5

WHERE TEACHERS ARE MADE

State Normal School at Peru an Institution of Remarkable Excellence.

Keeping Pace With the Times, It Now Ranks With Any of Its Kind in the Country.

Present Liberal Policy is Proving a Success-Attendance Is Growing Yearly - Class Now About to Finish.

A week of notable closing exercises, attended by thousands, and the contemplated departure from Omaha of two carloads of the alumni, calls attention to the State Normal school - that beautifully situated academy at Peru. Nebraska may be monotonous in scenery, and uncertain in climate in some portions, but at Peru, lying in the southern part of the state, it is as beautiful as a king's pleasure ground. Peru used to be a river town, but it awoke one morning to find that it had been filled by the Missouri, and has been able to console itself only by lying so far from that river that its turgid water, winding below the swelling and wooded hills, turns into silver and enchants the eye. There has been some complaint because the State Normal school was "dropped away in the corner of the state," but the surroundings are in reality so remarkably attractive that the school is becoming a favorite on that account.

Within the last two years the standard of the school has been raised very considerably. Up to that time the policy with which it was conducted was conservative in the extreme, and it is a melancholy fact that a few years ago an applicant for a position as teacher in a country school was first accepted on his merits and then refused when a diploma was presented from the State Normal school. The members of the board had never heard of the institution, although they lived but thirty miles west of it/ But with the coming of Prof. A.W. Norton to the presidency, the school has not only been actually raised as an institution of learning, but it is rapidly becoming celebrated.

HAVE RETURNED TO SCHOOL.

This has been the result of a liberal policy, of an original method of teaching and the large public spiritedness which has taken prof. Norton into nearly every country of this state, lecturing, addressing teacher's institutes and talking to schools on educational matters. In this particular Prof. Norton and Chancellor Canfield have much resembled each other in their activities. A considerable number of the present pupils of the Normal school are young men and women who have held positions as teachers, but who have held positions as teachers, but who, on hearing Prof. Norton, have decided to return to school and fully equip themselves for their responsible work. It is a fact that so materially has this important institution been raised in its value and credit during the last two years, that young teachers leaving it have been able to secure positions immediately for excellent schools, at salaries from $000 to $1,200, some of these positions being outside of the state.

In spite of hard times and the need that many young persons who would have chosen a teacher's career have had to work at something bringing an immediate income, the attendance has grown considerably. In 1891 the whole number in attendance was 456 pupils; In 1894 it was 555. The graudates in the elementary departments numbered forty-eight; In 1894 they numbered fifty-five. The graduates from the higher courses in 1891 were twelve in number. In 1891 the graduates from the training school were ninety-five; in 1894 they were 182.

WORK OF TWENTY YEARS.
The development of the school and of the state can be inferred from the fact that during the twenty odd years of existence of the school previous to 1803 the number of graduates was 188; while during the years of 1803-4-5 it has been 101. This is the case, notwithstanding the fact that the pursuit of thirty-six studies is a requirement now for a diploma, while previously but twenty-seven studies were required. Moreover, the amount of work along certain lines has been increased. During the last year two books more of Virgil have been read than previously; the work of chemistry and physics has been more than doubled, and the work in physiology has been nearly doubled. All this is a result of a vivid and vital personality at the head of the school. The State Normal has felt the same acceleration from its head that the university has from the management of Chancellor Canfield. Militarism has shown itself in a moderate and commendable way, and there are two companies of cadets, who drill enthusiastically under the tuition of a university student. who has a talent for drilling, and who received instruction at Lincoln from the officer detailed for the purpose. The cadets are only partially uniformed, but will be fully costumed next year. The college has a paper, the Courier, which is brisk and interesting and typographically good. There are now four societies in the school. two of which have been recently formed. These societies are the Junior, the Wellingtonian, the Everett and the Philomathean. Under the proper guidance and suggestion, these societies have ceased to be organizations for amusement, and have become literary societies, following a systematic course of study, each making its selection and pursuing it through the year; and at the "open sessions" giving the school the cream of its work.

BOASTS SOME ATHLETES.
The school is, unfortunately, without a gymnasium, though it boasts of a sprinter who can run 100 yards, standing start, in 10 3/4 seconds. Field day is not neglected though that has also been introduced within the last two years, and the program includes some exciting and novel numbers. Being a co-educational institutional institution in the full sense of the word, the young women are not neglected even in the field day program, but participate with a noble disregard of the traditions of sex.

The school appears to be very well equipped in laboratory, as to observatory and in class rooms. The buildings would stand some repairing. they bear silent witness to the fact that the appropriations for the school have not always been as large as the necessities demand. Standing, as the buildings do, surrounded by sixty acres of beautiful groves, it is easy to forget all such deficiencies, however, in rejoicing in the beauty of the surroundings. What influences such beauty may have upon the minds and spirits of those who are to become the instructors of the children of Nebraska, the psychologist may determine. Certainly the institution is the most fortunately placed of any in the state. There are five buildings all staunch and good. These buildings include a dormitory for the girls and an ordinary at which the young women and faculty may board.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
The institution is managed by a board, which at the present writing, consists of the state superintendent, the state treasurer, Hon, Church Howe, Hon, Wilson E. Majors, Hon. B.E.B. Kennedy, Hon. J.S. West and Hon, J.T. Spencer. Mr. Church Howe holds his term but two days longer and leaves behind him the record of a generous and large administration, so far as it lay in his power to secure it.

The school has gained the reputation of late of being conducted upon a peculiar method. To a casual observer it would seem that the method strongly resembles that of a university. Certainly, insomuch as the pupils control themselves, as all police surveillance is banished and the pupils control themselves, as all police surveillance is banished and the pupils are absolutely upon honor, there is a strong resemblance, Insomuch, too as the formation of character is considered as of as much importance as the gaining of knowledge, there is a resemblance. To acquire power, strength and the power of exercising influence for good is, according to Prof. Norton, a true education. It is, in a sense, the idea which the great European educators who originated the kindergarten held.

"Education is easily acquired by the trained mind," Prof. Norton says, "Once a student has acquired power over himself he can learn anything, or do anything, he may set out to do. To triumph over whatever obstacles may arise, to act quickly and wisely - these are what mark the cultivated mind. I believe that the student should be taught to meet each day's exigencies, and to acquire the ability to meet them bravely and well. Character seems to me the groundwork of the equipment of our teachers. The commonwealth rests upon the school - the school upon the teacher - the teacher upon his own inner power. The man or woman of character who takes up teaching as a profession will, it goes without saying, be well informed. That becomes a matter of conscience. And when the lessons of mental victory over obstacles are learned, it is no longer difficult to force the mind to acquire whatever one sets out to have it acquire."

THIS YEAR'S GRADUATES.
The graduating class of forty-one shows in its earnestness and vigor that it has received instruction of an unusual sort. There does not appear to be a member of that class who will take up his or her duties as instructor in a perfunctory way. The deep responsibility which a teacher bears has been planted in their comprehension.

Sunday morning this class listened with profoundest attention to the baccalaureate sermon by Dr. Roland of Lin-

TURFMAN RICH
Richard Croker, the ex-chief of Tammy [...?]
turf, and the Croker-Dwyer horses have [?]
sportsman generally prophesied defeat who
but the victories of Eau Gaille and Banqu? [?]
by no means to be despised.

coln. Wednesday next will be the commencement exercises. The class day program, by the way, is said to have been quite the jolliest and most original' in the history of the school-even Miss Morgan, the preceptress, says that, and she ought to know, for she has been with the school for over twenty years, Twenty years, it may be parenthetically remarked, is a long time in Nebraska.

Prof. Norton and some of his faculty conducted a summer school at Peru last summer, but owing to a union of a number of teachers' institutes this year, he will not take up the school, but will accept a position at a summer school at Colorado Springs. President Norton is from Elmier, N.Y. and a man who has had much experience among many different sorts of pupils - and most obviously a man who has accepted his calling as a sacred one, with incalculable opportunities for influencing the lives of others. It is a fortunate thing for the state that such an educator is within its borders, to counteract to some extent the deadly selfishness and secularism which is too liable to grow up in the public school system. The state is fortunate in having over its prospective teachers a man of profound religious conviction, as well as one of keen intellectual activity, and of aggressive and progressive modernity.
ELIA W. PEATTIE.

The Ladies.
The pleasant effect and perfect safety with which ladies may use the California liquid laxative, Syrup of Figs, under all conditions, makes it their favorite remedy. To get the true and genuine article, look for the name of the California Fig Syrup Co., printed near the bottom of the package.

TELEGRAPHIC BREVITIES.
Little Mabel Bantee of Frankfort Ind., fell into a cistern and was drowned.

A fire at Ingersoll, Ky, destroyed the organ factory of H. Smith & Co., valued at $75,000.

The supreme court of the United States will finally adjourn the term of 1894 today.
The babe of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Brown of Montrose Ill., fell out of bed and was killed.

W.M. Reggan, a lawyer of Fort Worth, Tex, has been arrested charged with selling mortgaged property.

A cablegram announces the death at Hull, England, of W.J. Ballard United States consul at that point.

Miss Julian Holland of South McAllister, I, T., was killed by lightning while on her way home from school.

At Paris, Robert Le Baudy, the owner of Styrax, celebrated his victory by giving 100,000 francs to the poor.

The San Francisco Police have made no headway in the efforts to find the murderer of Miss Nellie Harrington.

John Beck stabbed Thomas Adams the city marshal of Herrick Ill, and his life is despaired of, Beck has been created.

Thieves broke into St. Paul's Episcopal church at Railway, N.J. and removed several costly articles used in the sacramental services.

Phillip Fillipy and Louis Birren, two government contractors, while quarrying stone at Clinton, Ill., were badly burned by an explosion of powder.

A new labor party, that will hereafter be known as the United Labor league of Western Pennsylvania, was organized in Pittsburg last night.

Narcise Mongradon of Santa Fe, N.M. a trustee of the city school board has been sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for embezzling $4,600.

The electric street railway of Little Rock Ark., passed into the hands of the St. Louis Trust company and the Atlantic Trust company of Philadelphia.

The fire in the north gangway of the Wyoming collery at Port Bowkley, Pa., has broken out afresh, and preparations are being made to flood the mine.

At Atlantic City, N.J. Miss Jennie Grigle of Philadelphia, aged 21, was bathing in front of Bews' jetty and was caught in the current and swept away.

A public subscription was started in the Christian church at Columbus, Ind. for the benefit of the invalid and blind wife of ex-Governor Chase, who is left destitute.

At Leavenworth, Kas., the miners of the Home Riverside company met and decided that they would not accept the cut from 80 cents to 70 cents a ton that was to go into effect June 1.

An attempt was made to kidnap the 10-year-old daughter of A.M. Albright of Gallatin, Mo., but was frustrated and the culprit lodged in prison. A mob of lynchers has been prowling about the jail.