the course of the politicians in many counties in the state, and of own county in particular, in making the office of county superintendent a political office. jßesolved, That we reiterate the resolution of the institute of 80, viz: That we have full faith and confidence in the integrity and ability of our county superintendent, and that we particularly commend the following acts of his administration: First, the giving a per cent, to those teachers who do professional work; the organizing and conducting of the institutes previous to or soon after the commencement of the winter term of school, and his grading of applicants for license as much according to the method of teaching as the knowledge of the subjects. The committee on resolutions reported 210 introductions given during the week. In these hastily arranged notes the Query Box, which constituted the most important feature *of the day, has been unnoticed. The questions found therein lead to many valuable suggestions and wise conclusions upon subjects which heretofore have been held in dispute. Mr. Nouvels closed—tlie institute with ; jAtfgtlly’yet highly interesting speech. 25 bushels of pop corn wanted at C. C. Starr & Co’s. The Ngted Tr’ain Robbers. — The publishers of “Border Outlaws” assert that their history of the Younger Brothers and Frank and Jesse James, published sixmQnths ago, has already reached the enormous sale of more than 60,000 copies. Since the late rob-, bery and double murder at Winston, Mo., they have issued a new/ edition, containing a full history of thkt outrage, with illustrations, which brings the events in thelives of these airy gentlemen ofdFkhighway down to the present For lively reading we presunffi this book can hardly be surpassed. Persons desiring agencies hnd advertisement elsewhere.

A True Cause op Regbet.—lt makes the heart of every philanthropist sad to see so many worthless, patent medicines, puffed and advertised for the cure of chronic diseases. Usually the remedy is soma vile cathartic compound or alcoholic preparation, combined with budhti, turpentine or other severe diuretic that affords the invalid only temporary relief, but which has no lasting effect, and in truth eventually brings on a complication of diseases arising fromfa state of worn out and exhausted digestive and urinary organs .thht nothing but death can relieve Invalids should trust more to nature for their recovery. A gentle, medicinal tonic that stimulates enfeebled digestion, and strengthens every part of the system by its soothing and refreshing effect on both mind and body, is nature’s truest and best assistant. Such a jemedy is Brown’s Don Bitters, a medicine surpassing the sale of all other remedies wherever its merits become known, for it acts in such perfect harmony with the laws of life and health, that all pulmonary, urinary and digestive ,tr° u bl es are prevented and permanently cured by its timely use. Physicians and ministers especially endorse and recommend it highly when once they are persuaded to examine its composition and effect. Be sure your druggists sell you Brown’s Iron Bitters, take-H6thing of a different nfuper'Tt contains.no alcohol, ancb-wiil not blacken the teeth.— ■TA Journal on Health.

Important Announcement-Goo. Grauel wishes to announce to the people of Rensselaer and vicinity that he has repurchased his old harness shop, on Washington street, lately occupied by J. Peacock, and where he will be glad to meet all his old customers and a great many

new ones.

GEO. GRAUEL.