Morning journal and courier., 1892-04-09

indeed agreed withal by our Mr.. Winthrop
In his travels through the Low Countries
to come over into New England and illu-
inmate this (Harvard) college and country
in the quality of President, but the solicita-
tions of the Swedish ambassador diverting
him another way, that Incompatible Mora
Wan became not an American" This was
in 1916.
As chief bishop of the Moravisn church
the memory of Comenius is held in affec-
tionate respect by his countrymen every
where, but his work as an educator has
not been appreciated in this country save
among those who, as teachers, have had
their attention called to his methods.
Recognition of worth comes "better late
than never" and now that our eyes are
opened to the fact that what we in our
educational systems have locked up
on only as natural conditions
are the results, still unprotected,
of this devoted scholars teachings, it
would seem fitting that school children
should know something about "the father
of public schools" and the first publisher
of a picture book intended for children.
Why should not teachers devote few
moments of Comenius' day to give their
pupils short sketch of one whose whole
life was spent in good works and whose
thoughts were always concerned with the
best interests of childhooda
His only English biographer, Professor
Laurie, says of him, 'iComenius remains
for us the most earnest and simple-hearted
worker, and the most eminent writer on
Method whom the world has ever seen
in fact, the founder of Method"
SIGNAL LIGHTS.
Benjamin F. Coston, naval officer, chem
ist, and inventor, left at his death a widow
but twenty years of age, three little help
less children, and little else worth men
tioning except a number of unprotected
inventions.
With these Mrs. Coston, with whom her
husband had been in the habit of discuss
ing his ingenious ideas, experimental for
some time without success. At last she
discovered, nailed up in a small box, and
stored away, the results of some prelimi-
nary experiments in the production of sig
nails to be used at night, and very patient
ly she sought to discover the secret of the
idea, and, when it was revealed to her, to
perfect it. This she accomplished at last,
the result being the production of con-
trivance which brought a fortune to her
self and her children, and has been of in
calculable value to the world.
three colored lights, white, read and green.
At sea, especially in time of danger or dis
astsr, they are indispensable. The colors,
shown in well-defned combinations, indi.
cate the numerals, and are capable of con-
veying an indefinite number of messages,
the printed code, in the language of all
seafaring people, containing the combina-
tions of numerals set opposite the sentence
conveying the information to be sent.
This invention was adopted by the
United States government, and was proved,
in war times, to be of the greatest eff
cienoy, also, in the Life Saving Service, it
dred of lives and an immense amount of
property. The signals have also been
adopted by the French, italian, Spanish
and Austrian governments, and Mrs. Co.'S
ton, who spent ten years abroad, was
treated with the most marked considera-
ton at the European courts. She is well
known in Washington, and much esteemed
for business capacity and attractive per-
sonal qualities.
We cannot help wondering what we
should have done without these invaluable
had them if Mr.. Coston had not been a
rarely sensible man. He was not above
"talking business" to his wife and confid-
ing to her his plans and methods; he did
not despise her youth, though she was but
sixteen when they were married; nor, hay
ing married a woman, did he despise her
for being q woman. He treated her as a
help meet for him, and fame, fortune and
an Invention that has pro6ted the whole
world is the result. Let us be grateful for
Benjamin Franklin Coston and pray that
more men may arise like unto him.
WOMEN IN GOVERNMENT OFFICES.
Vietcr Hugo's prophecy that this was to
be the woman's era finds realization every
where in the world of practical affairs.
Whatsoever their hands find to do they are
doing with their might, assisted by active
brains and conscientious regard for
thoroughness and honesty.
The Washington Star has recently pub
lished some official statistics. on the sub
ject of women clerks in the Departments,
that may be found interesting. Last
year the Civil Service Commission exam
ined 1904 women and $50 men for
positions as copyists. OF these men a.
more than one-half-failed to pass, while
only 100 women failed. In the examina-
tions for positions as clerks, out of 1907
men examined 5S6 failed, but of the wo-
men applicants 100 out of 133 passed. In
the higher examinations which are called
Especial" and which require some amount
of technical or professional knowledge,
the applicant is often examined in foreign
Languages. In the Patent Office it is diff
cult for anyone to pass who is not prac-
tical scientist, and for the Pension Office
knowledge of the law of evidence and
pension law is indispensable. To these
special examinations 78S men submitted,
and of these 488 failed, while of 436 wo-
men examined LAG failed to reach the re-
quired standard. In other words, more
men failed than passed and more women
passed than failed. Taking these figures
together we find that while nearly twice as
many men as women applied for these
positions, more than four times as many
failed to pass. Even for such thorough
ly technical scientific place as meteorologi-
cal clerk in the Signal Service three wo-
men were examined and two of them passed
successfully.
The superiority of the women aspirants
in these competitions may be accounted
for by the supposition that while the whole
number of women applying for clerkships
is smaller than the number of men, the
number of competent, well-educated ones
among them is proportionately much
larger, masculine great minds seeking and
finding still higher positions. But it all
goes to prove that women are successfully
making their way, and that unlike Mr..
Lovel, in "Evelina," the Departments at
Washington have not can insuperable
aversion to strength, either of body or
mind, in female. HILARY.
LIGHT GREEN.
Light green is the latest fashionable
color in lswns.-Chicago News.
~c - I'll