Birmingham state herald., 1895-12-29
EDUCATIONAL IMPRESSIONS.

EACCAAClll PdpNA.
 pr. Phillips requested me to speak to Eou of my educational impressions from abroad All impressions received while hraveling are more or less of an educa- tiona1 nature, and I could tell you or the beauties of the lands that it was my good fortune to visit-about the poetry, the exquisite charm of the Rhine, about fine old cities, familiar to all of you through reading, about the majestic mountains of Switzerland their snow capped peaks, about laughing valleys and beautiful blue lakes; about treasures of art that captivated my senses, about places of historical interest, but this IS not what you wish to know, so l shall limit myself to speak today of education, not impressions in the narrow sense. One of the first experiences on board Of the steamer which gave me some food for thought might also be of interest to you, especially to the members of the Her bart club SD interested in the study or psychology. When we were passing the banks of New Foundland some happy possessor of a pair of field glasses had discovered a white spot on the horizon, and the knowledge of an iceburg quite near us spread rapidly. Soon all passen- gers were eagerly watching the move ments of this terribly interesting object. We were all shivering with cold, and shawls and steamer rugs were insuifl- cient to protect us against an atmosphere that seemed to grow more jelly cold every moment. What a state of excitement we were ini You should have seen it.
 Later in the day one of the officers told me in confidence, confidence l did not betray while abroad, but 1 am going to tell you, since it might add valuable chapter on the subject of imagination we'll he told me that the captain had pro- nounced our iceberg naught but the white sail of a passing vessel.
 The first impressions received in Eu- al n 1 tive nature. We had landed'at Antwerp AL most the first we saw were hard-working women, women doing menial labor as is here done by negroes, and the conVic- tion rushed upon me that the country for women is, after all, on this side of the sea!
 After visiting the places of interest in this old city, enjoying the beautiful Reu- bens at the cathedral, spending some ln- teresting hours at the geological garden, the most renowned in Europe, we were impressed at the threshold, as it were, of our journey with the educational ad- vantages that Europe offers her people.
 As we passed in quick succession from one country into another, coming in con- tact with different nations, we were pow erfully impressed with the characteris- tic differences of the peoples One can scarcely conceive anything so strikingly ly different as these people Of Antwerp low-built, heavy-set Flanders showing the influences of climate and habits of life in their stature and demeanor the inhabitants of Brussels, high-strung. ex- citable, gay, hilarious Belgians, betray- ing at every movement their French lineage. Then the jolly, honest, open faced, true-hearted "Rhinelanderp The first the product of a nineteenth century civilization and the worldly influences of of a large city, the second the simple child of nature, reared amid all the beauty that has been so lavishly show cred upon this lovely strip of land, breathing the pure, sweet air of the Rhine valley. Oh. and how proud these people are of this beautiful land, how dearly they love it!
 In Frankfurt, that old historical town, dear to all Germans for the sake of its famous son, our beloved Goethe, had the pleasure of visiting some of the schools. The new school buildings are very fine structures, built according to the most approved sanitary laws. There is a departure from the old-time school 3building, an innovation which, as l was Uniformed has so far proved very sue Eessful. The baSements of the school Buildings mostly visited by the poorer hlasses, are fitted up with baths. The chill s3dren are induced to take here their semi ,,meekly baths, since their homes do not pffer these accommodations. Certain aules and regulations are observed, as fareful precautions are taken against the Spreading of disease.
 This means little to you, probably but 1t means great deal to one familiar with fhe habits of certain classes in Europe Some one has said: "Cleanliness is next ito Godliness" In my humble judgment this innovation is one of the greatest steps forward that have been made in Ian educational line in Germany for many a year.
 The appara tus with which these schools are supplied was a revelation to me. Take for instance, the aids of primary science. The principal took me to a large room. All along the walls were glass cases containing grains. fruits, insects, birds, woods minerals. etc., Systemati- cally arranged and carefully labeled, to be used in the development of some les son. One case was entirely filled with grains of all kinds and climes: another with nuts from all countries, even the American hickory nut and the peanut being represented. thought of our pri- mary teachers and what de- light 1t would be for them to go there and just pick out what they are in need of for those gen. eral lessons And then when we entered the halls for experimental work in chem istry and physics. splendidly equipped, there was before my minds eye our high school laboratory, and I tried to imagine what wonderful work our enthusiastic teacher of science could accomplish, if thus aided. And then the excellent pie lures to be employed in language work! And I wish we could have them here. And the fine large maps for geography work, what relief!
 As far as possible in all schools north the Anshomings method-anshomen-- look at, i. e.. objective method, is being employed. Some work in sense analysis was very nteresting-there music les son to a class of bright-eyed little fel- lows, apparently the happy possessors of sound lungs, the teacher accompanying upon the violin. A class in gymnastics made a very fine impression. These partly taken exercises in the hall mean something I can now see before me theses fine little fellows as straight as arrows, the future men protectors of the -fatherland. The school libraries are very carefully equipped, containing most valua ble books of information and refer ence. Probably you will have some bet ter idea of the completeness of these schools if I tell you that the city allows yearly 25,000 marks for the supply of ap- paratus in her schools.
 Of course the school of my own dear home received an early visit. Every thing there seems to run in the same old
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