Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1886-07-10


BAR HARBoR, July 8.
This morning the American Institute al
Bar Hsrbor opened with prayer bv Rev. c.
F. Allen of Richmond, Maine.
A business ses ion followed. MI. NJ
Hall Of Providence, l., was elected presi
den: for the coming year. The other officer,
are RS follows:
Vice Presidenrs-Maine: w j. Cothell
Gorham: + E Files, Augusta J. NJ. Hill
Bangor Mary f Hughes, Castine; J. II
Hanson, Waterville; A. L. Jordan and l.. Fl
Newell. Lewiston; L II sampson, Saco; T
Tash, Portland r. Woodbury., Castine New
Hampshire: G. Foolsom, Dover; c. p Hall
Hinsdale; A. Hadley; Concord; J. Kelsey
Nashua; G. Rounds. Plymouth; W. A
Bobnson, Franklin Falls.
Secretary-G. C. Church of Proydence.
Assistant Secretary--Ray Greene Hurting
New Bedford Mass.
Treasurer-James w. Webster, Maiden
Mass.
Assistant Treasurer-A. d. Small, Allston
Mass.
Councillors-J. w. Patterson and f. II
Ruggles, New Hampshire Homer B. Sprague
Catafurnia; J. L. Burrell, Francis Cogswell
NJ. G. Daniels. J. G Edgerly, +. A. Hill
J. Kneeland, w II. Lambert, w. A. Mowry
A. p. Marble, B. F Tweed. G. A. Wsl,on
and A. +. Winship, Massachusetts; A. j.
Manchester, Rhode Island.
On the recommendation OF the directors the
constitution was amended SO as 10 divide the
members Of the Institute into classes, active,
associate and honorary.
The report of the special committee ap-
pointed to enquire into the lack of accom-
Dodstions and to adjust difficulties, was unan-
imouslv signed by Il Corrigan, G.. Good
win Clark, f Bentley Young and others,
1t exhonorates the management of the Insti-
tute. as the contract fer entertainment was
made with the hotels. President Patterson
was especially congratulated on his admins
trstion, also Payson Tucker, general mana
ger of the Maine Central for most satisfac-
tory provisions made for the success and COM
fort of the convention.
The committee specially recommended that
all future contracts with hotels be made in
writing, and that on the local committee in.
fuence and ability be appointed. The report
exonerates Bar Harbor from blame with the
exception of one hotel, and the local com
mittee of arrangements. The feeling is in.
tense on account of the want of accommoda
tions, and the citizens of Bar Harbor regret
the unpleasantness as much as the members
of the Institute. Aside from this the con,
ventiou has been most successful
The opening paper this morning was read
bv Miss Emily G.. Wetherbee of Lawrence
Mass Her subject was the "Study of Eng
lish Literature" This paper was discussed
bv Rev. A. A. Miner of Boston, and Prof
Gteenough of Amherst.
9 In the absence of Mr.. Axel Gustafson
author of 1.-The Foundation of Death" hi.
paper on Temperance Teaching in Schools
was read by f. c. Corrigan of Boston. Fol
lowing this paper by Colonel Slyke was
read by G. F. Chur h of Providence.
The convention then adjourned.
A business session was held this evening
at which reports of the treasurer, auditing
and neurology committees were presented
and accepted. This was followed by a lee
ture by Edward Atkinson On the Connection
of Economic Science with Education"
The following is an abstract OF Mr.. Atkin.
sons remarks:
The address of Mr.. Edward Atkinson was
entitled "School Instruction and the Labor
Question"
He called attention to the fact that after
the contest between the advocates of classi-
cal and of scientific instruction had been de-
termined (if It ever should be- the biggest
part of the school problem would be left un-
touched to wit, the secondary education of
the average boy or girl. What is il now ?
What ought it to beg
Referring to the labor question. he said
that the dangerous classes IN this country are
those who are either foreign born or the
children of foreign parentage, whose families
have been to poor to permit them to remain
lunr in the common schools. The school it.
self is. perhaps. better educator than what
is taught III it, in all social matters. 1t is
thorou ghly democratic in its influences; but
in it's associations and in the opportunities
which il opens, il is autagonistic to Socialism
or to Communism.
Referring to the census OF iocO ne Poihteu
out that in the census year, among those who
worked for wages, or for gain in money of
any sort, numbering IA 900, over l,loo,-
600 were boys and girls, nearly per cent OF
the whole number of persons upon whom the
material welfare OF this country depends d,
rather more than one-half occupied in agri-
culture, the rest engaged in getting a
living in factories, shops or domestic
service. This happens, not by the
arbitrary will of parents, but because
as vet childrens wages cannot be spared.
Hence one of the greatest pending questions
is. What can we do for children who must OF
necessity leave the schools at the age OF
twelve. often younger?
What they need to know are common mat
ters. They haven't time for accomplishments.
They should have some appreciation Of geog-
raphy, arithmetic and of the relations OF men
ard women to each other in society; the facts
of life, taught not from textbooks, but oy
object lessons. Taking geography as an ex.
ample, Mr.. Atkinson proposed what ne caiiea
object lessons in comparative geography and
comparative history,t TO be taught BY the mural