The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1893-11-03
oBE,s OBSERVATIONS.
what He Sees aud Hears During Hi'
Travels,

what He Sees aud Hears During His
Travels.
The "craming process" so common in our
public schools, the multiplicity Of studies and
the abominable methods, to which ! called
attention some days ago, is still being pur-
sued by the local board Of School Directors
with little hope Of immediate relief Hun
ireds Of your readers in town are daily add
ing their evidence in opposition to the system
in vogue at present, and with one voice, as it
we're, attest the wisdom OF reducing the pres
ent curriculum in conforn nifty to the capabili-
ties Of the scholars. / could easily fill your
columns with the opinions of parents and
others who are anxious for reform in this
respect. Were Superintendent Whitaker to
inaugurate such movement he would be
sustained by four ffths of the parents Of the
town. as well as some Of the most successful
educators of the state. 1t is hoped that the
agitation Of this much needed reform will be
continued until the pride Of our schools will
be found not in the difficulty Of the studies
taught, but in the excellence Of attainment in
those comprehensible by the children.
~
There is one very important matter to
which desire to call attention. 1t is an old
subject, yet ever fresh and green. If you
will try an interesting experiment. you will
see what mean and why 1 feel bound to
utter warning Looking over the news
columns of your paper some evening you
discover that Mary Roe and John Doe were
secretly married a week ago. Some reporter
and reporters are like corkscrews, for every
time they turn round they find their way
deeper into suspicious incidents-has run
upon the fact--by accident-and instantly
made it public. Now keep watch Of the
same columns for three months and the
chances are 80 to ] that another event will
have happened, namely, that Mr.. and Mrs.
Doc have had q pretty rough time Of it for 80
days and that one Of the parties has appealed
to the courts for relief and release. There is
a logical connection between secret mar
riage and domestic misery which is almost as
inevitable as the fall Of a stone that It's thrown
into the air If what you contemplate can't
be done openly and before the whole world,
it is not safe to do it at all. The God of
nature has so arranged the universe that
what is done secretly has a boomerang
quality which is very disagreeable.
~
To keep ice in the sickroom over night, set
the pitcher in a newspaper, gather up the
ends, twist them tight, and snap on a rubber
band.
~
Snatching of pocllet.books has become quite
common of late, and it is not surprising that
such is the case A lady friend of mine met
with such fate the other evening on Oak
street, but as luck would have it the recepticle
for the Filthy lucre" contained only few
dimes. 1t is not often that a woman is seen
in public without purse in her hand, and as
long as they persist in this practice there will
be snatchers around. The wonder is that
more such cases are not reported.
~
Politics is certainly becoming warm in this
neck of the woods" The Republicans ap-
pear TO he united and are making an aggres
sivo fight. The Democratic machine on the
other hand, is powerful aud is strongly en-.
trenched. The course of its tools, however,
in several Of the offices on "the hill" to-
eethor with the fact that they have nomi
nateds everal men who are in uowise qualified
for the positions to which they aspire, has
given the friends of good government COM
mon ground on which to unite and fight the
common enemy. There win be many sur
prises for my Democratic friends ON the morn
ing Of the sth of November, if the present
may be accepted as a criterion.
Shenandoah has many street corner loafers
of many varieties. The evil Of such practice
is two fold. In the first place it is annoying
to passers by and the foul language used by
these loafers has in many cases caused the
blush of shame to mount the cheek of many
of Shenandoah's fair daughters. In the
second place, it is on the street corners that
the youth of tender years receives his first
lessons in crime. In this respect every parent
whose son indulges in this practice has a
solemn duty to perform, If they would only
insist on their boys remaining at home, and
teach them the benefit to be derived from
reading good books, one half the crime that
is committed to-day would be unheard of
On the other hand there are many young
men who have had the benefit of good homes
that forget the instructions of their childhood
in after years, and who often prove dis
grace to those who gave them being The
parent, indeed, has a solemn duty to perform,
and few there be who have an adequate
conception of the duties they owe their child.
ren. This practice of street corner loafng
should be stopped, whether by the enforce
ment of the parental law OF that of the
borough, ODE.
Do not suppose that because it is recon-
mended for animals that Arnica & Oil Lini-
ment is an offensive preparation. 1t will not
stain clothing or the fairest skin. I'm
Notice.