St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-08-01
HONOR WORTHILY BESTOWED
IN NAMING THE NEWEST
OF OUR SCHOOLS.
EARLIEST OF OUR TEACHERS
PRESENT ACTION THE CULMINA-
TION OF A MOVEMENT BE-
GUN IN 1857.
MIR. DREW STILL LIVES, AT So.
His Influence Was Always for
Good in the Pioneer Days No
Less Than Now
Honor to whom honor is due

Honor to whom honor is due.
When the board Of education, at
its recent meeting decided to name
the new school building on Avon
street after Benjamin Drew, it did
an act that deserves more extended
mention than has been accorded it.
1t is we'll, when a community, now
large and prosperous, deigns to re-
member the men, and honor them,
who, in the struggles of our infancy
as a community, stood nobly by the
helm and did their mite to bring
about prosperity. No field is of more
importance to the people of a state
than that which embraces in it's
sphere the education of the masses.
LAS the twig'S inclined the tree is
bent" AS we raise our new gen
erations so will the coming commun-
ity do its part in the fulfillment of
the destinies of our commonwealth.
Benjamin Drew is deserving of all
the honor which has been bestowed
upon him by the action Of the school
board. 1t was a graceful act to re-
member the veteran teacher in his
old age and closing years. Many
there are who still remember him
well, and these are among our best
citizens.
The movement to name one of the
public school buildings after him orig
mated as long ago as 1887. But for some
reason it did not come before the board
in a manner to secure the elimination
of the wishes of the friends of the
aged teacher. 1t remained for the
present board to carry them out. In
1887 petition had been prepared, which
should have been presented to the
board of education. 1t was in the
hands of Charles E. Mayo, who was a
pupil of Mr.. Drew as early as 1897.
This petition bore upon it the sigma
lures of the most prominent men of
this city, some of whom have since
died. Among the name are William R.
Marshall, ex-governor of the state; j.
Fletcher Williams, librarian of the his
torical society; James Gilfillan, the late
chief justice of the supreme court.
Then there are the names of Robert A.
Smith, mayor of st. Paul; Henry. P.
Upham, Gen. John 3. Sanborn, H. S.
Fairchild and other prominent people.
Owing to the illness of Mr.. Mayo the
petition was not handed in, and the
matter was allowed to rest, until the
present opportunity presented itself.
Under date of June, 1887, when the
matter of naming one of our city
schools after Mr.. Drew first came up,
E. D. Neill wrote as follows:
when the supervision of the pub
lie schools was entrusted to me, at my
suggestion, Benjamin Drew was ap-
pointed principal, and of him 1 have
nj iroic, Tnt Ia
of 1858 he entered upon his duties,
and continued about eight months. He
was cheerful, patient, accurate and en-
thusiastic in his work, and it was re-
GREETED that in February, 1860, owing to
the want of funds, the board abolished
the Office
This is the opinion of one of his su-
perior officers, as well as of all who
knew him here in the early days. Mr..
Drew is still living at his old home at
Plymouth, Mass, at the advanced age
of eighty-two years. He is a gentleman
of refined tastes and brilliant attain
ments, and as a teacher he has been
phenomenally successful. The great
er portion of his life has been devoted
to the teaching Of others.
Everybody who knows him bears wit
ness to his valuable aid in the infancy
VI Jul SSliOCi ~ SlSli. NIL. La CIV
has written a book, pen and Types"
which was published by Lee & Shop
ard, Of Boston, and which is consid-
cred a valuable help to those who
write, print or teach. He has also
contributed to the poetry of the coun-
try, having written several very fine
things. Among these are 1.-The Battle
of the Quaker Gunboat,'' 1.-THE Miner S
Dream 1.-THE Eleventh Hour" etc.
The latter poem is herewith given to
G L o b e readers:
THE ELEVENTH HOUR.