Springfield weekly Republican. [volume], June 02, 1910, Page 10, Image 10

About Springfield weekly Republican. [volume] (Springfield, Mass.) 1851-1946

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10
MEMORIAL DAY OBSERVANCE.
WILCOX MONUMENT UNVEILED.
VETERANS AND MILITIA PARADE.
Annual Decoration of the Graven ol
the Civil War Heroes in This City.
Springfield observed the passing of an
other Memorial day Monday in very
much the usual way, but with the notable
addition of the unveiling of the monument
to Capt E. K. Wilcox. The program fol
lowed by the various organizations, the
Grand Army and related bodies to it, took
up nearly every minute from the early
morning hours until nightfall, and was
supplemented by numerous other activi
ties in different sections of the city. After
a brief season of rain just after break
fast. the sun came out and the day was
fair, with now and then a cloud, until_lhe
rain came down again about 5.30
o'clock. The morning was spent by the
patriotic organizations in the decoration
of graves in outlying cemeteries, and in
the afternoon followed the parade and the
exercises at Springfield cemetery incident
al to the unveiling of the monument erect
ed by the Grand Army post to Capt \\ il
cox, for whom the local post was named.
The ceremonies there reauired more time
this year than usual, owing to the oetli
eation exercises, and the fact that enh
year finds more graves to be dworauJ.
as the veterans pass away more and more
rapidly. During the day there wore other
attractions, including the annual ins; ey
tion of the police deparar-ent at 12.30
o'clock, ceremonies at the river trout by
the women of Abraham Lincoln eL-ie of
the Grand Army, and the auxi'iary to the |
Spanish war veterans, and sports of vari
ous kinds at the usual centers.
As the parade passed through Main
street after it had been augmented by t ie
veterans. the crowd w hich lined the city s
main tnMvaghfare gave cheer after che r.
erst for the splendid ap^aranve of the
pblice platoon, rhe military companies,
then the veterans of ' > and the bous «.f
Veterans of the civil war. and finally for
the smtll remnant of these « : ■ sew sorv- j
ice hi the war of the tele lie.:. This
year 156 of the bM warriors tvrnM out.
as against 214 in l!Xi9. Mary of them
during the last year have respendesi to
the final call of “taps." Others have
become too feeble to march, but those
sho were there Monday showed that
taty base not forgotten :.w to loop in
step, and not a tear be .ante i straggler.
Just in front of the veterans marches .he
fife and drum corps of Wil .g post, under
W rcideiship of Wimaxi Wa ermau. Three
crghfroblles fits furcis'if. •-teraus.
one .by Guerre M. Furuhim. himself a ■
ersn. a-or her bv S. J. I cnincr. end a third
by Willis A FortL each -f whom gw- up
hifi afternoon to accommoc.T the ve’-rans.
I'arentag the Wileox Monument.
When the veterans Lad reached the Wil
cox lot in the Springfield ctaietery cud
formed a hollow sqmtre around the tablet ■
that was to be unveiled. - verai t.. . nd
people had gathered on the surrounding
scopes which ptuel n natural amphithea
ter of great beauty. Not many <oual hear
what was said, but the sight of the old i
soldiers standing annuid the grave of the
hero that they had come to honor was one
not soon to be forgotten. Hearts thrilled
with emotion at tile hood of memories
brought to mind, ami eyes became moist.
There was a bush around the hillsides as
Commander Jame* Anderson stepped for
ward and opened the ceremonies by call
ing. upon Rev Charles E. Holt for prayer.
He then introduced Ernest Atherton
Smith, a nephew of Capt Wilcox, who
was to remove the flag of the 27th Massa
' Unsetts regiment that was used to veil
the tphlct. Cotnmamier Anderson said:—
When th* Grand Army of the Republic
came into existence shortly after the close ;
of the'civil war it adopted the policy of
nrtninv i's posts f r s'liiers and sailors I
w|o had distinguished themselves end
given UP their lives in the service. When
tie Sbfhmfield, post vts organized in I^3B
th*-e was f.-Jt one voice when it came to j
sclectfni a name. With one accord its i
mtnshers agreed upon the nare* of Capt Ed
vaud .Kirk Wilcox of the 27th Massachu
setts regiment. It will be made e'ear to
vbu by me whom I shall presently intre-
JhrF—why that selection was mad-. Suffice
it for me to say that E. K. Wilcox post '
h?S brought the mortal rem* s of that I
Smirhtjy soldier from the Virginia bot’lr
fields where be fell, and where those ro
mttins hare rested for 43 rears. and 3e
noCted thrnf here besPe the graves of hK
father and mother. In his fernery we have
berj- erected fin ondnriug granite mem trial.
Th* tattered bate* Bag . f -; ; p 27’1; reri
men’ which h* followed on many a h’oo'ly
field now covers it. The nearest of his kin
dred now living, a nephew, has joumey d
from a distent city to be present on this
occasion None- M > fittingly as he -ould
inaururnt* these excrete** and in th* name
of TTRcox prist I row ask him. M: Ernest
Atherton Smith, to uro nil this memorial.
Adder-** by Gen Henry C. Dwt^bt.
Mr Smith raised the flag from the tab
let and Commander Anderson then read
the inter:prion on the granite:—
In memory of Edward Kirk Wilcox, captain
Co J. Z7tb Massachusetts infantry soltmte*:s
son of Obadiah W. and Marr A. Win ox. I,orc
tn Springfield. Man.. August 21. UMI. L led
in battle at <"o>4 Harbor. Vs Jun- 3. 1864
Efeeted by Wilcox Grand Army post, named
in his honor.
He then introduced the orator of th* aft
ernoon, Gen Henry C. Dwight of •"apt
■Wilcox's own company. G< u Dwight
spoke in part as follows:—
We pause here a few minutes before
proceeding with the other ceremonie- of
Memorial day. to unveil this tablet in
memory of one of our comrades whose life
went out in a great battle of the civil
war. Three score and nine years ago Ed
ward Kirk Wilcox was born in this city
of Springfield. His childhood and boy
hood days were lived here in the ordinary
way of those days—at home and in
school—a home of American characteris
tics and of a God-fearing family. At the
age of 16 he attended Williston seminary
add a private school, thence going to Will
iams college. At the age of 18 years,
joining the class of 1862. there for nearly
two years he enjoyed the usual college
life and studies, being a popular, kind
hearted. lovable student. By some turn
of mind he concluded to leave college and
enter business life. The call to arms
came soon after. nn<l he enlisted early in
1861 in the loth Massachusetts regiment
of infantry and entered camp her* with
that regiment a« a private soldier, enthu
siastic in the intention to become a sol
dier, ready to learn the duties. He was
appointed sergeant-major of this regi
ment.. and soon became proficient in this
duty and went to Washington with his
regiment.
During the autumn of 1861 he received
the appointment of Ist lieutenant of Co
I of the 27tb Massachusetts regiment,
end soon entered upon his work. I re
member his coming to us, his manly pres
ence, his handsome face, his glorious en
thpsiasm. his kindly manner.-a fine sol
dier. These memories are present with
me to-day. The scholarly Capt Hubbard
was his captain, who so soon faded away
from us. dying on board ship near Roii
noke island. Lieut Wilcox was in com
mand of this company at the battle of
Roanoke Island, owing to the illness of
Cant Hubbard, and acquitted himself
well.—the first battle of onr regiment and
of moat of us. The sad death of Capt
Hubbard soon after brought the commis
sion of captain to Wilcox, February 13,
1862, when he was 20 years of age. At
Newbern be was with his company and
saw victory come, and so as the days
and years went on he entered on the du
ties of the campaigns, the marches, guard
duty. camp, and battles, succeeding one
after another, —duties that one who Ims
served knows the rare, attention and
character needed to fulfil. All these lie
performed with singular ability, being at
tentive to all duties, socially agreeable,
having a company of splendid men,—us
good a company as the country furnished.
Dahlia wars *r«auaat for muny affairs
—recruiting service, staff amt court-mar
tial service.—a member of Gen Heck
man's staff, also of Gen Weitzel and then
of Gen Stannard of the star brigade, of
which his own regiment was a part. Of
the 27 battles and engagements of his
regiment. I know not how many he par
ticipated in. but many of them from
Roanoke Island to Cold Harbor. At Cold
Harbor he luanifestel a great desire to
enter the battle with his regiment. Of
that terrific battle, on June 2 and 3,
1864. there is no need to speak. History
records few. if any. its equal. The 27tn
Massachusetts regiment, of very small
mmibers, was a part of this terrible ex
perience. and the death roll saddens many
hearts after nil these years. Capt Wil
cox charged with his boys, and on the
highest crest B>f the human wave, he led,
he fell. His life went out amid the car
nage and roar of battle.
This stone is set up in his memory in
his own boyhood home. The knightly
soldier is not here, but we honor his mem
ory to-day with tearful eyes, but with
- - i
CAPT EDWARD K. M’ILCOX.
[From a war-time photograph owned by City Clerk E. A. Newell.]
loving hearts, clad that we knew him.
g’ad that wo S'/r c 1 with him. and ^lad
that h:s splendid record is also a part of
our own. This is no praco or time for
any eulogy of- our Capt Wilcox, but a
few words of a personn! character may
be amiss. Capt Wilcox was a pe
cuHr.r man. It sometimes scented to me
as if some cloud over him. as rhe
<’cuds < omo over th” sdn on a June day:
then the <4oud wonl l pass and the genial,
happy, pieasar.t friend came again. His
inner I hardly think any one knew.
His Ribio boars this inscription in his
own hand: “The last and best gift from
mother.” This ser.riment was his own.
mid shows a part of life that he kept to
himself, but glorio/s sheen of inner
affection and lnv\
To us whn knew Capt Wilcox in those
days he is still remembered as the young
man. the soldier, the friend, tho <nnirade
of onr youthful days. Onr boys who died
in those days have never grown old to us.
They are the sib'o boys that we knew,
with t’eir bright, beautiful, youthful
faces. Our deed are always young. Tliese
old men 'J to-day. who come to <•borate
their corn rules’ craves, never think of
the hov.- who fel; as bein" like them.
Capt Wi?,iw. nearly -IC years ago, full
in brrtle. Years of great moment thc.v
k »vn been. Soldi ts who have lived these
years know th f out< <me of their service,
so grand, so gloripusly wonderful. May
we rot h'^ne that onr comrades on the
“other side” may participate in these
and a greater glory. In tb^ words of
Itudyard Kipling to King Edward, the
dead king, so say wo of Capt Wilcox:—
He hefru that bl" people had need of him,
j-:r»i2htway h^ c.rme t'> us
As h? rs; tp uii. fa h« gave, nothing grudged,
Not evrui Ins* rasp of his breath, wh«n
he str* vp for dying.
For err sakes, vrbort question, he put
from him ril that bp ‘’herighed.
Simply as any ihat serve him, Ue served, and
he perished.
All that kings ?nvet was his, and he flung
It aside for us.
Simply ns ;r.y that died in the service, he
died for us.
My comrades, let ns our tender of
ferinzs : , -d' yon his jrruvo. leaving him
here in lus home to b.c* honored by sweet
remembrances the years go by.
Col John L. Rice’s Poem.
Wb**n Capt Dwight had concluded Com
mander Anderson >poke of the part that
the woman’s relief corps of the post had
taken in keeping the memory of Capt
Wilcox green : nd introduced Mrs Henri
etta Fett. tho president of that organiza
tion, who read tho following ode to Capt
Wilcox, written for the occasion by Col
John L. Rice:—
HONE OX HIS SHIELD.
In Mem or lam Edward Kirk Wilcox.
1841 ISG4-1910.
[By Col John L. Rice ]
When Spartan mothers sent their sons
To battle for their hearths
The legend proud through ages runt
That parting, thus they spake:
“Bring back your shields, or on them borne
Come home to vanant graves."
Then fared they forth in life’s young morn
To heed the solemn charge.
So spake the land of hope nt time
When her glad youth she hade
Go stake their lives for cause sublime.
For more than periled hearths.
So spake the commonwealth, the first
To speed her ready sons
With souls for sacrifice athirst.
And first to mourn them dead.
So spake the city swift to send
Her promise and her pride,
Her youth of l»est nnd purest blend.
To stem war’s crimson tide.
A father's hope and mother's joy,
Spake low the high behest
To love's first-born, their blithesome boy.
Fair “Coxie" of his mates.
The youth's own heart his years outran,
And spake the mandate too:
Then sped his feet ter battle van
Ere manhood stamped his mlen;-
Hls only shield hU eagle ken
And knightly courage snre,
His strength of arm the strength nf ten
Because bit soul was pure.
Now home across the years between.
On shield untarnished borne.
Bls wasted body comes in sheen
From gory field of yore:
And mutely tells the choice he made
’Twin death and lessor part.
How best he did what mandate bade.
When his it was to chonse.
Wreathe were then placed on the grave
by George W. Anderson. Rob Roy Me-
THE SPRINGFIELD WEEKLY REPUBLICAN: THURSDAY. JUNE 2, 1910.
Gp^sor. Mrs Alice E. Chapman and Fanny
v; Taylor. After taps had been sounded
tho veterans marched to the vans of flow
ers ami proceeded with the decoration of
the other graves.
MR TAFT REVIEWS VETERANS.
NEW YORK'S IMPRESSIVE PARADE
Mntnem of Willtnm Lloyd Garrison
and Henry George Are I nveilcd.
There passed in review Monday be
fore the president of the United States,
what remains of New York city’s contribu
tion to the war of secession. The presi
dent came from Washington especially to
see them pass by the reviewing stand at
the foot of the soldiers' and sailors’ monu
ment on Riverside drive, and as the
veterans trudged by. they quickened the
stiffening muscles of old age. raised their
gray heads higher and sought to show* that
they were still fit and active. But the
blue lines wavered and some of the men
who marched behind the ragged flags,
quickly spent what strength they had
and kept their places only with the help
of more stalwart comrades.
The parade was nearly three hours in
passing, beginning at 9.30 and lasting
until 12.15, but all this time the presi
dent stood bareheaded in the stand bow
ing as the veterans trooped by. He was
cheered by the crowds as he drove with
his escort from his brother’s residence
downtown tn the reviewing stand. But
when the survivors of Gettysburg and
Port Hudson swept into sight, though their
uniforms were not so bright or their
backs so straight, they took possession of
the field once more and even the presi
dent was almost forgotten in the presence
of the heroes of the early ’6os. Then the
Taft smile, which had greeted the earlier
marchers, disappeared. Gravely the presi
dent watched the old soldiers, saluting
them with bared head.
After the parade there was a short
ceremony at the base of the monument.
It was cut short by a shower, which wet
the president before one of the secret
service men rushed to his rescue with an
umbrella. The president made no address.
Mr Taft went back to his brother’s house,
‘ hanged his damp clothes, and spent an
hour and a quarter in an automobile ride
through the Bronx to the botanical gar
dens. After luncheon with the Henry
iafts he went to Jersey City and began
the return trip to Washington.
A feature of the Memorial-day celebration
[ was the work-horse parade up Fifth avenue
I from the Washington arch to the North
I monument at Fifth avenue and Twenty
fifth street. Two thousand dollars in cash
and many medals and blue ribbons were pre
sented from the reviewing stand by Mrs
Russell Sagp and Mrs James Speyer, the
latter president of the women's auxiliary of
the American society for the prevention of
cruelty to animals. There were 1220 horses
in line, including a number of blind animals
which appeared iu the parade this year fur
the first time.
Tv. o tablets of historic interest were un
veiled Monday. Henry George, 3d, about
four years old, drew down an American
flag fastened to the front of the Union
bquare hotel. Fourth avenue near Four
roenth street, and displayed to view a lahlet
containing a bronze replica of his gran-1-
fathers features. After a brief speech bv
L . oll ' s U- r,£ Chicago, an old friend
of Henry George, the audience moved up
the avenue two blocks and there unveiled a
tablet to the memory of William Llovd
Garrison.
THE DAY AT WASHINGTON.
Statesmen Address Gatherings nt
Various Places,
1 he halls of Congress and all executive
departments were, dosed Monday while
statesmen of the nation participated in
the annual commemoration of Memorial
day. An impressive spectacle was the
setting .adrift of a flower laden boat in
the Potomae river by tho Spanish war
veterans in honor of the nation’s naval
dead. The orator of the -lav at Arlington
cemetery was Senator William O. Brad
ley of Kentucky. Senator Depew of New
York delivered the oration nt the soldiers’
home. Senator W. B. Heyburn of Malm
spoke at the Congresßiona 1 (cmeterv, and
at Battleground cemetery Senator Brown
of Nebraska was Orator of the day.
Exercises in Georgia.
Southern militia companies Monday fol
lowing the custom of the last few years,
participated in Decoration day exorcises
held under the auspices of the numerous
Grand Army po*a throughout Georgia.
At various places where thousands of
l nion soldiers arc buried in national ceme
teries. the graves were marked with tiny
American flags and appropriate addresses
delivered hy northern and southern speak
ers. Also at some points the graves of
confederate soldiers were also decorated
by the Union veterans. .
President Tnft will be attending com*
meucement exercises and receiving a de
gree at a Catholic college in Pennsylvania
on the day Col Roosevelt lands lit New
York. This, along with a certain other
episode Hint need not be mentioned, gives
assurance that the back-from-Elba move
ment mny meet with denominational lim
itation*.
CURRENT SCHOOL PROBLEMS.
ADDRESS BY DR THOMAS BALLIET.
Expertmentnl Method l» Solv
ing Probleinx of Tenchlnw —Crltl-
■ ci»m of Exiating Machinery ot
i Administration — PlayKronnds and
| School AVork.
I Dr Thomas M. Balliet of New York,
dean of the school of pedagogy of New
York university, and a former superin
tendent of schools of this city, gave an ad
dress on "Current public school problems ’
at the Women's club-house in this city
Tuesday- afternoon. Dr Balliet's appear
ance at this place was arranged by the
Springfield equal suffrage league, the
president of which. Mrs H. M. Phillips,
presided. Mrs John MncDnffle. an officer
of the league, sat on the platform. Thore
was an audience that filled the assembly
hull and overflowed into the vestibule.
The address was concerned mainly with
the administrative machinery of the
schools, the question of vocational educa
tion. and the employment of the experi
mental method in working out solutions
of teaching problems.
Dr Balliet expressed his sympathy with
the equal suffrage movement, and said he
was convinced that the gaining of the
suffrage by woman was sure to be
achieved. Ho remarked that he hud
spoken so often to Springfield audiences
that he felt bo had nothing new t ■ tell
them. His address was hi part as fol
lows:—
Among current school problems there
are a few of an administrative character
which must he solved before much prog
ress < an be made in the solution of others.
Many reforms in education upon which
all thoughtful educators are agreed cannot
be made because of our antiquated and
cumbersome administrative machinery.
The first reform consists in reducing the
size of school boards. Boston has taken
this step; New York is planning to take
it. The latter city has now -Ui members,
while seven or nine would be quite
enough. Most of the work now done by
school boards should bo done by paid ex
perts. ali i the board ought to bo mainly
a legislative body, relieved of administra
tive details. TUat is the nay to secure,
able busy men and women for service on
boards.
The mode of election should be changed
in many cities. The appointment of
boards by the mayor works fairly well in
some cities, but as a general policy is bad.
It gives the mayor too much influence over
the schools, and makes it impossible for
the people to control them directly and
correct abuses promptly. The best method
is nomination and election at large. Ward
representation on a school board may be
twofold. There may be nomination and
election by wards, which is the worst,
form. This makcs.it possible for small
men to get on the board, and they usually
do. There is no city in the country noted
for good schools in which this system is
in practice. In the second place, there
may bo nomination from wards and elec
tion on a general ticket, as is tho ease in
this city. This method gives good results
in a city which is small and in which the
grade of popular intelligence is high. But
as a city grows, certain wards are taken
up by business and it is difficult to find
suitable residents to represent thorn on
the board. When a city reaches this point
in growth, all w’nrd representation must
be abolished or the personnel of the school
board will degenerate. The school board
should be given entire responsibility by
state law for the ereefioa of school-houses,
and control of its own finances. It should
not bo dependent^on the city council for
appropriations. In this way only can a
school board formulate a wise and eco
nomical .policy for a series of years. Un
der present conditions it can plan only for
a year ahead.
We are just beginning to appreciate the
full significance of play in a child's in
tellectual. social atid moral development,
and millions are being spent on public
playgrounds throughout the countrv. The
play instinct is inborn.’ but the kind of
games to be played must be taught, just
as the faculty of speech is inherited, but
the particular language must be taught.
It has been clearly demonstrated that
most of the so-called hoodlumism of boys
is nothing but a savage manifestation of
the play instinct. The cure for ft is not
the reformatory, much less the jail, but
thejrlayground, supervised by experts. The
intelligent supervision of play does not
destroy its spontaneity, as some people
imagine. This point has jieen abundantly
demonstrated. The time is coming when
children under 10 will be sent to school in
the forenoon and to a supervised play
ground in the afternoon. Three hours of
school work is enough for children of that
age. This will lead to changes in the
course of study for primary schools. Pen
manship and arithmetic will not be taught
systematically until children are 9 or 10
years old. They have reallv no use for
either before that, and they will be as
proficient in both when they are 14 as if
they had begun them earlier. Tho physi
ologists have long since recommended this
for hygienic reasons, nnd actjhl experi
ments show that it is entirely practicable
from an educational point of view. Little
children should bp taught reading early.
They should be al spread to by the teacher
in school for a Imlf-hour or more each
day. In this way the host children's lit
erature could ho rend to them. This would
cultivate a taste for good reading, create
an ambition to lonrn to read, and give
them a wide vocabulary. All instruction
should he oral in those early grades. Thore
is no use for writing. It hns been demon
strated that the dovclonmont of oral lan
gunge in tho early grades is far the best
method of scouring nbilify in written com
position in tho higher grades. Some in
teresting experiments have been made on
‘"IS point which scorn to ho conclusive.
The problem of industrial or vocational
training is a fundamental one just now,
and its right solution is very important.
Some, in their first enthusiasm, are speak
ing of an entire reorganization of its pub
lic school system on a vocational basis
nnd imagine that trades are going to be
taught in grammar schools and high
schools. I, hardly need to say that this
is not going to come to pass. The schools
generally can he co-ordinated somewhat
nwre with life, fint n system of vocational
education must come as an addition to tho
public school system, nnd not as a sub
stitute for it. Our whole system of even
ing-schools in large cities must he reor
ganized chiefly on a vocational basis. A
system of evening schools must do nt least
throe things: It must give to pupils who
leave the day schools to go to work an
opportunity to continue their general edu
cation: secondly, it must teach foreigners
the English language and tho duties of
citizenship; thirdly, it must provide, on n
large scale, instruction in trades and other
vocations. The present system makes pro
vision for the first two. By adding the
third, tho attendance can be more than
doubled.
In this matter of public evening trade
schools this city has led the whole Unit
ed States. The trade school in this city
was by half a dozen years the first of its
kind conducted at public expense. Within
the last few years New York. Boston,
Cambridge and several other cities have
organized such schools confessedly on the
Springfield model. This is only one of a
number of features of civic life in which
Springfield is to day leading other cities.
The sane Fourth of July celebration in
augurated here has been caught lip bv the
whole country. Occasionally good tilings
become epidemic; tve need more such cen
ters of infection. We need a groat varie
ty of evening trade schools; there is room
for almost indefinite expansion. But wo
also need n new typo of public day school,
which shall take children at tho end of the
seventh school year and keep them throe,
fobr, nr ti»e years, according to tho kind
of trade they wish to learn, and tench
them a trade while continuing their aca
demic education. Such n school would
overlap partly the grammar schools and
partly the present high school in point of
.roars. But the academic work ought to
ho different from both. It ought to be
somewhat lighter and related as much a*
possible to their trade. In such a school
a great variety of trades can be taught,
determined somewhat by the industrial
demands of the community. The teach
ing of trades ns an integral part of ex
isting high schools or grammar schools is
iifipractieable. This is the way Germany
has solved the problem. It is the way we
must solve ij. In Germany it is an addi
tion to the public school system. No vo
cational training is given there in the
regular public schools except sewing and
cooking.
We must organize our public school sys
tem. not in the interest of the minority
who go to the high school, as we have
been doing: nor in the interest of the ma
jority who leave school at 14 to go to
work, as some people propose; but in the
interest of all. This is the only true de
mocracy in education. This means a great
er variety of schools to meet the needs of
various types of mind. Onr school sys
tem at present is too severely simple, too
uniform in its organization. We are grad
ually getting different types of high
schools—the literary, the technical and the
commercial. If we provide the type sug
gested. whatever name may be given it.
we shall make our school system far more
adequate than it has been.
There arc mau^v interesting problems of
method being worked out experimentally
nt present. The experimental method is
being applied to questions of teaching chil
dren. just as it has long since been ap
plied to psychology. Germany has made
great strides in the last 10 years, nfid
American universities are taking it up.
New York university has appointed a pro
fessor of experimental pedagogy for next
.year. Much has been done, for instance,
in df b i mining how a child should be
taught to read. One of the results is that th.,
prevalent phonic method is found good for
dull i hildrcr. but probably bad for bright
children. It tends to make slow readers
in silent reading, which constitutes most
of the reading of educated people. It has
been found that some people can read si
lently four times as fast as other people
of the same ability and education and
grasp the thought just as accurately. This
depends on the way they were taught read
ing in school. I cannot go into details,
but I need hardly say that this raises im
portant questions of method.
Experimental studies indicate that the
process of mastering a thing, whether it
be the acquisition of manual skill or the
learning of a new language or of some
other subject, is not uniform, but that
progress is now fast, then slow, or ceases
altogether, then becomes fast again, and
so on. These periods of slow progress or
no piogress have been called "plateaus."
How to prevent arrest of development on a
low plateau, how to shorten plateaus and
get n child on to a higher level —these are
among the puzzling questions of method of
which experimental work has made us
aware. AH of us suffer permanent arrest
of development on some plateau. Most
adults have made no progress in their pen
manship for years—some have even dropped
on to lower plateaus. Most adults do not
improve in spelling, or. in correctness of
speech. Much of the technical literature
on this experimental work is in foreign
languages and is .not yet accessible to
American teachers. Enough has been ac
complished already to prove that questions
of method can be determined scientifically
and need not be matters of opinion and
of tlie “experience” of individual teachers.
DR EASTMAN'S TRI^ TO THE WILDS
Will Investigate Arts and Crafts of
the Indiana.
Dr Charles A. Eastman, a pure-blood
Siouv Indian and well-known author and
lecturer of Amherst, will start about June
12 on a four-months’ trip through some of
the wildest parts of North America. He
has been engaged by a wealthy alumnus
of the university of Pennsylvania to search
among the Indians that have been least
affected by the white man’s civilization
for specimens illustrating the arts and
crafts of these primitive people. Dr East
man will travel alone, excepting for his
guides. He will start in the wilderness
m northern Minnesota, in the neighbor
hocd of Red lake and I-nke of the Woods,,
then go to Manitoba lake, travel along
the western and northern shores and back
by the Canadian Pacific railroad; then go
to Aiberta, and' will canoe down the
Saskechewan river. Dr Eastman says
that in northern Minnesota he will find
Ojibways, and about Manitoba lake Saul
tos and Osweans and some of the north
ern Minnesota Sioux that were driven
there after the 1862 massacre. Careful
arrangements for the trip have been made,
and the doctor will work through the posts
of the Hudson Bay fur company. The
Indians that he will visit know nothing
of agriculture, and exist almost entirely
by hunting and fishing. Dr Eastman will
be armed only with a camera and a small
revolver. He says that there is not a bit
of danger from robbers in that wild region,
but it is only on the outskirts of civiliza
tion that one supposed to have money
must beware. He expects incidentally to
enjoy some fine shooting in the fall. He
will also gather much material for mag
azine articles that he has already been
invited to write.
THE MONUMENT AT WESTFORD.
Ex-Gov Long on the Metcalfs, Father
and Son.
[From John D. Long’s Address at the Dedi
cation on Monday.]
It may be said we are in the monu
nfeutal age. Time and your patience
deny an enumeration of the monuments
erected in Massachusetts in recent years.
Scarce a town is without a soldiers' or
sailors' monument. Especially fitting it
is that in Westford this memorial figure
should stand facing her village green.
Her sons have shared in every conflict
in which the country was interested. In
the war for the Union more than 200
of her sons rallied to the call, enlisting
in various regiments, and they were loyal
on every battlefield. Thirty-five of West
ford’s sons gave their lives, and mole
of them were scarred with wounds and
enfeebled by disease. The treasury of
the town was also thrown open and pri
vate citizens gave up their means. Her
wometr. God bless them, their hearts full
of tenderness, never forgot the boys in
the fields.
When the call came to Westford for
volunteers, William Metcalf made a
patriotic speech and volunteered for serv
ice. He was chosen a lieutenant of Co
C, 16th Massachusetts regiment, and Ue
saw terrible service in the Peninsular
campaign. And now, in filial remem
brance for his comrades from Westford,
his son. Edwin D. Metcalf, gives this sol
diers' monument. The donor preferred it
should represent the private soldier and
thus to do honor to tho 200 or 300 sol
diers enlisted from the town. The gift
is only one feature in a career of a worthy
son of n worthy father. How full must
the heart of the son bo to-day. Hence
forth tho names of William and Edwin
D. Metcntf. father and son. will be joined
as household words in Westford.
The world marches onward and up
ward. So long ns human nature is Inimnn
nature tho plagues of Egypt will he al
ways with us. There is ho safety but
in eternal vigilance, eternal patriotism,
eternal seiwire and sacrifice. I.et the
.young mon of to-day fight the good fight
for righteousness which is now calling
them to battle ns yon veterans in your
day fought the good fight for Unfon’anJ
freedom.
One of the novelties to be shown at the
playground congress to be held nt Roches
ter. N. 5'.. from June 7 to 11 will he a
series of moving pictures of blind children
plnying football. These pictures wore tak
en under the direction of Charles F. F.
Campbell, one of the lending educators
among tho blind. He found that the chil
dren's quick sense makes them good foot
ball players and that they run no danger
while playing football. The films will show
two elevons trained by him playing an ex-
Citing gany>.
Tho astronomers now seem to be laugh
ing at the comet. But the comet put the
first laugh on 4hem.
THE CONNECTICUT SENATORSHIR.
CENSUS DISAPPOINTS HAHTFORD.
Another New Public Service Act Pro
mulgated by State Business Men’s
AMSoeiat ion.
From Our Special Correspondent.
Habticbd, Ct., Saturday. May 28.
Spasmodic outbreaks of alleged political
information that does not amount to much
are bound to occur when there is not
much going on that is tit to print. This
has been the situation in Connecticut for
weeks. When Representative Henry an
nounces that he approves a public recep
tion to Col Roosevelt provided it is a tri
bute to the man, but not if it has political
significance, that is seized on as a valuable
piece of political talk. There is no infor
mation for the public as to the Bulkeley
and McLean canvass for the senatorship,
or even the prospects of Mr Goodwin, and
Mr Lake for the governorship nomination.
Nobody is openly seekingßthis democratic
nomination for governor. Congressman
Tilson hits announced that he has nothing
to say as between any of these candi
dates, but warns them and their follow
ers not to meddle with him. He consid
ers his own fences in a desirable condition.
Very likely they are unless he invites pun
ishment, but lie is hardly wise to put a
chip on his shoulders in the presence of
the others he has named. Mr Hill has
casually attracted a little attention to him
self. but most of the men in Congress are
keeping still and, presumably, sawing
wood. Senator Brandogee may have
pushed this policy too far in losing his in
terest in the White mountain forest pres
ervation and Senator Bulkeley may have
been needlessly impertinent in- telling a
reporter who asked about the senatorial
contest in Connecticut that he did not
know of any. But al! these things are
trivial.
There is. however, a distinct feeling
that something serious is developing in the
senatorial situation. The remark of Sena
tor Bulkeley, just quoted, is held to indi
cate this instead of being a passing jest.
It is said that the old statement that New
Haven would be against him is proving
true, that he is dissatisfied with his chief
agent hereabouts and disposed to make a
change, and there’is talk of new combina
tions that are not to his advantage. But
much of this is inference or mere guess
work. Unless it shall appear that he is
really losing his hold on tjie small towns
he is still likely to win, for they control
the Legislature and he has made himself
liked among them. When they almost sol
idly refused in the constitutional conven
tion to provide a fair system of represen
tation he made himself their advocate in
public and private. He spoke strongly
and at length in the hearings of the con
vention. He has always been ready to
help his small town friends when they
appealed to him and has the personal lik
ing of a great many men who are in
fluential in those towns. If he can hold
the small towns he can be elected if every
city in the state elects senators and repre
sentatives opposed to him. yet the cities
contain much more than a majority of the
people of the state. There are 18 eitiet
and of these .11 contain a majority of the
total population. These 11 elect 22 repre
sentatives and the other towns elect 233
representatives. In the matter of senators
there is more approximation to fairness.
The 11 larger cities elect 19 of the 35
senators. This is chiefly a matter of cu
riosity in the election of a United States
senator. The vote of the House will
probably control.
It is said that Mr McLean has had good
success in Ms canvass of the small towns,
but there is sometimes a difference be
tween the feeling of citizens generally and
.hat of the men they elect to the Legisla
ture. It seems to be understood by Mr
McLean's friends that he has really and
effectively gained ground in the small
towns and that he can count safely on
some of the cities. They are said to in
terprot Senator Bulkeley's present attitude
as indicating that he shares this view and
is both surprised and irritated. But in all
this talk pro and con there is little that
is definitely known to any but the people
most directedly interested. It seems rea
sonably certain that the senatorial candi
date who holds most of the small towns
will be elected, and in the past this has
been Senator Bulkeley’s strong hold.
Whether the situation has changed re
mains to be seen.
The situation is further complicated by
the widespread dissatisfaction with the
neglect of recent republican Legislatures
to provide an effective public service law,
or an - employers’ liability law. or remove
the SSOOO limit of payment for fatal in
juries. or give home rule to cities. On all
these subjects there is strong feeling,
which may result in compelling some can
didates at least to declare themselves un
equivocally. and such declaration may af
fect the election of men who have been
picked out and counted on either side of
the senatorial contest. Remembering that
the state election does not come until No
vember and the senatorial election about
two months later, there is certainly time
for changes from whatever may be the
existing condition.
As for the public service act another
new one has been proposed by the direc
tors of the state business men’s associa
tion. Apparently it differs from the other
recent outlines more in detail than in sub
stance. In fact most of the drafts
that are honestly meant to hold corpora
rations up to the mark if they are negli
gent or unfair are compelled to take much
of the substance of the bill prepared by
the commission of 1907. With few modi
fications that could be made Into a simpler
and more effective hill than any of the
later ones, and the advantage of working
in that way would be that that bill has
been thoroughly studied and is familiar
to many of those who are now working at
the subject. Recasting even the same
matter in a new form confuses the reader
and makes effective criticism more diffi
cult.
Having decided in their own minds that
Hartford must have a population of about
112.900, a number of ordinarily judicious
citizens find themselves wholly unrecon
ciled to a census count which shows less
than 100.0 W. It is understood that about
98,000 or 99,0000 is the total found by
the enumerators, and there has been a de
mand for a police census, for a census by
letter carriers, anything but the old way
of accepting the official result as being
as nearly correct ns any other, probably
nearer, because it was taken with special
reference to the provision of inw that
those residing elsewhere but doing busi
ness here shall be enumerated in their
homes instead of their shops or offices.
One district was found in which the
enumerator had become hopelessly con
fused. but that involved onlv a few hun
dred names. That work had to be done
over. In nil tho rest of the city re-exntn-
Ination hns shown no more errors than
are incident to any attempt to record a
number of particulars about n large num
bre of people.
It is true that for 10 years to come
Hartford will nppenr in the lists as one
of the cities with less than 100,000 in
habitants. Yet numbers is one of the
minor recommendations of a city. The
character of the population is worth more
thnn its numbers: so is its development of
useful activities of nil sorts, industrial or
financinl. educational or artistic. Solidity
and public spirit are great assets. All
this seems to have been forgotten in a
wild desire for numbers. It seems that
the prophetic vision rested partly on in
ferences made from the number of names
in the directory, but this contains the
names of nil doing business here as far
ns they enn be lenrned. It prints firm
names. <nd then those of the individunl
members of the firms, and ns this practice
tends to increase, It is quite possible that
even n ratio between names in the direct
ory and the population that was approxi
mately correct a few years ago may be
wrong now. It is not so easy to get rid
of the school enumeration as a basis, but
it is probably true that the largo increase
of the foreign poputatfon accounts for it
through the relatively large number of
children born into each family. This in
dication of population might mislead iu
the same way as the directory’s number
of names. After all. the important fact
is that the review of the enumbration thus
far made tends to support its substantial
accuracy. It is inconceivable, after what
has been •learned of this work and the
way it has borne re-examination, that
about one in eight of the inhabitants ot
Hartford was omitted in the enumera
tion.
ON THE COLLEGE DIAMOND.
Basehall Games of the Past Week.
At Williamstown. Williams 5, Dartmouth 1.
At Providence. It. 1., Harvard 6, Brown 1.
At Princeton, N. .1., Princeton 6, Pennsyl
vania d <l4 innings, darkness).
At Hartford, Ct., "Aggies" 1, Trinity 0 (11
innings >.
At New York, Yale 8, Columbia 6.
At Ithaca. N. Y., Cornell 3, Michigan 0.
At. New York, Fordham 2, Wesleyan 1.
At Brunswick, Me., Tufts 7, Bowdoin 3.
At. Burlington, Vt., Vermont 18, George
town 1.
At Annapolis, Md., Army 2. Nary 0.
At Exeter, N. IL, Dartmouth freshmen 11
Exeter 8-
At Easton, Pa., Lafayette 8, Lehigh 1.
At Troy, N. Y., Rensselaer 3, Rochester 2.
At Syracuse, N. Y„ Syracuse 3. Villanova 1.
At Lewiston, Me.. Bates 4, Boston college 1.
At Orono. Mo.. Maine 3. Colby O.
At Worcester, Holy Cross 7, Manhattan 1.
At Kingston, R. 1., Rhode Island 9, New
Hampshire 3.
At Clinton, N. Y., Middlebury 5, Hamilton 1
At Chicago, university ot Chicago 3, Wis
consin 0.
At Amherst. Amherst 5, Dartmouth 2.
At Syracuse, N. Y.. Michigan 4. Syracuse 2.
At Andover. Manhattan 4, Andover 1 (sis
innings, raini.
At Hamilton, N. Y„ Middlebury 5 Cob
gate 3.
At Williamstown: Amherst-WflHamg. rain.
At Providence, R. I.: Brown 4. Yale 3.
At Andover: Harvard 7, Andover 1
At Worcester: Dartmouth 4, Holy Cross 2
At Middletown, Ct.: Trinity 4, Weslevan 3.
At Burlington: Vermont 3, Rochester 1.
At Ithnca. N. Y.: Pennsylvania 2. Cornell!
At Lewiston, Me.; Hates 5, Bowdoin 4.
At Hoboken, N. J.: Rutgers 4, Stevens 3.
At New York: Fordham 0. Georgetown 1
At Hanover, N. H., Williams 5, Dart
mouth 0.
At New York. Fordham 1. Holy Cross 0.
At Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 7, Brown
6 (11 innings).
At Andover, Andover 9, "Aggies'* 6
At Waterville, .Mo.. Maine 3. Colby 0.
At Burlington, Vt., Vermont-Manhattan,
rain.
At New Haven, Ct., Y’nie freshmen-Prinee
ton freshmen, wet grounds.
At Middlebury, Vt., Middleb'ury-St Law
rence, rain.
Connecticut League Standing;.
CLUBS. W. L. r.C. CLUBS. W. L. F.C,
Waterbury, 19 9 .679 Hartford, 12 12 .500
Bridgeport, 17 9 .634 Holyoke. 12 13 .480
N. Haven. 16 10 .616 Northam'n, 917 340
Springfield. 14 14 .500 N. Britain. 520
American League Standing.
CLUBS. W. L. P.C. CLUBS. W. L. P.C.
Phlia.. 26 9 .743 Cleveland, 1418 .438
New York. 23 10 .697 Washing'n, 16 22 .427
Detroit, 22 17 .565 Chicago, 1120 .355
Boston. 19 16 .543 St Louis, 827 .220
National League Standing.
CLUBS. W. L. r.C. CLUBS. W. L. r.C.
Chicago, 22 12 .647 St Louis, 18 20 . 474
New York. 23 14 .621 Brooklyn 16 22 .427
Pittsburg. 18 15 .545 Phila.. 13 20 .394
Cincinnati, 18 16 .529 Boston, 14 23 .379
SPORTS OF SEVERAL KINDS.
Cornell Winner of the Junior ’Varsity
Race.
Cornell easily won the junior-’rarsity
crew race from Pennsylvania over a two
mile course Monday at Ithaca, N. Y.
The red and white shell crossed the line
three lengths in the lead, and the men
paddled back to their boat-house as if
they had only been practicing. Cayuga
lake was lined with holiday guests of the
undergraduates, and the observation trains
brought in 2000. Cornell started a 40
stroke, and Pennsylvania rowed at 38,
but each crew began to lower the stroke
until at the two-mile post they were row
ing 34 strokes to the minute. Cornell fin
ished the two miles in 11 minutes two
seconds.
Great Ocean Race From Philadelphia
tn Havana Euda.
The ocean race for motor boats from
Philadelphia to Havana in which five
contestants started last Saturday after
noon has ended in a victory for the
Berneyo, owned by S. IV. Granbery,
Brooklyn yacht club, which with her time
allowance of three hours and 45 minutes
over M. E. Brigham's Caliph, beat the
latter boat by two hours. 44 minutes. 18
seconds. The Caliph arrived at Havana
Saturday evening, at 6.03.15, followed by
the Berneyo a trifle more than an hour be
hind.
Intercollegiate Field Meet at Phila
delphia,
The university of Pennsylvania won the
intercollegiate championship track and
field meet on Franklin field at Philadel
phia Saturday by the narrow margin of
two points, scoring 27’4 points to Yale's
25%. Michigan, by the fine work of It.
C. Craig. - her sprinter, took third place
from Princeton, scoring 20 points. Prince
ton made 17 points, Cornell 14. Harvard
13%. Syracuse eight. Amherst six. Brown
ami Dartmouth each three. Columbia 2%
and Wesleyan, Bowdoin and New York
university each one.
Cornell Oarsmen Win nt Boston.
Sixteen strong-armed Cornell oarsmen
swept Charles river at Boston Monday,
the 'varsity crew defeating Harvard in a
beautiful race by a full length, while the
freshmen completely outclassed the crim
son eight, winning hy six lengths. It was
’Cornell's short, choppy stroke that proved
superior to Harvard's long rhythmic
swing.
THE VERMONT GOVERNORSHIP.
[From the Ludlow Tribune.]
If Rutland county stands solidly behind
Dr Mead, as ought certainly to' be the
case; if Bennington county stands solid
ly behind her ’favorite sou,” James K.
Batchelder, as will probably be the case,
temporarily at least; if Lamoille county
stands solidly behind Frederick G. Fleet
wood. as will certainly be the case, and
is assisted to a greater or less extent by
Caledonia; if the Free Press is correct
when it indicates thpt Chittenden county
will support Charles P. Smith, the bank
er candidate; if even a few delegates
from any part of the state incline toward
favoring the aspirations of Mr Hapgood
of Peru:—if the convention faces this
sort of a situation when the first ballot
is called for. the final outcome will be
something to be guessed at.
Tho opponents of Dr Mead are making
the most of this element of uncertainty.
Their ability to so enhance this uncer
tainty ns to bring about his defent is
a matter of doubt. It looks now like a
miscellaneous showing on tho first ballot,
with Dr Mead and Mr Fleetwood as
leaders; after the first, the strength of
tho "favorite son" and "receptive” can
didacies will be dissipated, and it will
be a little surprising if enough voters
can be held back from the Rutland gen
tlemnn to prevent his nomination, es
pecially if his county is loyally insistent.
HORSESANDVEHICLES
ABSORBINE
will reduce inflamed, strained* swollen Ten
dons, Ligaments, Muscles or Bruises. Cura
the Lameness and stop pain from a Splint,
Side Bone or Bone Spavin. No blister, no
hair gone. Horse can be used. A safe, pleas
ant remedy for Bruises, Old Sores, Puffs,
Enlarged Glands or Veins, etc. Horse Book
2D free. $2.00 a hottie at deniers or deliv
ered. W. F. YOUNG, P. D. F., 256 Temple
St.. Springfleld. Muss.
WANTS 7
Help Wanted—Women.
IXfANTED- A strong, capable young woman
vv to assist In housework; also a trust
worthy young man to do outside work. Ue
ply to
J. E. DOWNS, Granville, Maw.