The Opelousas courier., 1892-06-11
no Missing Links in the Chain
of Columbus Day Demon.
stratiOns.
Thirteen Million Leaders With the Rest
of the Nation an Line.

Thirteen Million Leaders With the Rest
Of the Nation an Line.
Chairman Bellamy of the National
Columbian Public School Celebration
Commission Talks about the Plan for
October 12.
Especial Correspondence of the CoURIERl.
A Boston correspondent of the
COURIER called upon Francis Bellamy.
Chairman of the Executive Committee
of the National Columbian Public
School Celebration of October IL, at
his Headquarters in The Youths Com
panon building recently.
His office presented a scene OF busy
activity. The clicking of the type
writer's with rapid dictation of his Sec
retaries to the stenographers were evil
dences that Chairman Bellamy's we'll
laid plans were being launched with
all possible speed.
After waiting his turn the represent
ative of the COURIER secured brief
interview with Mr.. Bellamy.
"You appear to be busy" observed
our correspondent by way OF opening
the conversation. =
"You are quite right, replied Mr..
Bellamy, "This is scarcely q vaca-
ton period with any of us. With the
force you see about me here, 1t is as
much as can do to keep pace with
this work. This daily correspondence
is very large indeed. We have mailed
upwards Of 5000 personal letters in
single day"
ITO whom is the immense cores
nondence directed, Mr.. Bellamy 2"
"My correspondence is largely with
the press and with superintendent
and educators all over the country.
Then there are great many letters OF
Inquiry from teachers and pupils
| abont the Celebration. We have vol
unteered to give practical Suggestions
to them on how to secure school
house flag, and this one feature OF onr
work is by no means SMALL
"Why is it important that they get
flag at this time ?"b
| "Chiehly because one of the features
of the local celebrations on October IL
will be raising and saluting the school
house flag, and the Executive Commit
tee desire that every school from the
Atlantic to the Pacific should hy the
/ eolors on that day. Moreover the or
ganized school house movement has
been potent factor IN swelling the
rising tide of Americansm, and we
want every school in America to share
il this pat.iotic influence"
Are you not pushing this work
with unnecessary vigor, Mr.. Bellamy
October IL is over FIVE months dis
tant.'
lyon must not lose sight of the fact
/ that nv work deals directly with the
nublic school. In few weeks many
Of them wiii.have closed for the summer.
4 The last two weeks of the June term
are usually devoted to preparations
| for closing exercises, SO you see 1t ls
, important thatevery energy be brought
to bear upon this work during the
, month of may. It is our plau to have
Ieyery school entering the celebration
! appoint a committee before separating
, for the summer, to have charge OF 4
, | local program. This committee vii
r ne, feet many of the general arrange
3 ments during the summer months
, when It's members are free from schoo
) duties, Then. when the fall term open
! they will have a month to devote t.
3 detailsi Working upon this plan, th
school will come mp to October IL II
good shape and in complete readlnes
: for IA first class demonstration. The,
/ will avoid the confusion, disappoiDt
4 me,t and imperfect order of exercise
i. likely to result if the entire prepara
J tion is deferred until September"
aWben will the official program
J. | which your Committee is preparing b
Il publicly announced 7"
9 Probably not much before Septem
( her We have already stated that
r, wopId embrace salute to the flag, a
i ode, a popular carol. and a brief ora
i tion We propose to have the yer
% best that American talent can prodnc'
= We shall select only the most merite
10 rions and fitting predictions !"
3. "Will you not have difficulty IN at
.. apting your program to all grades
m schools Y''
- aNo. we have arranged all tina
The official program will provide for
is morning celebration in the schoo
il honses especially for the pupils. TIL
is morning program may follow out Il
ID official nrogram, and is to be simp
d. but impressive. Itmay be elaborate
D. however, according to the resources
the school. We shall suggest yario
features which may be added. Clti
1d and towns are already preparing for
irt General citizens celebration so
to Shall 30 further than our official pi
ng gram and suggest provisions for an
er farnoan or evening celebration in t
th largest hall, designed for the pno
We gener ally, bnt withthe pubic sche
or. 9s the dominant feature, and at VIII
tle older pupils will be present by d
la. aoation or en- nsasse. This afternoon CO
ey bTation may be preceded by gra
m procession !,
Iii .How does. the press regard Y
I'D, movement I" a
lue aIhe press Is supputeiug ~
he markable vigor There mas scare,
been dissenter. The response ]
been prompt, generous and core
Irrespsctive of party, the Amerl'
ss ass press is working for the Public Sch
.as .a Celebration. The American press
~ 'rS never yet regarded movement Of
~ patriotic significance with indln
ence.n
what led to the choice Of the P
.ho lie school as the centre OF local g
al. bratioDs r.
s'A' s.Yon must remember that
mnvrn,t.i.t was not started simply