The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-06-17

ened the quickness of his effect since he
can now deliver his blows but once
month.
The Office of the ReUie,0 of Rerie,cs con-
sists OF fine suite of rooms in a large
office building on Noriolk-st., overlooking
the Thames embankment, and not far
from the Temple and Blackfriars bridge.
Mr.. Stead's personal work-room is large
and attractive, fitted up in the most con
venlent and luxurious style. He is man
OF about forty-two, above the medium
height, with plenty of glossy brown
hair, full beard, bright eyes and 1.
nervous manner manifesting itself
most consplcuously in his striding about
his room as he talks to strangers. He
appears always TO be working under
great pressure, as indeed he is. He
superintends pretty much everything
connected with the Regieg, and in prepar-
ing his articles dictates to stenographer
and writes hlmslf by turns. He some
times works up to q strain of sixteen
hours day for several days, locking him
sell up with his sIenographer and refus-
ing to see any but the most important
visitors. In this way he accomplishes an
immense amount of work.
AS the school system is now undergoing
much general discussion, and however the
government may decide as to the stress it
shall put on the free education bill, it is
likely to be factor in politics, it will be
interesting to know what the chief fea-
lures OF that system are. This school sys-
TEN, like so many other things in England,
which are the result OF years of
tinkering and patching is COM
pick and clumsy organization. 1t may
be roughly divided into two sec
tons, and old section of volunteer"
schools, and a new section of "board"
schools. The volunteer schools get their
name from the Tact that they are largely
dependent Tor support upon voluntary
contributions. But they also receive gov
eminent grants and charge the pupils
fees. These schools are, and always have
been in the hands of the clergv-the
great majority OF them today being in
the hands of the clergy Of the established
church. If the contributions are not
large, the fees are increased, so tending
to keep the poorer children away,
and TO make the schools thigh class"
To meet the demand for more general
educational facilities which developed
twenty years ago, parliament passed an
act making it possible for the electors Of
school division to establish other schools,
to be governed by a board OF officers
chosen by ballot These board schools
were not to be dependent upon voluntary
contributions, but to draw their support
mainly from moneys raised by local taxa
zion; though they were also TO get govern
ment grants and were to charge fees. In
most of the towns and cities board schools
have been established, but in the great
ma ority of the rural school divisions,
where the squires, owning all the land,
are all-powerfui, the voluntary schools
still prevail. The law prohibits sect1rian
religious teaching in any OF these
schools, but aside from that the
control of the schools gives to the
squires and clergy great and baneful in
fluence over the people. Some OF the adj
vanced men in the established church
concede the hurtfulness OF this TO both
the people and the church, and desire the
universal extension OF the board school
system. But the body of the clergy cling
to their power, and are encouraged to do
so by many eminent prelates like Canon
Farrar, and rich and influential laymen
like the duke of Westminster. In the
government proposal FOR free education
| they scent danger. The government has
not yet formulated its plan, but what has
| been talked OF is the distribution OF large
sum OF money, arising from a surplus OF
| the revenues, among the voluntary and
board school and making it pronibitory to
| charge the pupils fees. IL is likely that
when the people see that so large part OF
the support oil the so-calied voluntary
| schools is received out OF public moneys
they will no longer be content to allow
the clergy to remain in control OF them,
| but will want them to be governed by "a
| board of officers elected by popular vote.
Perceiving this. tine body of the clergy
and the country squires are waging bitter
war against the proposal. But, however
| delayed. this change is inevitable. The
| conservative government in bringing for
ward the proposal is but stealing one OF
| the things which have made the program
OF the radicals 80 popular OF late.
One of the most notable things in En-
glish streets and roadways is the common
use OF the bicycle, which has become q
most important feature in English life, and
| has already largely supplanted the horse.
| 1t is estimated that there are three-quar-
| tiers of million of two. three, and four
| wheeled machines in the country, and all
| the works in Coventry are running on full
| time turning them out This general Use
| is made possible by the splendid roads
| everywhere. In London machines of all
| sorts and descriptions aIe used for all sorts
ofpurposes-ve largely for doing errands,
carrying small parcels and making deliver
| les Though New York is now able to
show some few good streets, these London
streets in their general goodness seem to
| the New Yorker marvel of perfection.
They are for the most part made of as
| phalt, laid on cement foundation, or OF
wooden blocks fixed in cement and care
fully coated over with asphalt. Over these
! streets the heaviest teaming is done. One
sees enormous vans that would require
| four horses to draw with ear-racking noise
| through any American city except Wash
ington, easily and quietly drawn over the
streets by two horses. With such road
way it is a matter of a little time and OF
| pleasant exercise to ride from a home in q
| suburb to the heart of the city. Bows in
uniform are stationed along the busy
| thoroughfares to keep them clean, and to
scatter gravel in slippery weather.
The American who has fancy for bicy-
cling is in England struck with the cheap
ness of the machines in comparison with
American machines of the same grade.
For instance, thoroughly serviceable
Ridge machine, one of the best makes, is
sold for 9l0 $50, which in the United
| States, owing to tariff, would cost 500 OF
| more. But nothing is more certain than
that as stated by the largest of American
bicycle makers some years ago, If the tariff
were taken off bicycles and thei things
that go into the making OF bicycles, the
American machines would quickly clear
1 he oh ~ l,.t,