| LXXXVIIL IE | 1t is proposed to give an account of the situation of educational matters in Penns Valley previous to the year 1850, and to supplement this statement with a brief sketch of the history of the several Academies which sprang up in some of th that t The term education as here employed viliages of the valley about ime implies more than a mere knowledge of of more the studies named in the curriculum the se It is herve used CL mpreheosive sense to the standard of intelligence prevail g in the What i | applies also to Brush and George's hools. in a and relates rather n communi is here i ty. En Valleys, adjacent to it. The only apology offered for present ing such an article is that the majority the young people, many of mmaturer years, are enlrely ignorant ol situation of affairs in those days. the The School, the Pulpit, and the Press have always been regarded as the main sources of information for the masses of the p ion and regulate the standard of © ople; they largely mold public The Public School Sy vania was adopted in 1334. al years after its introduction 1 with decided opposition in some of the state, This satisfaction was largely due to the pre rural rural districts ol vailling iguorance of its design among the people, and their opposition to the e stem imposed. taxatior h th 8Y ous Valley were tae pur ystem, great neces- 8 fluence 4 ne stent in opie tly replie it woul £0L 4 ilie ahead of ted UL: alisinec- intima that ystems was very first 10 lent during toe ence. Th on Leaci- Mig Was IRIEL y I aud correct, ils gresie delect lay ia the utter incompetency hie teachers. Ge scholarsiap d methods Ibey lacked culture, tie DOL ae il Ol teaching. and aug iinties ULC The wri $ Wel i l ; Bee Lions § Lad low concepuions oi 8 Of Laer CLlIgations first tie Call 8 Alling experience in going to SCHOOL Was at the North- ip. Ua the young girls Cram» Musser Schiool House in Gregg school, west end of towns first day of two broug iT. exam nation and then said, he guessed For part 1 afore.” t wilh them an si Lag i Lhe teacher gave ita very hasty it was a good boOoOK, ny The oung ladies learning grammar - never sce d one outlook for the Was not very promising. The incompetency of the teachers is not 80 surprising wien we consider that thicir wages were [rom $15.00 to $20.00 a month, the teachers paying their own boarding. There may been an occasional district which paid $25.00. ii so, they were like angel visits. The annual tern was from 3 4 montis, Boarding ‘rounl! bad been sbandoned in Centre County before the writer becatae teacher, yet he was permitted to enjoy some of ils luxuries during & winter term taught in Butler county. A g:nerous rivalry among the housewives of the district made the boarding quite tespectable. Among have 10 gchool Ww twenty-one times a week. There were no other schools in the valley in those days, save an occasional summer, or subscription school, usually taught by young girls, who were general- ly more incompetent than the public school teachers, It is true there may Lave been one or two small select gchools in the valley, but their advan- tages were available to but few. soe of the Sabbath Schools of that day held very erroneous views as to their proper mission, snd design. first school the writer ever attended, he in common with other primary scholars, was given lessons in spelling and read- ing. There was very little, il say, reli. gious instruction given. The adult Bible classes usually passed the time in reading “ verse about” without any comment or explanation by the teacher. Lesson leaves were entirely unkoown. Each school made its own lesson lan, EY if they had any. It would be unjust not to give due credit to the ministry of those days for their earnest and self denying labors to instruct and e'evate the people. They did much to mold and control public (sentiment. Many of them were devout and godly men, some of thém were above the average in point of ability. They were the most efficient educators of that day. The people respected tlhe ministry and generally attended faith- fully upon the means of grace. The Is of the respective communities were fully up to the standard of the present day, if the drink habit and its consequences—it was much Many farmers kept a barrel of whiskey in their cellars, and all the family had free ac- to it. was but little used, rhaps it could pot be mora we except more prevalent than at present. cess Beer pe because had. Whiskey was the universal beverage. It was cheap and there was little legal The best and a half restraint upon its use, could be had for twelve cents a gallon. ent day about liquors, e whiskey ing modern especially ¥. Strychnin is noo. sense, alcohol is the intoxicating princi- pal in all liquors used The 41 the as a beverage, fighting propensity so common ng men in those days was largely of drink habit, Men generally settled difficulties with their fists, ( ie days of the malitis common thing for two vd le their grievances in a pitched battle, J ¢ Sis) POW Of ae pe Die © result the their training it was a men to meet ar former ver saw a daily paper. he weekly papers contributed rds instructing the people The Berichter yorly patronized. Centre 1 his boyhood German, with The Centre Re- Many of the Was printed in English. its lineal déscendant ever went outside tle opportunity of and en- + intelligent and imperfect is not sur the people illiterate were The ath ove is & brief description of Lhe matt ' Bravions $i UH previous to the year educational rs 1850. endeav.red to give a account of the were either indiffer- Pp » it because they did t know of its advantages. 4 contrast with situation it to know that there always had in HAs Hinsses osed t or op in pleasing this view of the is re- freshing been a respectable migority of intelli and public spirited throughout the valley, who were the ardent of education, and bad long felt the want of better schools for their own and their neighbors’ children Many of them were people of culture and refinement, and fully realized the deplorable situation. The truth is Valley bas produced maay worthy and reputable men, wha stood High in the church and state, i. A new era was now beginning to dawn in the cause of education, and many people began to realize its importance and value, The County Superintend- ency and the County Teacher's Institute had been established. These greatly helped to aouss the people to the im citizens rienas Penns teachers to realize the necessity for more thorough preparation for thei: work. Schools for that purpose had Le- come an absolute pecessity. During the next three or four years Academies had been established at Aaromsburg, Mills, Boalsburg, and Pine | Grove Mills; all of these schools flourish- |ed for several years. They drew pa- | tronage from the surrounding country, land also from adjoining counties All | their principals were college graduates. | Wuile they were not strictly Normal | schools, yet they greatly aided in pre | paring more competent and efficient tenchers for the public schools. The Teachers’ lnatitutes, both County and District, also did much to elevate the [standard of teaching and teachers. [heir efforts were also greatly promoted by the aid of the County Superintend- ent, who was ex-officio President of the County Institute. The Farmers’ High School of Penn- sylvania, (now State College,) was organized about the same time (1855). It also did much to promote the general uplift in the cause of education. The original intention of the writer FARMERS INSTITUTE THIS WEEK, Pipe Grove Mille Is Having School ToD) and Institute Will bs Held at Plesssnt Gap Friday and Saturday, Local Farmers’ Tustitutes are being held in the county this week, Moc- day sud Tuesday meetings were held in Millheim ; today ( Thursday) Plus Grove Mills ia haviog the institute, and on Friday and Baturday the De partment of Agriculture will supply Pleasant Gap with speakers for a simi- lar institute, John A, Woodward, of Howard, the county chairmsar, haa charge of the moetings and ls nesisted by Daniel A, Grove, of Lemont, and /\W, F. Reyo- olds of Bellefonte. The Departmen of Agriculture has sssigued tour able experts and speakers for the Centre eounty meetinge, D. H. Watts, of Kerrmonr, is speaking on apple and pesch cullur , farm educatior, aifalls std farm bubidings all imporisat Ww. 1 man of Allentown, one of a'zxd poultry experts of covers Lhe pouliry subject ub- Wilt TECOR~ jects Lo Lhe farmer. hec, thie tad Dale, the thoroughly sud speaks especial y upon lucressing the winter yield of eggs and shows it of the po iry bouses in Peuneyivanis, an illustrated talk many uk Fertilizore sud faim mansgement is discussed by NM, H. { Werneraviile, and ¥, 1, up sult j sete of cea milk and bet being MoCallow, Hechde', ! tbe ter O stute College, will take Galry Lule. The hed al ter ns weil as Lhe ello atid slisge, nMuing neelings are bring $830 o'clock ; sveniong at 7 At Pioe Grove Mills the witice consists of UG. B. M¢ W. H. Goer, J. D. Tanyer, D-, Krebr, W, K, Cor’, Cay and J. B. At #I loeonl Kimer DD. & Kerstetter, WW. Hilde, afternoon at 1:30 and SA, cea Halley. Le Cotnaitie wil @ CUsinix ud wartz, . x0ll1t ——————— A ——— Heport of HM gh and Gras ar » ® The wiatistical report r Lhe third f ¢ . rtp : anLis ¢ FURINIUAT BUA ZXIK0 pC IOWs 2 Grammar school No abet wendaues duriug aout futing FTE AE Ob avVeoeg 12, fens ’ vi aliendnl eri, In I Ld . nal-a MN, ftiue ant, Of alienGsi v8, females ERUIAT a! @itians arige, Teiiu oradfuig, Ad Leutric Boresuue Haioid ger, Fie y bid Rubi, Kable, AT Lag ring derrick Bo Lei a wi FJ ’ LCatisiiie alicudsive 4d Huyet!, Bariger, kuib Sraviuie, Adalive Buble, Healiice Buble, Haron Liucss, Higa school—-Tuow pre 1y lay duriug, moulin ; Father Parsons, Rebecon NKresmuer, Verna Fran's, Ualharive Havk, Willis Chose presout every day dudiog tein ate: Eetner Parsons, Verus Frapiz Willian Arvey aod bebecoa Kreamer aave uol missed sn y they vere sdmwitied lo schoo’, Bixty-iwe Ardy marks during mootr., Average lally stiendanuce during mouth : girky, ii; Percovtage of wmitence sacr, girlie, 93; boys, 84, tins Will Lecture at Spring Mile, reguing Miriaw Beuah Rui Parson, SC Kr Relier, URURE , ent) rier, Crerirude Frederick €vi Arey, tite siucse bose, 0, Mr. Thompsor, connected with ibe Dalry Departmeut of the School of Agriculture, Peausyivauia Siste Cu - lege, will deliver a jecture iu the uraugo Hall st Spring Mile, Friday eveuiog of this weer, His sul joo! will be siong the following lines : How to select the Dest cow ; how lo take Cale of the cow ; how 10 balance a ratiou ou the farm; how to produce the cheapest milk. I — fp Wise Farm in Brush Valley Sold, The farm owned Jolatly by Samue Wise aud William tisger, in Brush Valley, aud at present cecupied by the latter, waa sold rome time sgo Bruce Hettinger, on the Boavely farm west of spring Mills, lor $3500, It is planted to Lave the nice sary legal papers prepared oefore the clus of the year, giving Mr, Het ivger poi session of the place, The faim contsine ous Luodred acter, seventy ix of which are io» good state of caltivatior, and the fn. maiuder tmberiand, op Hamuel aud Ulsire Horuoer, sons of Mr. snd Mur, George Horper, of Plea: - an; Usp, who for simost thiee yesis have been located in Lilinolr, spraug » surptise upon their parents by theh arrival at the parental home one dey lant week, without any npotitiostion of thelr oomlop. Thus the Yale<ids wane Alb slivepeaially lsppy one iu Lids home, HuskicaWenver, On Baturday evening nt (he Reform - ed parsonage in Centre Hail, Wilbur Ss. Runkie snd Miss May E. Weaver, both of Tuseey ville, were warried by Hev, BR. RB, Jones, Afler the ceremony the young couple were entertained fo the night by Mire, Elmer Miller, at the John Luse residence. The following day they drove to tie home of the ;, Jobn IL. Rupkle, st Jere will make they groom's fa her Nussey ville, » their heme until spring when will commence he usekeeping. of Potter ship's most worlliy young men and § at in the He is pcho'sr! lbey The groom Is one tower present engaged tenching Fleisher Gap echo |, fine musion! for y ome with the family sil is esteemed highly by Bat friends % y and fk stininmenty, SEATS D hey of OC, W, Swer's ber 1 have the besl wishes {he bride msn nile Tueny wwaoed Mt voyage ou life tes, eir many for a pescelu Ya ser S——————— lnsnriug Parce L Luge nudiog the Sam sake ali po 48,06) 0D ELOOUtRLK Yost packnges, Ure to thes DECEAZL avd Ww hen f he 8 gui for eturned iressed odicati received, i the fed sited PDRCERBRZ Cul wae & ort An dr fi v.30cd Ie a 1 cffice of f addres, fhe umes unig feen | PRCE ins It in v sports in iy iin Siinily Bi i asees of tual’, fo vous (o Use Lae 1 G Conbeclion with th Fresh meals canoot be msiled fron tat of dele witboul beiug scoom panied wits of Jotuls ib vhe sige (0 sloilie + certificate torpeciion OF €Xxellij- “HOU. The lawa of Psunsylvania prohibli he wransgortation of througl the maile, gale ¥ boxed oRn be easily i1- thin p y must be wamped al the firu'- laos postage rats, ir iwo cents for esth cuner. Parce Yost packages cat uot be sealer, nailed, 80 lLClosed 88 LO prevent sxsiaite- tion, Packages i heir weted by wrspped or $e coutenis not pliaslier -— plc — To Pens. on Ula Qlig rus Uipgressmuan Fooht bas iuirodoce « bill tn Cougress povidiog that sb Stuericsn citizens Leaving su DOU of less than $200 per annuum snd sie sixi1y-flve or more years of sge and us - fis nud lucapable of manual labor shel of ailowtd an sovosl Government peusion at the tale of $10 per monil, a . ““ Les trade nt home this Christ me,’ would bs & good wogan for citiz'n In Centre Lal, No becsuse the dollars wil sis where they were eared and continue vor benefit (the whole comimmuoity fo Iw vonomie resson would be suffice. ent alove~but alan for the reason ths # louk through the stores in Centr tall will convines one that just ss prety just we good, just se low priced, 4u0ds mie procuarsuie bere ss out of uwr, The loesl stores have put ov their holiday attire aud an observer oat not fall Lo police Lhat it appears se though the werchan ss have made sxirm ofbrts mod purchased larger quantities of gooda for the Christouss rade this year then for many yean sae’, Hhow them your spprecistiop sf their snterpricing business metho Very ouly BR 16 Every local arrengement bas Grange, so far as is possible at this time. for the officers and committees of the St rooms are available in the Woman's Bu college dormi Women's tory, which is nearby, for Es nnmitiees, ims vg, which bas 8 large di the Officers and ( s sod members who ¢ X JC Iiitle TUESDAY, oy kIVE KE Lueis 3 OUr pRlioLag s 43 4 ins ox y persons, who wr toy } 3 expect Lo De i likely excred 1 500 pers yt { the [OWN ANU COUNTY NEWS » member Order, 8 HAPPENINGS OF LOCAL INTERES? FROM ALL PARTS of cMeers for held nt » Fslurdsy The annus] election Progress Grange meetiog of that siternoon. KE. MM. Hugett had a storm vestibu's stegted on the front poreh of hie res’ werk, Nimilar sdditions wade to the rear of the iwelliog by the Luces carpenters, lw on will order fence Inst sere wlso Lower Pevuns Valley countirues fo told the championship for big hogs, Last week J, L. Winegardoer of Mit. neim butchered two porkers which seighed 4582 sud 432 pounds, respects ively, when dressed, Millbeim 1s sgsin egitatiog the! question of municipal ownership of | he waler plant in that place, The Milibelm Journal is right ia arguing that there i uo chance of losiog avy - thing on the plan’, no matter what ihey ante obliged to pay for iv, Dr. Ef 1. Miller of Johvstowr, well known to many Reporter readers, mst Wedpesday left Johnstown for Mcuot Dore, Floride, His household goods, hore, ete, were shipped » few jays previous, which indiostes that Or. Mitler expects to make his fuiare nome fu the sunny south, Oue yesr mgo this month Harry Houser came east from Denver, Colo- rede, LO Vill hoe recpee Bug ase ist nie tether, David Houser, at Houser ville, on tne farm, Oa Wednesiay of this week hesgaio left for the far wes!, sfierdiretl spending mn day at the Lowe of bis cousit , Mr. Robert W, Bloom, esr this place. Mr. Houser is em ployed the greater part of the thwe in re UCothin sugar Works bear Denver, Expecting to remsla wesy for an fie defiuite Jength of time be took ad vantage of the comparative low price of vloth pg tn the east by leylog lo mpleted for the mectirg Dormitory will be us fon te Grange. Only s limited rumber iding, and it has been srranged to purposes, with boarding in the ning 1oom ard will amply accommodate t 10 attend 1} inesday, about 3:00 o'clock, all neil re 1 Coliege groucds by guid equipments, Whe «8s and given ed i in altendance, have regirte red. The at. as these apnual Wweetings are of great John Coldron On Naturday sold bi« ot of greund, situated on Main stree ', to Lawrenoe Runkle, the carpenter. The dwelling house of John 2. Williams, at Port Matilde, was con pletely destroyed by fire Haturday ev: - tirg » week age, while the house was void of ils cocupante. The house wis partly covered by insurance, To cope with the helj-jir- hi-farm problerr, Thomss (, Baviges, tt Earlysuowr, Issel week purchased » lscLor eugioe which will redaoe tle need of horses on the big farm from *iX bead to twr., [he engine wilt burn either kerosene or gesoline sna is sosv of mmnij ulation, Mr. Bari. gts ran the engine from the loos: epot on Fridey morning with no The tractor has evolulionizsd farming in the Krest wet sud its micre general use In tle vasieru sections appests 10 be but = watier of time. MM’, Bartges ocouten - pistes mn sale «7 four of bis fioe farm. vorees, besides farm machivery, some time \u Febiuars, When Harry Armstrong, son of M-, aod Mre, Josbus Armstrong, filed hae pipe ftom some loose tobseoo which ae carried 1n his cost pocke', Thur - Any rvening, be fatied to notice that » -22 oalitre cartridge passed slong with ihe lobsoeo tuto the pipe bowl, He #1 jyed a few pulls when there wes » baug |, and pipe sud Wbseco went 11, - ing trough epee. It all bappenea iu the restaurant connected with the Peonlogion bakery in the Barthol - mew Luildiog, where a circle of your g men bad gathered. The shell was a *sbor'," and the iead bail ouly fell to he fl we, haviog wo fore, owing to the luck of resistance whicu is offered “hen eo fived in » rifls barre), B . sides a slizbt jar ano a few burnt fogen, young Armstrong suftered no tins. The tobacco was not “ joad- ou! for m practical joke, bat in empl tug a supply of the siulf lato hi+ pook- #1 be Intied 10 remember that be bad Severn sulle sud [usulsdivg . » Lumber uf louse shells fu 1.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers