The Republican journal., 1892-05-19
The Manual Training School.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL: The
committee of ladies having in charge the
ing school for the summer vacation in Bel
fast desires to thank you for the valuable
assistance rendered by your timely editor
ial in last week issue of the Journal.
That editorial. together with the article
signed ''Q' have already falhiliarized
your readers with important facts and
datas in regard to this subject-a sub
iect that is attracting the attention OF
leading educators and philanthropists the
world over. | will not here discuss its
merits but assume at once that the intel
ligent citizens of Belfast are more or less
familiar with the advantages OF such
training i'll other places where it has been
tried. Up to this time there has been
but one such school in Maine. That was
at Saco in the summer of 81. 1t was
under the management of the Womens'
Educational and Industrial Union, and
proved an dDlltdul SlItCtSS. IlS t'aSo
ladies are at present making arrangements
for a school during the coming summer,
with the prospect of even a greater sue
cess. from the fact that the superintend-
inc school committee not only allow the
school room to be used for this purpose,
but actually contemplate making manu-
| e + Al al
system.
Since our citizens will soon have an OPP
portunity to contribute financially to this
undertaking, it is only right and proper
that they should know the figures upon
which we base our calculations These
figures are furnished by Miss Fairfield,
chairman of the Saco committee. and are
strictly correct:
| Tools for fourteen benches. ......... SIS 10
| For making fourteen benches. ....... . oo
For lllluber used in school. .......... ~ 50
| Paid teacher for seven weekS........ 10 oo
| Total. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. s2S9 ~
The lumber with which to make the
benches was given by public-spirit
| lumber merchant.
OF the above sum 800 was given by the
York mills. to furnish free instruction to
such as We're not able to pay the small
sum of -. 50 for their tuition, and proved
a most worthy benefaction. The balance
| OF the money was largely given by indi-
viduas and families, resident or nom
resident. who gave twelve dollars for
bench and tools in behalf of the family
name, which name was inscribed upon
the bench This proved very tdh'jng, and
was generously responded to by many
young men who had prospered and made
homes for themselves in Boston. and even
in the far west.
Since it is always easier to walk in beat
en- tracks than to strike out in ''1ieldS and
pastures new the Belfast ladies propose
to adopt so far as possible the Saco meth
DDS. only amending them to meet our
special needs.
The prospect for sdch school in Bel
fast is encouraging. The first person APP
preached on this subject by the commit
tee we'll known, public spirited citizen,
said very promptly, after listening to an
outline Of the work. that he would contrib
ute two benches with the necessary tools.
Another gentleman, we'll known builder,
at once saw the good that might he accom-
plished in such a school and generously
offered to give a bench. Others have re-
sponded in favor of the project and it now
looks as though such school could be
had almost for the asking. Still, a great
| deal OF work must be done before it can
become an accomplished fact, and the
committee earnestly hope that some friend
OF friends Of the cause will come forward
| with a generous sum OF money that Will
help on the good work and SO make it an
| assured success E. A. ID. t.
For the Committee
',4,l