Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1892-03-02
The Columbian Exposition.
To the School Teachers, Officers an,
Patrons of Barber county.

At the Columbian Exposition next
year, 1t is desirable that the school
work and school interests of Kansas he
shown up in a manner to compare fav-
orably with the educational exhibit
sure to be made by other states. II
seems to me that no one who has prom
er pride in his state and its institutions
will wish to see Kansas take a back
seat at the exposition, or be thrown
into the background by greatly super
Tor displays made by other states: vet
this will surely happen unless the people
OF our state bestir themselves and see
that substantial exhibit be made. IF
1t will pay as matter of business land
who doubts it, to show to the world our
natural agricultural and mineral re-
sources, manufacturing facilities, COM
mercial advantages, etc., it will surely
also pay as a simple matter of business
to let the world know of our excellent
school facilities and advantages. One
important object of the whole Kansas
exhibit is to induce desirable class of
immigrants to come and make their
homes in this state, and to bring their
labor and capital to develop our re-
sources and advance the general inter.
ests OF our commonwealth: and the bet
ter class of immigrants, when CONSIDER.
ing the attractions of different locali
ties and deciding on place for a flu
ture home, will surely be influenced in
their decision fully as much by the ed
ucational facilities offered as by anv
other one thing. In other words il
ought to be as valuable to Kansas to
have our excellent school facilities
shown up as it would to have it known
that she is great wheat state or a
great corn state.
Granting then that this educational
exhibit should be made the next thing
IS to provide the money with which to
makei it. The last state legislature could
provided for the expense not onIy of
the educational exhibit, but for the en-
tire exhibit of all the various industries
OF the state, but no appropriation was
made, and we must now either raise
the money or have no exhibit. How
ever, enough counties have promised
their aid to make the exhibit an assur
ed fact, and am sure that the people
OF Barber county have too much
pluck and pride to refuse to do their
part. It is but waste of time, so far
as preparing for the exhibit is concern
ed to criticise the action of the legisla
ture. Men of all parties should look
the situation sQuarely in the face and
lend their energies and influence to the
work of raising the money. 1t is
matter of business and state pride.
The sum asked for, to be used for the
educational exhibit, is an average
amount of but five cents per pupil from
each school district in the state, and
this does not look as though it should
be much of burden.
A thorough state organization for
Kansas has boon nerfected. and men
placed in charg 9se matter who are
aS honest, falIl66d competent as can
be found; fo6nstance State Supt. Win
ans, john M. BIoss, of the Topeka
schools, President A. r. Taylor, of the
State Normal school, and President G..
L. Fairchild, of the State Agricultural
College, the last named gentleman be-
ing treasurer, to whom the money for
the educational exhibit will be sent.
and who promises not only to receipt
for the same but to report to the people
how the money has been expended.
After much discussion as to WAYS
and means of raising this money. two
plans have been suggested which will
probably work as we'll as any in this
county.
ISL. voluntary contributions on
given day by the pupils and their teach
ers. End. The rendering of a pro-
gramme, to which a small admission
fee shall be attached.
A suggestive programme has been
prepared by the committee and materi-
al furnished, by the use of which an
evenings entertainment may easily be
arranged. We are assured that this
programme is full of instruction for
pupils and patrons. l expect a supply
in few days and will send one, if re-
quested, to each teacher who thinks he
can get up an entertainment in his dis
trict. hope the teachers will take an
interest in this matter and that large
number Of these entertainments will be
given in this county. In districts where
1t is not practicable to have a public
entertainment, ask that a day be an
nounced some time ahead on which
voluntary contributions from the pu-
pills and others will be received. On
this day a part of the school exercises
might, with propriety, be Rotations
and select readings concerning Column
bus, his discovery of America, the Col
nmbian Exposition, etc., and be made
very instructive. Teachers would do
we'll to get all the information they
can on these subjects and by commune
eating the same to their pupils arouse
spirit of enthusiasm In the matter.
The names of those contributing may
be sent to the county superintendent
along with the money collected. He
will forward names and money to
Treasurer Fairchild, who will return
receipts for same, which receipts will
be kept on file in the county superin-
tendent's office, open to the inspection
of the public at all times. / will also
publish in the county papers report of
all monies received from the schools
for this purpose, but of course, not the
names of those contributing.
It's said that the joint exhibit OF
Kansas and Colorado at the Centennial
Exposition attracted more attention
than the display made by any other
state and has. no doubt. been worth
thousands TO Kansas. Let every lover
of home in Kansas see that the great
and good reputation which the schools