The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-06-10
PENCIL-PUsHERS' PICNIC.
Nineteenth Annual Meeting OF the
Michigan state Press
Association.
COldwater Captured.


The nineteenth annual meeting of the
Michigan State Press Association was held
in the city of Coldwater on Tuesday and
Wednesday, June 1st and 2nd A large
number of the pencil-pushers of Michigan
accompanied by their wives, between 800
and 400, gathered from all quarters of the
state. swarmed down on that beautiful little
town like cloud of Kansas grasshoppers.
Word had been sent abroad that the citizens
of Coldwater had promised to entertain all
who should be in attendance Mt the meeting,
and right royalty was that promise fulfilled.
OF them 1t cannot be said 4" was a stranger
and We took me not in" for never did stran-
gers meet with more unbounded hospitality
than did the members of the "press- gang y
at the hands of those whose guests they be-
came. 1t was the good fortune of ourself
and our better half to be assigned to the care
of Mr.. and Mrs. II. III. Barlow, and the cor
diality with which we were received, the
kindness and unbounded hospitality to
which we were treated during our stay will
always constitute a most pleasant remem-
brance. In the language of Rip Van Win
kle. May they live long and prosper"
The city of Coldwater, which is situated on
a beautiful river and prairie of the same
name, was incorporated in 1861, and, ac-
cording to the census of 1884, contained a
population of 5,l02. 1t takes its name from
spring called by the Indians " Chuck-sew-
ya-bish," meaning cold water. 1t is one of
the most beautiful towns in the state and so
EMPOWERED in shade that looking down from
an elevated point little else can be seen than
roofs and spires. It's streets are broad. level
and clean and lined with elegant and sub
stantial brick blocks and handsome residen-
ces surrounded by clean and closely shaven
lawns. The streets of the city and the sur
rounding country afford some of the finest
drives that can be found in this or any other
country. In the language of recent writer
in the Coldwater Republicans, For desira-
BILE country-cty home, which combines the
advantages Of low taxation, excellent schools
and churches, good health and economical
living, in the midst of an intelligent and
social people, commend us to Coldwater"
Wednesday forenoon was devoted to q
visit to the State Public School, the noblest
anu the least known and understood of all
thepublic charities of our state. 1t is situated
on the north of the city, Just outside the
line of the corporation. 1t consists of one
main building in the shape of cross, nine
cottages, one school house, hospital and
building which is used as water tower
engine and boiler house, gas works and
laundry. All the buildings are heated by
steam and lighted by gas. The visitors
were shown over the premises by Mr.. j. n.
Foster, the gentlemanly superintendent, who
took great pains to explain the manner in
which the work is done. and the happy
faces of the children were an index to the
success of the school. All that is required
for the admission of its inmates is that they
shall be under twelve years of age, sound in
mind and body and dependent on the public for
support. 1t is the humane policy of the state
that no young children shall find home in
its poor houses, but that all shall be educated
and enabled to become self-supporting men
and women, valuable citizens and members
of society. This school, which was opened
i'll May, 1874, Is the only institution of the
kind in the United States. In a recent
report, the superintendent SAYS. "Of the
1924 children who have been received. GO
have died, $50 are now in the school, and
1,778 have gone from the school, of which
number, 1868 are either self supporting
men and women in the various vocations of
life, or are i'll families being cared for by
citizens who have taken them by adoption
or indenture.''
We have neither time nor space to notice
all the institutions of the city, but cannot
pass the subject by without allusion to the
magnificent Lewis Art Gallery and the pub
lie library. The former is, without doubt,
the finest collection of paintings and statu-
airy in the state, consisting of 723 different
pieces, some of them very valuable. The
entire collection is valued at S250,0OO,
and was presented to the University at
Ann Arbor by the late owner, Mr. Henry G.
Lewis, previous to his death which occurred
subject to the pleasure of Mrs. Lewis. The
gallery is open to visitors every Saturday,
free of charge. The members of the asso-
citation visited the gallery in body on
Wednesday evening by special invitation.
and were most cordially received by Mrs.
Lewis and family. BY the terms of his will,
Mr.. Lewis also bequeathed to the Coldwater
Free Public Library his valuable library of
about 5000 volumes. This institution is
already possessed of fine collection of sew
eral thousand books which is being contin-
ually increased year by year, by means of an
annual tax of one-half a mill on the dollar
and the moneys received from the public
library fund, which, altogether, makes an
annual income of about $4,000. The associ-
alton having purchased a desirable site, Mr..
Edwin X. Clarke, another of Coldwaters
public spirited citizens, is building at his
own expense an elegant and commodious
fire-proof library building, two stories high
and containing room for 10000 volumes.
large enough to accommodate the demand
for many years TO come. Such men as
Messrs. Clarke and Lewis are an honor to
themselves, the community in which they
reside and to the world.
The sessions of the Press Association were
we'll attended, not only by its own members.
but by the citizens of the citys The papers