The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-11-13

| trict OF Columbia. In the beginning, DR..
Harris says that IL was characteristic oil
Washington that in his first message lac
should inseke the attention OF Congress
10 the Importance OF the educational qurs
ton, and ia his own guarded way suggest
the direct Interference VI the National Leg
islature In it's favor.
The founding and occupation of the city
bearing his name furnished an occasion for
a more positive and practical presentation
of his educational views He had l1hg
pond.rcd the lurking danger OF the obsti-
nate differences OF nationality, sect and
section Ia the new republic, and through
the e, asperating ana discouraging rNpe-
riences o; the war period, had iearheh no"
easy IL might lie 60 destroy Union lot
half apr,rcciated by the masses, and fought
ovsr with bitterness by the leaders OF pub
lie opihk.n. His mind dweit upon The e.
tablis.iliant Of a national university at
Washington where the prUfIIising young
men o. all parts Of the country could he
educated together into patriotic pride
and affection for their whole country,
through obser a ton OF tho operation CT the
Federal Government, that might lie d daily
instruction II, good citizenship and n prep
aratiIn TO- 81 public career. AT his death
h., left V that seemed at the time gen
erous sun, liz the stock OF a projected
cana. for TIN. establishment Of such IN in
stit1tion If the higher learning.
But the time was not rip, for the success
Of pro,ect SO broad aud bcneficent.
Each section of the country had already
balt UP its own school of the superior
learnine. Harvard, Yale, Columbia Prince
ton. the University OF Pennsylvania, and
William and Mary, with other colleges
OF less note, were buttressed by an en-
virnIlirent Of academicaI seminaries, each
to r. greater or Jess extent representing
the great rival ecclesiastical parties OF
the country. II may not he possible To
ascertain what has become OF this doua
ton of Washington, or IL indeed IL ever
represented a definite value. The fate OF
Tn original plan of d national university at
the National Capital was prophetic of all
separate attempts in the same direction.
White numerous schools of various grades
have boldly assumed the name NATIONAL
no Institution Of lea rning has vet been estaS-
Iished in v Washington To whose merits the
rapidl- increasing fraternity OF colleges
and universities has done homage as the
legltin at. lead Of the American system
OF universal education.
But Continues Commissioner Harris.
could Washington have fOTeseen the pres
ent Condition OF educational matter an tie
great and beautiful city which bears his
name. In these closing years or the nine
teenth century even he might have acknowE
edged that In all essential respects he Ma
tionai Capital is rapidly becoming na-
tioDal uni versity III way that no institu-
ton OF learning, however famous, could he.
With itseXreilentSy stenI OF common schools.
probably in general efficiency not inferior
TO those OF any American city and In some
respects. notably in the education or the
coloreti people, the Lest I'm the Union; the
Catholic College at Georgetown, with Co
lumbar. the Catholic. and Howard EniveT-
stiles already established, the group
Of private denOninational and profess
sional schools; the national and de-
partmental libraries; the gathering
OF scientific men OF national reputation in
with governmental operations;
the National Museum and Smithsonian In
Supreme Court: the Development of music
and the establishment of at least one great
gallery OF art: the great variety of asSo-
riations clubs, and groups of educational
people for mutual Improvement; the resi-
dence of the official representatives. of all
the nations of the earth, and the develop
inent of the most characteristic type of
merican sOciety-all these and other
aEendes working together make the city
of Washington today the most important
for that aIl-round education
W hich will realize the ideal of American
which filled The soul If the
Father of his Country
The report continues:
The first charter OF Washington i'm 1902
no notice of educa ton. But in
S04, possibly through the influence
" the first president or the Washington
school board, Thomas jefferson, a pro-
vision was inserted in the revised charter
FOR the esta blishmen and supervision Of
An act passed the same year
1 authorized the city to esta blish and en-
low q permanent inst tuition for the
education of youth" An ella borate statute,
with an eloquent preamble, provided for
he election of a board of thirteen trustees
seven to be chosen by the city council
elected by the contributors to the school ,
fund. The sum OF $40 contributed en-
titled the giver to vote. This board was
instructed to receive contributions at
home and abroad toward the expenses of
the children of the poor. The
walls of certain Ia xes, including the
AK ON slaves and dogs" 10 the extent
If 81 800 year, were available for this
purpose. One hundred and ninet y-one per-
an ha nf
Thomas jefferson giving the sum OF $500.
Jefferson was elected president OF the
board with body of twelve good men |
assistants. In accepting the position he !
writes: Sincerely believing that knowl-
,dge promotes the happiness OF man, 1 |
hall ever be disposed to contribute my |
,ndea vors to its extension
In 1890 the schools were decIa red to he |
Exclusively of the charity order, no pay I
pupils being Received. The whole story |
,f these years is melancholy record OF I
board or well -intentiOned gentlemen |
vCr &ing Il gainst the grain or a community /
hat could not he lifted up to the hearty |
support of a scheme OF charity education,
confined to the children OF the
Door. 1t WIS not until 1910 that the /
chools found wise and persistent friend !
n the person of Mayor Seaton. He star
led the good people OF Wa shingt by the
that only 200 OF the 900
hildrep OF school age were attending the
public and private schools OF the city,
"a wing $500 out OF school altogether.
his OF course, included only the white
hildren and youths, for all there was of
chooling for the free colored folk was by
rivate and personal effort. 1t is not to be
opposed that the white population OF
Ia shingtOn was In the desperate state of
ignorance indicated by this startling
ecord.
But the Wa shington of that early day