Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-11-23
HIGH PRAISE FOR WILMINGTON.

| The Cri ticai Opinion of Boston Editor
of nn Educational journal, After a
| Visit Here.
A. =. Winship, editor Of the journal
Of Education, a widely-read publication
of Boston, was prominent feature at
the recent session of the Wilmington
| Teachers Institute, In an editorial letter
to the current issue of his paper, DR..
| Wlnship thus alludes to his visit here.
On the banks Of tho broad Delaware
and the waterless Brandywine, southern
born with northern Industrial aspira-
tons, is the city of Wilmington, with
more than third the entire population
of the State and the proud distinction
of being the only city south of Mason
and Dixon's line that has doubled its
population in the last 30 years. With
enterprising manufacturers, progressive
professional mon, aspiring women and
philanthropic citizens, Wilmington is
adding to her material prosperity and
domestic joys many phases Of life that
entitle her to municipal distinction that
her rank in population $1,000 would
not give.
The women have a club house-The
New-Century Club-that would be
credit to any city. The architect was a
woman, and she has given her sisters an
ideal club home, with every club acces
sorry, from a modern club kitchen 10 the
finest assembly hall In the city.
The free library that is TO open on
January LIST is a sample of their modern
enterprise and philanthropy. The city
has long enjoyed the privileges Of an
Institute Library, available TO those who
&C., Ia &c
private enterprise, with nearly $4,000
Indebtedness, which limited its useful
ness. Recently its debt has been paid
and cash donation made by u public
spirited citizen, Mr.. William p, Ban
croft, on condition that it be free, and
the State has made requirement that
the city appropriate $4,000 the first year
and an ever-increasing annual appro.
priation until it shall amount to twelve
| cents per capita, which will not be for
several generations. This, with the
office rentals, will enable the trustees to
provide generously for the library and
its expert librarian, Professor Tyler.
1t is interesting to note in this con-
nection that the chairman of the trustees
is a teacher--Prof. Il. L. Doan- while
prominent upon tine board are Superin-
tendent ID. w. Harlan and Principal
Isaac t. johnson of the Friends school.
The schools of the city are progressive
without being aimless, Superintendent
Harlan giving his time to the most
thorough supervision of the work that
he has planned. 1t is but 40 years
| 1859 since the seed was planted that
has produced the present system with
its more than 200 teachers. There is no
more complete manual training plant
| for wood, metal and iron work with
forge, foundry and lathe in the country,
than has been in operation here for
several years. The boys high school,
under Mr.. A. II. Berlin, has bounded
from school of less than 80 pupils to one
of more than 800 in the few years that MIR.
Berlin has been in charge. This is but
a sample of the spirit of progress.
The Friends school, Principal Isaac
II. johnson, is one Of the best private
schools to be found in city of the size
in the country. Upon the site of the
present elegant building the first Friend
school was erected in TESLA years
before the first public school house.
The Friends are always generous in
their provision for room and teachers,
there being in this school an average OF
a teacher for every Is pupils, and all
the appointments are on the same scale.
The two days spent in that city,
mostly with the teachers, were delight
full. The corps is earnest, intelligent,
aggressively progressive, with skilful
superintendent and loyal school board.
1t was my first educational visit to the
State, all around which | have done
much visiting for many years, and it
was delight to find such a spirit and
such results.