Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1894-06-16
In Haxar Of Attainment.

ALTAMoST, KAN. June IL. 1894.
EDITORS News: From the center. the
heart Of Labette county. we bring you
greeting. We reached this place last Sat-
urday afternoon. and few hours after
ward the church bells began to ring and
the cannon to roar. the doors OF every
house in town were opened and the people
were hurrahing Every heart was full OF
JOY. The cause and significance OF this
universal feeling is found in the fact that
lady had seized the idea that in Labette
county there was necessity for county
high school. Two years ago she called a
few chosen spirits together, formulated
and presented her plans. then went before
her representatives and asked their hearty
cooperation to assist in carrying through
the legislature a special act for that pur-
pose. Marvelously and skillfully she exc
cuted her plans
She then returned to Labette county.
met the commissioners and nominated the
members of the board of trustees who
we're confirmed. A special levy was made.
very able faculty selected and September
began the first years work. After the
school had been in operation month or
more and over one hundred students had
gathered from all parts Of the county. the
cities Of Parsons. Oswego and Mound
Valley, together with the NJ. X. and 7.
Railway Company. made war upon this
modest, unassuming lady and the little
town of Altamont in the courts. The
high school won the victory and an appeal
was taken to the supreme court For
months the problem rested in suspense. 1t
was TO have been decided the first of May.
but sickness and other causes produced
delay of a whole month. The intense
anxiety and suspense weighed heavily upon
this community-it was life or death,
financially and educationally, with this lit
tie town and it was no wonder that such
ioy was manifested last Saturday when the
telegraph brough, the welcome news.
Saturday morning, before we left Oswe-
20. we called at the Office Of the county
superintendent. She had just received
her appointment and commission as a
member of the Kansas State Board OF
Education, the first lady that ever occu-
pied that position. Her name is Mrs
Lucy Best. very fitting name and person
for the place. She is the one that really
deserves the credit for all this joy and who
has insured the future educational inter-
ests of this place.
The high school has been grand sue
cess and has educated many in the county
who we're bitterly opposed to it to see the
necessity of county high school. To
those who are thoroughly acquainted with
the schools of Kansas they must pronounce
this for several reasons the best high school
in Southeastern Kansas.
This is the closing week. Your humble
servant had the honor of addressing the
school and citizens last Sunday in the
Baptist church. the largest in the place.
Chas. F. Scott of the lola Register lee
tured Tuesday night on his travels in Eu-
rope. He is a very brilliant young man.
We met him ten years ago as he gradu-
ated from our university with the class
honors.
Chancellor F. H. Snow Of the State
University lectured Thursday night on
Common Sense View of the Advantages
OF Higher Education" The lectures
were free to all and paid for by fund
raised by the students and faculty.
Respy. K. y. NOBLE.