The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1892-09-28


ing DESTROYS to have uniform program
for every locality i'm America. to be
used simultaneously with the dedicatory
exercises of the Worlds Fair grounds,
instructed the executive committee to
prepare an official program and, though
the names of the authors cannot yet be
announced, the general plan is as
follows:
MORNING CELEBRATION.
The pupils of our public schools are
to gather on Oct. 21st, at the usual hour,
in their school houses. But instead OF
the regular recitatiOns the morning is
to be devoted to exercises betting the
anniversary. These exercises may be
simple or elaborate, according TO the
resources of the school. Many schools
will doubtless do little more than use
the official program, adding to it the
old, familiar national songs and a few
speeches by leading citizens. Other
schools with larger resources are likely
to extend the program with additional
features, such as special music by
chorus and orchestra, historical
exercises, pageants, etc. The largest
liberty for individual ingenuity and
taste is left to all schools, and the
executive committee would encourage
local variety to be given to the official
program.
The official program will consist OF
| the following features:
l. Reading of the proclamation of the Presi-
| dent and Governor.
2. Raising of the flag by the veterans,
3. Salute to the flag by the pupils.
4. Acknowledgement of God.
S. Song Of Columbus Day by pupils and audi
| ence. -
6. The address, "Meaning of the Four Cen.
turtles.
7. The ode, "Columbia's Banner" by Edna
Dean Proctor.
8. Addresses by citizens, recitations by pupil:
and national songs
| o. america" will in all cases be the cosine
song.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL HOUSES,
it is to be remembered, are to be the
scenes of this morning celebration. As
far as possible in each school house all
the rooms under the same principal
should unite in having the same exer.
cises. The parents and friends of the
pupils should be brought together.
Family interests of Columbus Day should
be made to center in the particular
school house the children attend.
In the country the day ought to be
made real holiday. Farm and house
hold work might well be relnquished
and the families of the district might
come together at the school house with
their picnic lunches prepared to make
day of memorable festivity. The com
memOration exercises of the morning
being over, the afternoon might be de-
IL
of neighbors, which would make the
day joyous one to millions of our hard
working population.
THE AFTERNOON CELEBRATION.
In nearly all cities and large villages
however, the citizens will wish formal
demonstration on Columbus Day which
may be i'm their own hands. Wherever
the citizens are to conduct a celebration
two matters should be especially ar
ranged:
First-That the civic celebration oc
cur in the afternoon, SO that il will.nol
conflict with the morning celebrations
which are going on in all the schOo
| houses.
Secondhand in the afternoon cele
bration by the people ample recognition
should be given to the public schOo
idea, which is to be the characteristic
of the day throughout the nation.
First, "A most fitting feature will be a
"PUBLIC SCHOOL REVIEW"
If there is a general procession, this
public school review may be part of it
and the most hOnored part. If there is
no procession by any other Organiza
tiOns, the schools may have their review
by themselves. Let the pupils march
by in classes and with banners, led by
their teachers. Let the army veterans
north and south, the blue and the gray
alike, be invited to march with the
schools as an escort of honor. AS the
reviewing stand is reached, where the
dignitaries are assembled, let each part
of the procession salute the flag of the
nation with cheers and waving OF
handkerchiefs.
The afternoon celebration by the
citizens may also include
MASS MEETING
at the public hall This meeting, how
ever, in many localities, will occur in
the evening. An important place in
the exercises of this meeting should be
given to the free school as the charac-
teristic product of the four centuries OF
American life, and as the safeguard OF
our free institutions for the future AT
least one of the speakers should deal
with this subject. Moreover, "The Song
of Columbus Day." sung at the morning
celebration in all the schools, might be
repeated by the general audience of this
mass meeting Prominent seats should
be reserved for the representatives o.
the pupils, and one of the exercises O.
the afternoon might be assigned to them
In these ways, and in others which
will suggest themselves, the
SCHOOL MAY LEAD
in the general public observance by the
citizens. This prominence of the schools
i'm all the celebrations of the day is de
sirable, because the object OF the public
school celebration of Columbus Day il
not merely to awaken in the pupils al
historical and patriotic interest in thei
country, but also to impress on thu
people of America that the free institu
tons of the United States are the pro
duct of free and universal education.