g2 LfTERARY CULTURK. 



and progression. The coiled sprino^ of the machine loses power as it 

 unwinds; but the living soul of man, once conscious of its power, cannot 

 be quelled: it multiplies its energy, and accelerates its speed, in an upward 

 or downward direction, forever. For our teachers to form a County 

 Association under the leadership of a President imbued with such ideas, 

 was to ensure the success which soon made them the recognized leaders in 

 public schools throughout the state. Doubdess much also was due to the 

 earnestness and wise co-operation of the School Commissioners of our 

 county. One of them (the Chairman of this Meeting) made himself con- 

 spicuous for his zeal, his wide knowledge of the requirements of the schools 

 under his immediate supervision, and his devotion to the most advanced 

 methods of education. I remember well his sympathy with the teachers, 

 his magnetism in the school room, his sunshine which made teachers and 

 pupils alike rejoice whenever he visited their schools. Aiding and strength- 

 ening the County Association, insisting upon a high standard of scholar- 

 ship, bringing the brightest minds in contact with each other in discussing 

 the perplexing questions of the school-room, he did a work for our schools 

 \\^hich will keep his memory green forever. Alter a few years of such 

 guidance, we could boast of better schools an'd better teachers in Suffolk 

 County, than in any other County of the State. Our educational torch- 

 bearers did not hide their light, and scores of them became missionaries in 

 school work in other fields where the educational wants were greater and 

 their folden calls more winning. Cruikshank, Higgins, Merwin, Davis, 

 Funnel, were our avant couriers; and through those we sent abroad, the 

 citizens of Brooklyn and other cities of our state gained practical knowl- 

 edge of our advancemerit in the best methods of .moulding immortal 

 minds. How poor was the gift of Midas, fabled to possess the power of 

 turning whatever he touched into gold, compared with the power of turning 

 o-old into knowledge, and wisdom and virtue ! And to-day, Suffolk 

 remains a recognized leading County in educational matters. When any 

 of our sister Counties desire a teacher of marked superiority, attention is 

 given to our County and its school exemplars. We have yielded many of 

 our brightest and best, and still we point with pride to the little army that 

 remains, each fitted to command, all worthy to be termed teachers in fact 

 as well as in name. With Principals Hall, Gordon, Shaw, Hallock and 

 their compeers, Suffolk may well feel proud of her educators. And I must 

 not forget that in Prof Stackpole, who has but so recently surrendered his 

 throne in your village, our County possessed a teacher equal to any who 

 ever held the master's sway in any school of our State; and hundreds of 

 his pupils will rise up to call him blessed. 



If we look at the subjects taught in our common schools; the facilities 

 for illustration; the mechanical conveniences; the improvement in every 

 external aid, including admirably lighted, well ventilated and cozily con- 

 structed school-houses, and contrast them with the inconveniences to which 

 our ancestors were subjected, we need no longer wonder at the marvelous 

 advancement of our children compared with die children of a century ago. 

 Especially is this mere common-place to us, when we see that now the 

 teachers' office is not so much to impart knowledge as to show his pupils 

 how to get it; to give strong impulses to their minds and lead them, in 

 conscious self-reliance, to put forth their utmost enersjies. To thus inspire 

 them with a love of study and delight in mastering difficulties, till they feel 

 all the incitements of victory and are encouraged to go on from conquest 



