The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-01-02

i constitution ana reldllVe values OF artI-
scles of food. ~
i. Mr.. G. +. Robinson of Kennebunk asked
Prof. Jordan how many of the graduates
at the State Agricultural College became
farmers. 50
The State College Defended.I
This brought forward President NJ c.
Fernald, who never fails to appear when
anything like an assault is made on the
College. Although Mr.. Robinson may
not have known it, he hit tender spot,
since it is to this that most of the legisla-
tive assaults on the State College are
made.
President Fernald showed that of $50
living graduates of the college, Al are
farmers, or engaged in allied pursuits,
such as professors of agriculture, bota-
nists, florists, etc. There are "a actual
| farmers. President Fernald said it must
be remembered that the college was for
the teaching of the mechanic arts as well
as agriculture, and that young man
may be working in agricultural lines
even if he be not an actual farmer.
There was, for instance, Professor Serb
ner, of the Agricultural Department at
Washington, and an early graduate of
Maine State College. Professor Serb
ner's work in investigating the relations
of insects to plant life, was, in President
Fernald's opinion, of more value to farm
ers than all the money that had been put
into the agricultural college since its
founding.
The paper on Teachers tenure of of
fice," by Principal W. w. Stetson of Au-
burn, was next on the programme, but
he graciously gave way for Principal j.
W. MITCHELL whose paper on school saw
ings' banks had been crowded out of the
| forenoon.
Mr.. Mitchells paper dealt with novel
subject, and was listened to with great
interest
Principal j. w. Mitchell Describes the
School Savings Bank.
In a noble phrase that deserves to be
written in letters of gold, the school laws
of Massachusetts, declare it to be the
duty of instructors of youth to impress
on their pupils "the principles of piety,
justice and sacred regard for truth;
love of their country, humanity, and
universal benevolenee; sobriety, industry
and frugality; charity, moderation and
temperance; and those other virtues that
are due ornaments of human society and
the basis ON which republican consti-
tuition is founded This is made the
legal duty of teachers in Massachusetts
but no human words can form better
statement of their duty every where.
In the days of Benjamin Franklin, if
we may judge by the readers and spoilers
then used frugality was chiefly empha-
sized and those other virtues looked out
for themselves. Now it is those other
virtues that are taught and frugality is
pulled down from the high place she
had. The tendency of the present day is
Extravaganza rather than Economy.
How entirely correct notions on this
matter are vanished away is direfully i'll
ustrated by the solemn defense of the
proposition that a public debt is public
blessing and should not be reduced.
Surely lack of teaching frugality has al
ready somewhat disturbed the basis on
which our republican constitution is
laid.
But movements, educational and other
wise go by extremes and the recent
growth of saving institutions show that
we are on the return stroke. There is
an economy that is not parsimony, lib
crafty that is not extravaganza and the
tendency now is toward the truer middle
line of conduct. The youth are being
trained not in abstract principles but in
practice. The growth of school savings
banks is gratifying proof of this The
idea started in France where it is now
part of the regular school system 1 I'M
derstand. In 1889 the school children of
that nation deposited more than ten mil
lion francs. 1t has become common in
Germany and England. From England
it has in small way spread to this
country.
First School Savings Bank.
The first school savings bank estab-
lished in the United States was at Long
Island City, March IS, 1885, by Com
ililoSlOACI QulSo udIy mCOcp.
There are 2415 depositors in those soci-
eties and they now have S14,346.27 to
their credit The second was established
in the following year at Rutland, VT.
This was the first in New England and
down to February of this year was the
only one. There are now ITO such
banks, counting each room bank.
These are mostly in Pennsylvania and
New York. Twenty-for thousand child
rem are enrolled and $50, 614.S4 is deposit
ed to their credit.
Now have told you all / know or can
find touching the general subject. 1t is
a subject altogether SO new that not even
the latest cyclopedia has word on it.
Quite by accident sheet came to my
hand from Mrs. S. L. Oberholtzer, Nor
ristown, Penn, who is in charge of this
department of work on behalf of the
National w. c. I. U. This and clip
ping that made some years ago from an
educational journal is all the basis / have
for the statistics L now give. But | am
sure that it was not the intention of this
society to listen to an essay on the gen
eral subject for you would otherwise
have chosen someone far better able to
inform you thereon. | owe this pleasure
alfoouthor IN thn accident of bav;nr DC