The Washington times., 1895-06-23

an immediate bearing on the practical
effects OF the public school system.
These medals, to be in keeping with every
method and movement and phase OF policy
OF The Times, were not OF an uordinary type.
In design they were the most artistic that
the skill of the Jeweler could evolve In
material they Were of massive gold, with
appropriate monograms beautifully enam-
eled, each medal studded with a pure
diamond and pendant from solid double
bars Each one was enclosed in a rich
case, which was a considerable prize
in itself.
Apart from the great monetary value OF
these medals, they viii be looked upon as
souvenirs OF earnest work andof theinterest
an euterprising and honest press takes in
the true development of public instruction,
which means SO much TO the future glory
OF our city and our country.
One OF the winners, william A Page,
OF the Central High School, says. II
firmly believe that the media lsawarded Miss
Mosielden ana myself TO be the finest ever
given by any newspaper in the country
for prize essays"
The first presentation was made at the
commencement Of the Business High School
Monday night last TO Miss Daisy Emily
II odgso whose essay on business
Schools as Factors in Commercial Life
was considered best by the judges. These
Judges were three OF our best know Ii business
men, Messrs. Brainard II. Warner, s. w.
woodward and Allison Naiior, Jr. Miss
HodgsOn's essay reads as follows:
Tact, integrity, and perseverance, are
the essential principles OF a successful bus
mess career, but education is the means
of their application. The industrious hab-
its OF the young require course OF training
that the character may conform TO the
nature OF the profession in view. As
habits acquired in youth form character in
after life. business habits must be cult
waited at school by those who would engage
successfully in commercial pursuits. The
youthful athlete is trained 10 fully develop
the muscles required in performing feats
OF agility; so the student should develop
those mental faculties which may best
aid in his life's work.
a commercial education is as essential
TO a business man, as maritime education
is TO a mariner. knowledge OF navigation
enables the sailor TO avoid hidden rocks,
TO observe indications of a coming storm,
and to sail directly TO his destination. A
commercial education enables the busI-
ness man 10 discern dangers which under
lie the surface Of speculation, 10 perceive
the approach of a financial storm, ana TO
Dor OF prosperity.
The merchant. possessing educational
qualifications, has an unlimited field in
which TO work, IN consequence OF an eX-
tensiye mental scope In business trans
actions. where personal supervision Is
necessary, the clear perception or the edu-
Gated man fOrGfles him against being the
victim OF fraud, as be readily distinguishes
the mental cahber and character OF those
with whom he comes in contact. Famil-
iarity with technical terms prevents him
from committing bluuderS, and through
knowledge of commercial law, he avoid
complications He recognizes the ad-
vautages Of advertising while his literary
attainments enable him TO write news
paper articles in terse, concise and scholas-
tie style that attracts the fancy Of aris-
tocrauc and wealthy readers aud bring
thr0ugs OF profitable customers to his
establishment
a commercial education is Invaluable
in the ira nSaCtion OF financial affairs. en-
hraCiug the knowledge OF banking laws and
the general principles OF commercial pur-
suits. both of which are taught at business
schools
1T is true that a commercial education
does not fortfy merchant against be
coming bankrupt. but in the event Of be-
coming insolvent he has tact, talent, and
education. three elements which strengthen
the victim of temporary misfortune and
help him 10 renew the battle OF lie. y
The UUeducated business man who has
failed seldom rcgains his former exalted
position in the commercial world, because
his mediocre abilities relegate him to a
subordinate position. The broken merchant
who fortunately possesses commercial
education has little trouble in securing
advaui ageDus employment, and has re-
sources within himself which ameiOrate
lot. Frequently ii occurs that a person
possessing a business education obtains a
position with a wealthy but illiterate firm
aud by imparting valuable information
aud introducing new systems based upon
business principles, he advances the in
terest OF his employers TO such a degree
that he is taken into partnership
The next presentation was made at the
commencement of the high and normal
schools Of the seventh and eighth divisions
at the Academy OF Music Wednesday even
ing. The judges were Hon. John NJ.
Laugston, Prof. George william Cook,
OF Howard University, and Rev. Francis J d.
Grimke, OF the Fifteenth Street Presby-
teriau Church. They awarded the prize TO
Reginald Farragut Brooks, whose essay on
What the public school system has oOne
for the advancement of the oolored race"
is here printed:
Limiting the scope Of my observations
10 the public school system Of the United
States OF America and its application to the
colored youth Of this country since the close
OF the war Of rebellion, 1865 My first
conclusion is that the public schools have
done for the youth Of The country a great
work and proven a real benefit to both
white and coioIed.
BY the amended constitution of the
United States the colored people became
American citizens and secured civil and
political equality before the law.
American citizenship would be OF no
practical yalue but for the eeducationalq quail
fication that enables ii to be received ard
enjoyed
The uplifting OF a class OF people from
chattel slavery To the high plane Of AmeTi-
can citizenship and the removal of an en-
forced nliteracy that denied TO them the
reading OF their country's laws ami constitu-
ton, the Holy Bible, and the daily news
paper, is the great work OF the public schools.
Civilizations based upon the common school
education.
The public schools are the means by
which the colored people have been enabled
10 take their place among the civilized
peoples OF The world, and TO meet the obi
cations and duties or church and state i'm
posed upon Them in their new and hig her re-
lation with their fellow men
within the limits of the District OF CO.
lumbla, the largest and best results are
shown 10y the extension OF equal common
school advantages TO all the youth.
In this District viii be found the clear
est illustration OF the wisdom OF the
government in providing common schools for
all the youth. The additionof manual train
ing schools, and systematic instruction
therein, has greatly enlarged the beEefiGs
OF the public schools, especially TO the
cOlored pupils.
THE progress OF the colored public schools
in the District is clearly set forth by Off
cial reports of the sUperintendentS. show
ing one school and less than one hundred
pupils in 1864, and three hundred and six