The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-07

Hon. w. T. Harris, United States
| commissioner of education. returned
to Washington recently after three
months tour of Europe. To a Post
reporter he said: MY personal object
was to make observations Of the pro-
gress of education and economies in
the great cities, with especial reference
to the slum element, which Is at pres
ent the great problem In our civiliza-
tion. / did not seek this among the
civic authorities, because I have all
the statistics and Information they can
furnish In my library here. l sought
rather to study the people themselves
to see them at their employments-
note their dress, comforts. and home
life and by personal intercourse with
them to ascertain their ideas of life
and the principal difference between
their conditions and those Of our own
people. The city nowadays seems to be
the center of civilization and the re-
sort of progressive people, because
there man gets the most for his time
and labor. The farmer secures only
about one-half or two-thirds as much
wages and comforts as the city man,
so there the problem Of our civilization
must be solved"
what fact impressed Itself most
upon you?"
'Tt was evident to me at the first
glance that all OF these European cities
are making great progress In the dis
tribution Of wealth. Production Is in
creased and the laborer get a greater
share of 1t than formerly. This Is
especially noticeable I'm the Italian
cities. which have advanced wonder
fully in manufacturing. In England
thirty families out of every 100 have
an income OF over $1,000 per year. which
means comparative comfort In Italy
the average income Is not so large. but
living is much cheaper there, and ac-
commodations are good.
'In the old countries. like Italy and
Germany, the houses are better; sub
stantial old stone structures. meant to
stand for centuries, and very few, even
of the poorer classes, live In wooden
houses. They are also learning sani-
tary science. In Rome. for instance,
all the old sewers, connecting with the
Tiber which used TO overflow annually,
have been stopped by the present gov
ernment. and new system. which car
ries the sewerage almost to the sea, has
made Rome one of the most healthful
cities in the world. In Northern Eu-
rope, France, Holland. and Belgium.
the cities are also verYneat.
in public education. The Franco-Prus-
sian war was boon in this respect.
that II opened the eyes of all Europe
to the fact that cultured. well-trained
people must necessarily conquer. Since
then compulsory education has been
the rule in Europe. Italy, the last to
take up the movement, sends II per
cent. of its whole population to school,
This per cent Is not so great as In the
United States, but their school term Ii
longer-200 days In every year. while
ours Is only about 1885,"
Government by Newspapers.
$50 education is becoming more gen.
eral abroad?'
"Yes, all Europe Ia learning how to
read, and as soon as q nation becomes
q reading people It Is governed by pub
lie opinion rather than by law-by the
newspapers instead of the police. More
over O nation thus becomes homOgene-
Gus In thought as well as In blood. Sec
tional differences are reconciled, and
the people come to have q common ma
tional View. This Is also remarkable
in France. It used to be said that Paris
governed the republic. but now that the
provincials have become generally edu-
GATED they have as great share in
the government and the formation Of
national opinion as the capital.
Corresponding to this increase In
public education. noticed Q great i'm
provement In the newspapers. For.
merly the continent was far behind
England. which Is still somewhat be-
hind Ainerta. Our Sunday pagers are
. liberal educationb with their new.
features. telegraphic dispatches. ana