recall so many familiar countenances, it seems like a dream, the time that has passed since that first private Normal school was gathered, five years ago, in the little hall above. Everything then was new to us. You had assembled for a different purpose from any which had previously called you together. Your instructors-four in number-were, with the exception of Professor Greene, strangers to you, and to those among whom they were to find a temporary home. Many were their fears and doubts as to the reception they should have, and the success which should attend their efforts; but the very first meeting was sufficient to dispel them all. adoption by the State. You all remember his skill and fidelity, his freshness and originality. Nothing seemed trite when it came from his lips. There was no study or exercise around which he could not throw an interest. We miss him here to-day, but we are assured that nothing but imperative duties, in a distant city, would have caused his absence. There are other early friends of the school whose services were acknowledged in the address of the morning, but whose names, at least, I must mention. Among them are the members of the School Committee and City Council of Providence, Hon Henry Barnard, the first School Commissioner of the State, and Hon. E. R. Potter, successor to Mr. Barnard, who secured the passage of the act making an appropriation for a State Normal school. Since the establishment of the State school, we Prof. Greene has already given you a sketch of the earlier history of the Normal school thus begun, but there is one part of it to which he has not done justice. I allude to his own labors. His high character as an educator, and our own strong personal attachment to him, alone in-have received much valuable aid from friends duced Prof. Russell, Mr. Sumner and myself to connect ourselves with a private Normal school in this city; while his honorable position and commanding influence here, secures to us in advance the cooperation and sympathy of those, without whose generous aid our plans could not have been carried into execution. That first school, too, was conducted mainly under his direction. To him we looked constantly for counsel and advice. He was actively employed in teaching during both sessions of the private Normal school, and has been a teacher in the State Normal school, with the exception of one term, from its establishment till the present time. It is not too much to say, that great as have been our obligations to others, we are more indebted to Prof S. S. Greene than to any other individual, for the establishment of the Rhode Island State Normal school, and for its success and prosperity. His connection with it ceases with to-day, but his interest in its welfare will not be lessened by the change. within and without the city. Every member of the faculty of Brown University has lectured before the school more than once-some of them (Professors Dunn and Angell) several times. Indeed, I have not called on an individual in any part of the State for a service to the Normal school, who has not promptly responded, and expressed his desire to aid, both by word and deed, an institution of so much public importance. To such favoring influences, and to the efficiency of my faithful assistant teachers, is due, in a great measure, whatever of success may have attended the operations of the school. Since its establishment, the hand of death has been laid on three who were its pupils. One, Miss Emily C. Burdeck, of Volentown,. Conn., was a member of the private school. I have learned nothing of her history, save that she is dead. Another, Miss Lorana Morrell, of Westminster, Mass., attended the State school two terms, and had commenced an honorable caAnother teacher of the first private Normal reer as teacher in the school connected with school was Prof. William Russell, a gentleman the Dexter Asylum, in this city; when with the who, though not a native of America, has de-apparent health and vigor of youth upon her, she voted the best years of his life to the advancement of American education. I regret that he is not with us here. He would have been, but for engagements elsewhere. It is pleasant to know that his interest in our school continues, and that he is still doing efficient service in the cause of education. There was a third, whose name I have heard from many lips to-day. Mr. Arthur Sumner, who began his career as a Normal teacher with the establishment of this institution, and who continued in it for more than a year after its was attacked by sickness and cut off in the midst of her usefulness. She was a true, noble-hearted, Christian woman. The last, Miss Annie F. Bryant, of this city, is the only one who has been called directly from our school to that bed of sickness from which she never rose. Hers was an earnest spirit. With untiring faithfulness and assiduity, she devoted herself to preparation for the teacher's life, and was eagerly anticipating, nay, almost longing for the time when she could assume the duties of what was to her a sacred calling. When failing health compelled her to suspend her studies, she left school intending soon to return, but 'He who doeth all things well,' called her home. She lived a Christian's life and died a Christian's death, happy in the hope of a glorious immortality. Thirty-one of our number have married, of whom twenty-one were members of the private and ten of the State school. we look back at the track we have taken, it is bare and barren to the vision; we can see no beauty or comeliness to tempt us to retrace our steps, and we have acquired no power to make new acquisitions. Let not your course be such. Rather let your aim as teachers and as students be, to secure that healthful growth from within which gives strength and vigor, not only for the acquisition of knowledge, but for the discharge of every duty of life. Your own experience must confirm the assertion often made while you were students here, that as teachers you are and will be prized, not by the fact that you have had these advantages or those, but by what you do and what you are-by what you are as teachers-by what you are as men and women in all the relations of life. Do not, then, I again beg of you, lay claim to any peculiar excellence because you are graduates of a Normal school; but by your work, by faithfully performing every duty, prove yourselves worthy the name, and others will bestow it upon you. You will, indeed, be NORMAL In closing, what further shall I say? Thoughts innumerable come thronging up of the time when, as members of the school, you so well, so enthusiastically even, performed your parts; or when about to go forth to your fields of labor at the close of a term, you stood before me full of anxious solicitude, yet of high hope. But now, I see you returned, for a brief moment, from those fields to the familiar halls which have so often before resounded with the music of your voices, and where you have so often drank in instruction. To-morrow you will again go forth, and what can I say to you? What words can I add to those which were uttered when you first left your Nor-TEACHERS." mal Home? My charge and it is a familiar one to youmust still be-strive constantly to improve. Though you have left the Normal school, your education is only begun. You have a work to do for yourselves, as well as for others. Strive, then, constantly, earnestly, for improvement. Let your own self-education, and that which you shall do for the education of your pupils, be something more than show, something more than the accretion of knowledge from without. I remember, as a boy, going into the fields after a light fall of snow, and making a little ball which could be held in the hand, I rolled it over and over the ground, and as it rolled the moist snow adhered to it, till it became so large that my strength was scarcely sufficient to move it, and I fondly imagined that in one or two turns more would be gathered a ball which would endure days of thaw and excite the admiration of all my companions; but alas, with the next revolution it fell to pieces and crumbled of its own weight, and the bare, barren earth alone told of the track it had passed. That ball is not an unapt emblem of a kind of education which teachers are in danger of attempting to acquire for themselves and impart to others. For a time it makes a splendid show, and we are inclined to wonder at the vast amount of knowledge which has been accumulated, but in the rough contacts of real life it is shivered into fragments. Worse than that, as The choir then sung the following song, written by Miss SARAH C. PADELFORD: Oh! gaily pass the hours To 'mind us of these hours of light, These walls have oft resounded This day will soon be over, While still we linger here, Mr. COLBURN then gave as the first regular sentiment: Angell's Visits-We have had them, but, alas! few and far between. This called up Prof. J. B. ANGELL, of Brown University, who remarked that there were several kinds of angels, and he thought that the attending ladies to-day must be satisfied there is a devouring Angell in this company. He proceeded in a witty strain, remarking that he thought the ladies of Bristol unwise if they did not prevent the removal of the school to that place. Think of it, said he, one hundred young ladies such as these, brought into competition in the small town of Bristol! What chance would there be for their modest beauties? He concluded with a complimentary tribute to that good old town, and then gave as a sentiment: Low breathed sighs for the day just gone, The Normal School-It will never fail to go on The voice grew sweeter, clearer still, so long as it has a Colburn-ing locomotive. The next toasts were: May the soil of Bristol prove as congenial to our loved Normal School as that of Providence. Our school is to wander-shall it have a Shepherd? This called up Rev. Dr. SHEPHERD of Bristol, who said, "Let him that putteth on the harness boast not like him that putteth it off." We are about to assume the harness given us by the General Assembly, and we are happy it is such a beautiful one. We cannot boast of our learned professors to aid the undertaking, but we have men of warm hearts and generous sympathies who will lend a helping hand. The Rev. Doctor expressed his gratification at the scene presented, and said he had noticed one peculiarity in Normal teachers that was animation. He was delighted with the first school he visited that was taught by a Normal scholar-he had awakened an interest and shown a zeal that he had not known before. There is such a thing as throwing an interest around the dryest themes, which these teachers seem to have found out. He expressed the desire that the removal of the school should not diminish the interest or cooperation of its friends in Providence. The next sentiment was announced: It seemed the little room to fill. "I'll bless thee," it said, "I'll bless thee, my son," "I will bless thee, for this, that thou hast done," "Because thou would'st guide the child in truth, To thee shalt be given eternal youth." The sunset hour had passed and gone, For the good monk Earnest, not alone Within these halls, good Normal styled, Our Poetess-As she nurtures the tender mind With crayon, oft, in either hand, of youth, may she not forget her muse. In response to this sentiment, Miss SARAH C. PADELFORD read the following sprightly and graceful poem: The long, bright summer day was o'er, One of our mates would take her stand, 'Till some would die for want of breath, And O, how oft, an adventurous band, As when it spread its pinions bright, We thought our scholars all would grow "Tis Tom Jones' mother come to know May I go wet it at the pump?" "" Yes, you may go-Don't wet your dress," "The class may sit, 'Tis time for recess." The children play-The teacher ponders well, Whether they ever will learn to spell. * On learning's hill we oft fresh courage need, If the prayer ascendeth not up to the sky, The charms of this meritorious production were heightened by an excellent delivery. The next sentiment was: The City of Providence-Though no longer the home of the Normal School, it will ever be our Normal home. His Honor, Mayor RODMAN, responded in a very happy vein. The heart of Providence, he said, beats in sympathy with the whole State, and especially with educational enterprises in every part of it. In conclusion, he said he would offer as a sentiment, borrowing the pun of Mr. Angell: May he who guards the furnace of your locomotive see that its "coal burns" brightly. Next came: The following sentiment was sent up by a lady: Our Principal-May the sphere of his usefulness never be less, may his lines ever fall in pleasant places, and the sharp angles of life all be rounded into a full sum of happiness. May he figure well in life, and at length may he be transferred from a dear home circle on earth to the plane of celestial joy above. Responded to by Mr. COLBURN, who then gave: The first mover in the establishment of a permanent Normal school and its fast friend-Rev. Rhode Island-Though small in area, may she T. D. Cook. ever retain what she now has-her full share of influence. Our State Multum in parvo-The smallest of America's daughters; she hath been wedded to the Union-she will ever prove faithful to her VOWS. Ex-Governor HOPPIN responded in a neat speech, in which he said it was a custom in this country, when a man is called upon, to expect him to respond, whether prepared or not. He thought the reason so many could respond readily and ably to such calls, was attributable to their common school training. After insinuating that Prof. Angell had stolen his thunder in saying the pretty things to the ladies, he spoke of the importance of the Normal school, and was glad it had fallen into such able hands. He vindicated the institution from the imputation cast upon it by its enemies, and remarked that it was a fixed fact in this State, and would never be put down, if it had to be sustained by private contributions. He concluded with a sentiment complimentary to the profession of school teaching, denominating it the keystone of the arch upon which the llberties of our country rest. Then came the following: The Normal School-May its roots penetrate deep, and its branches spread wide, until its fruit be found in every State and Territory of our Union. Education-The foe of Tyranny; the friend of Freedom. Brown University-May her seers (Sears) long prophesy; may her good angel (Angell) chase (Chase) far away all threatening clouds; and when her work is done (Dunn) on earth, may it only be to link on (Lincoln) to higher work in Heaven. Her memory will ever be green (Greene) in our hearts. The Normal School and the University. To the last Prof, SEARS gave an eloquent response. Our Teacher of Language-May he find life in its analysis to consist of two principal elements— success and happiness, modified by the respect, trust and love of all who surround him. Rev. Mr. Cook responded in a neat speech, and gave as a sentiment: Providence and Bristol-One now and forever in the cause of Education. The following song, written by Miss CANDACE G. WILCOX, was then sung: Right glad are we the friends to see, Whom we are wont to meet, Within this hall, where wisdom's call Our hearts did gladly greet. Though we may stray far, far away, We oft will call to mind The friendships formed within these walls, The teachers, friends, we greet once more In Memory's bowers, in happier hours, With "Auld Lang Syne." For one short hour, we'll here forget We'll claim this hour our own. When here we part, let every heart To "Right" forever true. These hours we've spent-these happy days Of "Auld Lang Syne." A letter from EDWARD HARRIS, Esq., of WoonProf. S. S. GREENE responded with the follow-socket, whose generous offer of rooms for the Normal school, when it was in danger of being sentiment: The Rhode Island Schoolmaster-Wherever lo- abandoned by the State, will be remembered by cated, may it ever receive our warmest sympathy. our readers, was read by Mr. Colburn, and we |