The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-07-18
AN EDUCATIONAL STATESMAN

markable addresses delivered before
| the National Educational association.
which met in Buffalo last week, ws by
DR.. William 7. Harris, United States
commissioner of education, on the sub
! ject Horace Mann"
The full text Of Dr. Harris address
was published in the Buffalo Enquirer,
giving review of the great reformer's
| life work and analysis of his character,
showing DR.. Harris to be keen and
philosophical admirer of that great edu-
catiOnal statesman, Horace Mann.
The study of the life of Horace Mann
is of especial interest at the present
time, as a few months ago there Oc-
Cured in all the public schools of
America the celebration of the cen
tenary of his birth, May 4, 1876.
Horace Mann is one of the most inter
esting characters in American educa-
tional life Born in Franklin, Mass,
reared in home Of poverty, in school
but ten weeks of the year; with never a
holiday for play. but an occasional hour
for fun; with no attractive books. but
town library of ''solid reading ac-
cessiole; earning money by briading
straw for the urchase of all the school
books he used, he grew up thoughtful
youth with intense convictions.
In his twentieth year he attended
school in the village where he began
the study of Latin and Greek. In six
months from the time young Mann first
saw a Latin or Greek book, he entered
Brown university as a sophomore. be
graduated with high honors and en-
tered the law school at Litchfield,
Conn. In this school there was a
weekly mock session of court, over
which the law lecturer presided as
Judge, and each session was a trial en-
bodying the principles taught during
the previous week.
At the age of q Mr.. Mann began the
practice of law in Dedlam, and the
next year, stranger though he was, the
town sent him TO the legislature and
kept him there as long as he remained
in town-eight years. He then moved
to Boston, and was sent to the state
senate the first year. n the ten years
of his legislative life he gave himself
entirely to philanthropic interests, and
to his championship was largely due
the state patronage of the insane
asylum and the schools for the deaf and
blind.
In law Mr.. Mann was eminenty sue
cessful in winning cases. Through
the failure of his brother, he had lost
all his savings and was involved heav-
lily in debt, which so impoverished him
that he went without his dinner more |
than half his time. 1t was at this !
juncture, when his law business was |
suffering from legislative demands up |
on his time. and his political career |
seemed at an end, that his self-sacrific-
ing spirit yielded to the importantly Of |
such men as Quincy, Everett and Sum- |
ner, and he became the head of the |
school system Of the state. Although |
the salary was but S1,50O. he gave up |
law aspirations and political ambl-
tions, and for twelve years sacrificed
every personal advantage for the pub
lie schools.
Those We're heroic days education
ally. Many prominent men all over
the country sent Horace Mann large /
sums Of money TO be used In the cause
of education as he thought best. One
man gave $4,000 personally to make
the Normal school possibility 1t Is
not often that school reports are read
by the masses with any relish, but Mr..
Mann's were read al over the world
Eighteen thousand copies of one were
issued by the New York legislature,
while another was published by vote
Of British parliament, and also by the
German government
Al the age OF - years. after twelve
years service of the school, be was
elected 70 the seat in congress.
AT the age Of 56 Mr.. Mann was elect
ed % the presidency Of Antioch college.
Ohio. where he died after six years of
heroic sacrifice for the cause OF higher
education
In front Of the state house In Boston
is an imposing statue in bronze. and IN
a prominent place on the campus OF
Antioch college Is monument OF mar
ble. both alike honOring the educational
hero.