davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-27
UNIVERSITY EXTENSION.
Cooperation May Lead to Bringing Up the
Standard Of Colleges.

Cooperation May Lead to Bringing Up the
Standard Of Colleges.
New York Press.l
The steady progress Of the university ex-
tension is generally, and no doubt justly re.
garded as encouraging. It IL worth while;
however, to get clear idea Of why It is en-.
couraging. OF at least why It ought to be SO
regarded, and what particular tendencies
about 1t should be kept In view as worthy to
be maintained. It Is comparatively q new
sas United OF
brought It over from England a very few
years ago. But England had begun to talk
about it as early as 1850, whom seven schemes
for university extension were debated at Ok
ford. The formation Of mechanics intftutes
in London in 1852 and the holding Of popular
examinations In them in 1854, Is the actual
beginning. of univertity extension itself.
made available for local lectures in 1867: the
University of Cambridge officially recog-
nized the idea in 1872. and Oxford in 1S7e, but
proach It's present dimensions, which imply
popular lectures in every town in England
on the subjects Of higher education. in reg
ular course, and with library and summer
school facilities.
The three universities of Oxford, Cam
bridge and London gave l7s such lecture
courses in 1885 1885, the number grew to $50
in 1889 1890. The growth Of university extern
sion in this country is about cotermtnous
with this more modern movement. The
chief benefits Of university extension, tnen,
would seem to be these: First, the implied
recognition that the masses are entitled to
all the education that can possibly bo put
within their reach; second, the habits Of ap-
plication and original thinking promoted In
the popular mind; third, tho stimulation
and spread of the ambition to get regular
college education, which these lectures tend
to bring about, and, fourth, the influence of
the movement in compelling colleges and
universities to cooperate. Cooperating for
university extension purposes may lead to
organization, the saving OF waste and the
bringing up Of the small and obscure col
leges to the standard Of the largo universi.
ties as to quality.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-27
THE OUTLOOK FOR AGRICULTURE.

Mixed with some personal "reminiscences
in a special interview elsewhere, the Secre-
tary Of Agriculture gives some views on
the future of the farming industry. Secre-
tary Rusk takes decidedly roseate view
of the outlook for farming, which is not
singular for member of the Cabinet who
has started a Governmental department
that gives its especial care to the farmers,
even to the distribution of fatal cucumber
seeds. Although mitigations to the very
sanguine opinions of the Secretary of
Agriculture are to be perceived, it is hardly
possible to dispute that in many respects
thev are well founded.
Thus, Secretary Rusk points out that the
farming capacity of the United States is
not one-half developed. That is, as he
saws. by the standard of fertilization and
cultivation of England and Belgium this
country could double its wheat crop with
out adding single acre to its wheat area.
This is undoubtedly correct; but are we
taking the right course to do it? Is there
much encouragement for the farmer Of
Ohio to put in the capital and labor
necessary TO produce such crops, while
the lands of the West which require no
such labor are brought by our transporta-
ton system as near the ultimate market?
Whether the method of transportation
which charges little more for transporting
freight 1000 miles than it does for 500 is
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-27

in the millennial stage by . sort
of mental endosmose, from seeing
books around, and that step being taken
all the other branches of knowledge come
by their natural and individual selection,
from the learning Of foreign languages to
the science of mathematics or the pursuit
of the mechanic arts. Such thing as. the
drudgery of enforced learning will be un-
known in the ideal community and no
schoolboy with shining morning face will
creep like snail unwillingly to school,
because there will be no schools.
When Herbert Spencer visited Pittsburg
good many years ago, young gentle
man of dozen summers obtained an in
PRODUCTION to the philosopher for the pur-
pose of expressing a warm Endorsement
of Mr. Spencer's suggestion that grammar
should no longer plague the mind of the
schoolboy. A like reception will be given
to Prof. Ridpath's theory Of poetic devel-
opment, and Mr. William Morris abolition
of schools In the socialist future. They
will have the enthusiastic and practically
unanimous support of that large and i'm
portant share of the population ranging in
years from seven to seventeen.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-27
CHEERFUL FOR THE CHILDREN.

1t has been heretofore an undisputed
saying that there is no royal road to learn
ing any more than to wealth. Modern
thought is, however, casting off the tram
mel of an archaic superstition, and discov-
ering a royal road to learning which is in
truth the most democratic one of leaving
the children to pick up information and
training as they do the art of mud pies, or
that game inscrutable to the adult and un-
instructed mind which is played by means
of an extensive diagram drawn on the
sidewalk with the stick sharpened at both
ends, and performed by the operator hop
ping about on one leg.
Prof. John c. Ridpath, in a recent
laudatory notice of Mr.. James Whitcomb
Riey's poetry, is the most recent apostle
of this doctrine on our side of the ocean.
He effusively rejoices that the Indiana
poet was never able to master common
school education, and calls upon the pub
lie to join him in giving thanks that the
fin de steele American poet has not debased
his genius by formally knowing" the ma
terial and prosaic difference between "a
nominative and subjective which
contrast it may be supposed that
Prof Ridpath means the difference
between a nominative and objective, and
involuntarily reveals an acquaintance with
the science of classifying and arranging the
parts of speech hardly more accurate than
Mr. Riley's. Messrs. Ridpath and Riley's
superiority to grammar may claim the
Endorsement of Mr.. Herbert Spencer's
opinion that children need not study gram
mar. But Mr.. Spencer's view is that
children must learn correct forms of
speech, by hearing it spoken; the study of
the classification of those forms may be
postponed till later period. 1t is to be
doubted if Mr.. Spencer's authority could
be held to indorse the mature emancipation
of these gentlemen from the 'thraldom of
grammar.
Besides, the reflection that Mr.. Riley's
most inimical critic could hardly have
devised anything more crushing than the
assertion in slightly different terms that
his poetic genius would have beendestroyed,
if subjected to the fetters OF grammatical
rules, this stroke at the superstition of
common school education suggests a
feature of William Morris "News from
Nowhere" In that picture of the perfect
communal society it is discovered that
after society has emancipated itself from
commercial slavery and the tyranny of
law, the children will not have their free
spirits broken by the vassalage
Of schools. They learn to read
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-27
RIVAL CHURCHES JEALOUS
Methodists and Baptists DO Not Dwell To-
sether in Unity.

Methodists and Baptists DO Not Dwell To-
sether in Unity.
DEPAuv1LLE, n. Y. March ga strange
case in which church jealousies, anonymous
letters and autograph albums are mixed up
is causing a social and religious war here.
Several weeks ago Mrs. o. F. Nichols, wife of
the Methodist minister, found an anonymous
letter in the door yard of Mrs. Elias Stern
berg, q Methodist sister. 1t was q scurrilous
production. Three other vile missives made
their way into Mrs. Sternberg's yard. and,
strangely enough, Mrs. Nichols found them
all. The Methodist brothers and sisters
hunted through numerous autograph al
buns for evidence against the writer, and
some of them thought they found 1t in the
autograph of Mrs. J. r. Babcock, a promi-
nent Baptist. Then the Baptist church took
the matter up.
They say that similar case occurred while
the Nicholses were settled in Spraguevtlle,
St. Lawrence county; that Mrs. Nichols dis
covered the letters there; that leading
Baptist was charged with their authorship,
and that the Baptist society was broken up
by tho row. The Baptists here have sug-
gested that specimens OF Mrs. Nichols and
Mrs Babcock's handwriting and the anony-
nous letters be submitted to an expert, but
Mrs. Nichols declines the proposition. The
Baptists say that church Jealousy ts at the
bottom of the trouble. Rev. Mr.. Nichols
and Mr.. Babcock threaten lawsuits, and the
affair may be brought before the Northern
New York Methodist Conference next
month.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-27
MEMORY AND THE AGE
Their Close Relationship Shown by Inter-
esting Experiments.

Their Close Relationship Shown by Inter.
esting Experiments.
Boston Advertiser.I
Memory tests were made during 1891 on
somo1 500 pupils of this city in connection
with the recent anthropological measure
ments taken under the direction Of DR.;
Franz Boas. The subjects of the tests In
cluded members Of the grammar schools
above the second grade, of the state Normal
School, and of the senior and second
year classes at the High School. The
method Of making the tests was this in
brief A series of numbers, In which the
digfts did not stand In the accustomed
order. no single digit being repea.ed was
class was tested on four separate occasions.
In several instances where the purpose was
to determine the effect Of fatigue on the
memory, the tests being made before and
after school, After the reading the pupils
wrote down the numbers as they recalled
them. Twelve numbers constituted a
single test; of digits; 8 of 8; off; 8
offs, in the lower grades. In the higher
grades and in the High School the first
three observations were made with num-
bers Of six diglts. and in the Normal
were given 1t the different schools, but the
tests were essentially uniform. After sew
eral trials pupils learned the number of dig
its to expect at each test and gave their at
respective places. Among the facts noted
are these: Pupils Is years and over do not
remember six digits as well as pupils year
younger. Pupils of 10 years and under II
fall below those OF and under 10. The men,
ory span increases with age rather than
with the growth Of intelligence, as deter
mined by the tests used for promoting pupils
apply to the retentiveness Of the memory;
they may be considered as test of the
power of concentrated attention and the
time it can be kept up.
The results of the computations, based on
the data collected, have been plotted on
charts to graphically represent several
points. The lines joining the points repre-
ness in the tests are admirably summarized
in eight conclusions. First--The memory
span increases with age rather than with
the growth of inteIligence-experience is 2
better school than books. Second-The
memory span measures the power of CON-
Pupils uncohsctously remember digits that
they heard the day before when dtgits are
read them q second time. Fourth
The tests do not show the effects Of
fatigue when made after days
work, showing the work in the schools is
not excessive. 10y Memory In ages passes
through three stages in leaving the mind.
ciated forms of ideas are factors In causing
a confusion Of the memory image and its
final loss. (7) There is an apparent tendency
to overestimate tie number OF ideas pre-
sented to the mind when the number of
ideas is slightly greater than the memory
span, but the general rule Is to underesti-
mate the number. tsl Ideas, except the last
as removed from the beginning OF the series
in which they occur.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-27
THE UNREST IN GERMANY.

The political situation as depicted in
our cablegram from Berlin is full Of
significance 1t indicates that the Kaiser
is sparing no effect to REINFORCE his au-
thority by political methods with some
show of constitutionality. Itdemonstrates
the power which can be brought to bear
against the young despot's pet designs
when they are obnoxious enough to unite
the differing groups of Liberal and Socialist
politicians. 1t is above all significant of
the state of unrest now pervading the
German Empire.
For some months the Empire is to be
destitute of its representative bodies.
What those months may bring forth in &C.
centricities of the Emperor, he probably
knows as little as any one else. How the
industrial disturbances will be settled can
not be foreseen, but the probability is that
the presence of the leaders among their
constituents will tend to lessen the danger
of explosion by advice to depend on con-
stitutional agitation.
The effect. of the comparatively distant
elections upon legislation cannot be more
than guessed at until the new members
are called upon to make party alliances
after they have reached Berlin. But the
spirit of the times even in slow-paced Ger
many is altogether contrary to the belief
that the Emperor's strength will do any,
thing but decrease
incidentally Caprivis resignation may
be looked for shortly, since man Of his
caliber is hardly likely to Withstand such
an one as Won Gutenberg, the newly ap-
pointed Prussian Premier, whose person.
ality made even Bismarck fear him as
rival The whole condition of things may
be summed up as a lottery with all the
chances against the drawing of prizes at
the elections by the Conservative support
ers of the Emperor's policy.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-27
NOTES or THE N0TABLES.

IT is announced that Premier Abbott
will be knighted shortly by Queen Victoria.
COUNTESS RUssELL's family has made
overtures to Earl Russell for a reunion
GENERAL LoNGsTREEr is at work on a
book OF war tales, in which he figures largely
himself, to be called "a Soldier Under Two
Flags"
Miss SARAH A. LATHAM holds the posi-
ton and performs tho duties acceptabiy of
United States Circuit and District Court
Clerk at Springfield, Mo.
LORD RANDOLPH CHURCHILL was q
gnest at Lord salisbury's official dinner
This is the first symptom noticed Of q recon-
ciliation between them.
PRINCE CHRISTIAN has consulted the
German ooulist, Pagenstecher, on Q weak
ness in his remaining eye, and has been
assured that there Is no reason to fear
blindness.
cism of Paris IL revival of Roslorucianism
Sar as the head Of the movement and its
chief apostle.
GOVERNOR EAGLE, of Arkansas. is by
occupation a farmer and by inclination q
preacher. Baptist congregations some-
times invite him to fill the pulpit and he Is
said to be an exhorter Of no mean power.
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, who is interest
ing to Americans chiefly through the cir
cumstance that he married an American
girl, has recently had the rare distinction of
having an orchid named after him.
THE idea of making a great man the
guest of a State delegation to national
convention seems to be fascinating one.
The latest person who is likely to be hon.
ored in this way is Governor Mckinley, OF
Ohio.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-27

80 Into private business 1t the close OF the
war. Had I remained I would have now
been full Colonel; but what does that
amount to In time of peaoof When sho
country wants soldiers to fight my services
are at her command. I WAS sduoatod by her
for that education. The life Of our regular
army officer in time of peace really UNITS
him for soldiers duties in war. He be.
comes a student-a sort Of college professor
"a clerk-a bookworm-or sot or gambler
anything but soldier in the proper con-
structfon of that term. 1t was bccause Of
this 1 sought transfer from the engineer
ticipated in the closing engagements Of the
war, and Decauseof this when the war closed
resigned ny commission. love an active
vate business. Yet, as said in case Of war
my duty 10 clear-my services are at the
command Of my Government"
There is decidedly different ring to this
Pointers in 1851. Let rs hope the Govern.
ment is not educating any more men OF that
stripe.
An Improved Rule for Thesters.
The highly rsprehensible habit of
coming into the theater after the curtain is
up and disturbing the entire audience in
getting properly seated, is growing in New
York. This is bad. The other and more
fagrant violation Of individual rights, get
ting up and hustling for the doors before the
curtain goes down on the last tableau, is
also growing. This is worse. There may be
and very often are sufficient reasons for
some people being late. can't help but
think, however, II there were stringent
rules enforced prohibiting any one going or
being shown to q seat while the curtain 10
up there would be q great falling OF Of this
properly exercised is often commendable,
but well known rule enforced by the po-
lice, II necessary, would work advantage
ously all round. For those who come late
would know beforehand that they must
stand until the close OF the first act
CHARLES THEODORE MURRAY,
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-27
70 SUPPRESS .ANNIE ROONEY

Pleasantville, n. j., while not convey
| ing any other distinct impression to the
public at large, has already become more
in harmony with its name. Its latest claim
to fame is in the shape Of disturbance
which ought not to take place, especially
in town bearing that harmonious and
peaceful name. 1t arises from the posses
sion by Pleasantville Of young woman
who objects to "Annie Rooney"
In this platform the Pleasantville young
woman will awaken responsive chord in
the hearts of the general public as uni
versal as the vociferations of that much
warbled ditty. Even when the opposition
goes to the length of shooting at the per-
petrators of that alleged music, there is
room for the opinion that the punishment
would fit the magnitude of the crime. As
Miss Annie breeders opposition to the
familiar Jingle lies In its having given
personal application to herself by
the obstreperous youth of the town
who serenaded the cottage of her
mother and herself at unseemly
hours with the unmelolious assertion
f'She's my Annie, I'm her joe" a jury not
of the vicinage but of the nation would be
apt to return verdict of justifable shoot
ing as long as no one was hit.
1t is, however, to be regretted that the
hoodlum instincts of Pleasantville youth
are so active that when they were in
formed by the shots from Mrs. breeders
revolver that their musical attentions were
unreciprocated, they retaliated with re-
turn shots and with breaking the windows
of the cottage with stones. Here we see
the degree to which the popular song
habit may 20. Those who insist on warb-
ling "Annie Rooney" at all hours are sufi-
cient warnings; but when they try to con-
strain those who object with stones and
revolver bullets the debasement of ex-
cessive indulgence in the "Annie Rooney"
habit is made very plain.
Our sympathies are entirely with the
breeder family, and it is to be hoped that
the lone females will prove themselves, as
they seem to be, sufficiently handy with
weapons Of offensive and defensive war
fare to put down the nuisance. In the
meantime, perpetrators of "Annie Rooney"
elsewhere will please take notice that the
example has been set of resort to the re-
volver in self defense.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-27

correct or not, it is plain that while the
farmer can reach lands that yield crops
with little labor, the close farmingof the
older lands cannot be expected.
Secretary Rusk is also quite right In
msgnifying the importance to the farmer
of extending our foreign markets for agri-
cultural products, and in praising what
has been accomplished in that way. 1t is
true that in the reciprocity policy new
era for the basic American industry has
been opened-prowided that it is not pre-
maturely closed by excessive and unneces-
sary indulgence in jingoism.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-27
SPECIMEN INDIAN sToIc1sM.

Chief Redstone Refuses Chloroform During
an Operation on His Eye.
: CHICAGO, March 26-The Indian chief, Red
stone, whose expenses here from Ft. Peck,
Dak., to have a cataract removed from his
eye were paid by the United States Govern
ment in return for valuable services by him
against the Sioux, was operated upon to-day
at the Hahn Hospital.
The Chief said he could stand pain, and
the doctors decided not to chlorofOrm him.
Contrary to expectations, forceps were
been intense, but he bore It like stoic
The operation is believed to have been en-
tirely successful.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-27

THE House would be deprived of great
part Of its occupation If the Record were
abolished. What with making speeches for
publication, correcting printers errors, and
rectifying the unwarranted interpretations
made under the plea ofrevision, Representa-
tives would be at loss for employment
without the sheet of immortality.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-27

THAT man can beknocked down, robbed,
and left bound for half an hour in the
heart OF the city before the police learn any
thing of the matter is hardly encouraging to
those pedestrians whose duties necessitate
the use of the streets at night. More vigil
ance is necessary. Meanwhile the assailants
should be promptly discovered and severely
dealt with.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-27

CoNGREssMEN are so little accustomed
to work that session lasting little beyond
midnight prevents the presence of a quorum
for the next days business. This is strange
when one remembers the late, or rather the
early, hours which characterize the nightly
festivities of the Capital winter resort.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-27

IF the rising generation are not brought
up in habits Of diligence and proper man
ners, it will not be for lack Of primitive in
genuity among their teachers. Within q
day or two an Instructor has been heard Of
who tries to secure polite language by ad-
ministering doses Of soap, and an instruc-
tress who uses black-pepper as corrective
for disobeGience.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-27

HARTER is magnanimous in the dis
tribution of credit for the blow suffered by
the Bland bill. This is as it should be, for
the measure ought to meet with opposition
from every wage Garner, and in fact from
every citizen possessed of intelligent in
teprifY.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-27

THE Paris correspondent of the London
Times writes warm words of praise of Minis
ter Reid's accomplishments. This should
prove that English journalists can appreci-
ate American diplomacy under some cir
cumstances at least.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-27

JACK THE RIPPER has been caught
nearly as often as Cara. If he is really se-
cured at last there will be a topic the less for
sensationalists ana one more brute brought
%oi
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-27

SINCE Secretary Foster succeeded in
going on tho Spree with no worse result than
black eye, it is to be hoped that nothing
very disastrous will result from Whftelaw
Reid's patronage of La Champagne.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-27

PATRIOTISM is at a discount in New York
when foreign pianis:'s services are neces-
sary to provide funds for the completion Of
the toolong-delayed Grant Monument.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-27

The Beaver editors are free as is right
and proper. The law and the injured party's
feelings had alike been vindicated, and
further punishment'would have been mere
yindictiveness.