The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-10-28
For the UNION.
a Sensible Communication.
ELK RIVER, Oct. 1871

Elk RIVER, Oct. 18th, 1880.
Editor UN1oN;-My recent visit to your
enterprisiDg town was one Of rare inter-
est, as it afforded pleasing interruption
to the hunt drum life and settled monoto
ny Of long years here in Elk River. In
fact, so little visiting have | done IN the
last seven years, that had come to re-
gard it as almost settled fact that pleas
ure, comfort and real enjoyment had tax
en- up their exclusive abode here, leaving
ing the poor, benighted places outside 70
grope their aimless way in moral and in
tellectual darkness; but, mesra6Sse dsctu,
on breaking away, Notwithstanding my
settled conviction of the above, and test
| ing the matter for myself, I find that q
| had rever imbibed more erroneous idea
| in my life; that there are other places,
even in Minnesota, where social lSte pre-
sents lust as many charms as here III Elk
River, and that Princeton is by no means
Ian exception. So, Mr.. Editor, upon max
ling the above unlooked-for discovery,
the reaction was so great and consequent
can no longer repress my pent up feel
ing; and this is my apology for trespass-
ing upon your spicy columns, my appeal
being in the nature of warning to 9th
ers, hoping that they will neAer follow
the law OF reytTs50ra 10 the extent that has
influenced me in forming local attach
ments 50 strong as to conclude that nc
rood thing can come out OF Nazareth.
!, Among my numerous observations OF the
people of Princeton is one worthy Of
: more than a passing glance 1t IS tha
ono may be engaged in active, business
{ and be social; lha, socialibility need not
, necessarily, be eliminated or expinges
from that array of qualities or elements
that 90 to make up the successful brsi
: ness man. While admire this feature
: Of Princeton, | am more than surprised
! that the trade at this point is sufficient t
s demand two such stores as those o
. Messrs. Cowles and Kines. Such ampl
facilities Tor handling goods, with aQ tn
others not greatly inferior, coupled wit
= the fact that s. NJ. Byers is forced to en-
y. large his facilities to keep pace with hi
growing tradc-all this speaks volume
t for the present and future OF Princeoni
a But designed to speak solely of you
:. schools and nv observations, but must b
brief as l am becoming tedious. AS a
army, TO Uecome effective and efficien
4 should be controlled by one mind if con
peten,, so should a school, to be a success
e be led by one teacher This fact leac
)r me TO suggest that the time Is near 7,
ID hand when the people will see that it
re tor their best interest to establish high'
"A department to which pupils from the 10y
- Yer grades may go, making their entrant
to the same contingent upon finishing,
OF satisfactory manner, a certain curricl
at lum or course of study. This high scho
r.. NAV be toned to articulate with our Sta
university, thus affording those who wi:
to advance beyond the high school, tt
80 privilege of entering that noble instit
a" ton, thus securing the State bonus f
'l' such schools. No town i'll the State
E. more elgibly situated for such wo
id than Princeton Its constant but healil
n growth, supplemented by the rapid {
- Velopement of the county and countl
~ adjoining, its present comparatively Is
e. lated condition, all point TO the lmpel
nd tive necessity of making this oenehce
nd provision. Then your sons and daught'
re- can be educated at home, under the e
:. of father and mother during the plas
'o' and susceptible period OF chlldhoou q
u" youth, instead OIL Jeopal ui"iaS 'lieAi ny
education by Standing them among !
mixed society of the large cities.
where have j looked upon more int
N gent array Of faces than greeted me
- Princeton. I thought it was just sue
'o' school as would love to teach. III
len outlay i'll the direction Indicated '
place Princeton Oh par with those no
institutions, literary and sclentlhc, t
lh,un rained nnSnaring benediCtiOns VI
err society ana maze 50 ilsnH r p.H"1 :
the ho'n of no .,, . their q
err wants. and trusting they will be char
led Ib]e enough to believe that do not pl
! , myself in the attitude Of an instructor
'eu bring this letter to a close
L. e. w. B. HARVEY.
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