The Columbus journal., 1892-07-20

COLUMBUS PORTRAIT FROM GEO0RAPHI-
CAL SOCIETY. NEW YORK.
less and less doubt that it will be kept
as great national holiday.
For beside the dedication of the
worlds fair grounds on the four hum
iredth anniversary OF the landing
If Columbus. there is all reason to
expect local celebration of the event
IN nearly every village. town and city
of the nation.
Readers will remember the first pro-
posal, over a year ago, that the public
schools of America should mark the
day with fit and universal observance.
More recently the message on the sub
ject to the pupils of the public schools
IF the country has been printed.
The first official recognition of the
plan was a stirring address from the
president of the Worlds Congress Aux
iliary, urging the educators and teach
ers of the nation to interest themselves
in general public school celebration.
But the control of the undertaking
was put into final and definite form in
February last, when the National Con-
vention of Superintendents of Educa-
ton appointed an executive committee
IF five to promote and conduct the en-
tire movement Four memb mbers of this
committee are the highest officials of
public instruction in their several
States: the fifth, who is chairman, is
representative of The Yodth's Com
panion.
Under this management every effort
is being made to secure the widest sue
cess for the National Public School
Celebration. The committees aim is
to engage the public schools in every
community of the nation is uniform
observance of the day.
The committee will provide programs
adapted to the use of all communities.
Pupils, citizens and teachers haze al
ready been urged TO associate them
selves in local committees. The young
and old of every town may have separ-
ate exercises, the children during the
morning in the schoolhouses, the
fathers in the afternoon with process
sions and exercises in public halls.
In all the celebrations there will be
leading points of similarly. The same
flag-with honors let us hope from de-
tails Of veterans-will be raised over
every school, the same songs sung, the
same ode read. the same sentiments ut
tered in every county of every State in
the Union.
But what is more. some part of the
Chicago exercises will be identical with
a portion of every local celebration.
The entire nation will be helping with
the same thoughts at heart, the same
words upon the lips, to inangurate the
Worlds Columbian Exposition. Every
person in the land by this means may
Join in the observance of his country's
four hundredth birthday.
Much has already been done to make
q memorable success of this holiday.
The press of the country has espoused
the cause with vigor Let the news
papers still urge it upon the people.
The governors of all the states will bs
petitioned to make the day q legal holi-
day. New York and other states have
appointed it already.
The State Superintendents of Educa-
ton will ask the teachers TO lead their
pupils in the movement. The thirteen
million young people of the country's
free schools are going to do much for
the celebration. They will continue to
discuss the plan fully among them
s,lves and in their families They will
ask their teachers' advice.
And here it is that we m ust say our