Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-12-30
Educational
Column,
GUY STANTON FORD. Editor.

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Though born in this state, the editor
OF this column has spent most of hi,
life IN an adjoining state; therefore he
cannot be accused of giving his owr
words the lie when he says that Wis
consIners are modest The citizens q
TINS state are not nearly so aggressive
IN their state pride as are our neighbors
over the way in Illinois or Iowa, The
man from the Sucker state never tires
OF presenting the wonders of Chicago OF
quoting statistics on the fertility of Hi.
nols prairies and every Hawkeve carries
IL his vest pocket a newspaper clipping
III which Iowa is shown as leading in
low percentage of illiteracy and in the
amount of corn and hogs raised. But
the Wlsconsiner, with a great state back
OF him, one that stands high in its edu-
catlonal and material greatness, mod
estly refuses to present his case. fire.
quently sends his children to the uni
Versltles OF other states, knows nothing
OF the greatness of the states historical
collection and library, forgets that Wis
consln contains the best blood of Europe
and the finest Of New England, that
Wisconsin was a banner union state in
the great struggle for freedom. There
are probably many reasons for this lack
of state pride-diversiied population,
diversified interests, the fact that Wis
consin is child of the nation carved
out OF the Northwest Territory by con-
gressional act, that it was settled along
several different lines and that these
lines of settlement, as aloug the Supe-
rIor shore for instance, have not as vet
clearly joined each other. Whatever
the cause, it is the effect that concerns
US.
The semi of Wisconsin fell
through for many apparently different
reasons but back of it all is a lack of
organized state pride. Proper state
pride would not let such a celebration
fail.
The semi-centennial observance has
taken slightly different form. There
is to be a meeting at Madiso II June 7,
s and 9. Here are to be held the liter
ary and historical exercises. At Mil
wauk kee, June q to July 2 will be held
the industrial and trades carnival. Each
county is to take part in both celebra-
What rt ic IUooI
to take in the exercises at Madison?
When are we to form local historical
association whose aim shall be to collect
and preserve experiences, incidents or
biographies of soldiers, sailors and pion-
eers of this county? Next week | hope
to say something more of this work and
the needed organization.
~
The rest of this column contains few
remarks by Chas. Dudley Warner on the
state Of Wisconsin,. They are taken
from his charming book of travel,
South and West with Comments on
Canada" The work is in the city
iiolaiy anu We'll worm TodOlug. w Is
consin is not only one of the most pro-
gressive but one ofthe most enlightened
states in the Union. Physically it is an
agreeable and beautiful state. Agricul-
turally it is rich, in the southern and
central portions at least, and it is over
laid with a perfect network of railways
All this is well-known. | wish to speak
of certain other things which give it
distinction. [ mean the prevailing
spirit in education and social economic
problems. In some respects it leads
all the other states" Then Mr.. Warner
goes On to praise co-education as seen
IN Wisconsin, the prominent place ac-
corded women in educational and civic
life, the refinement of Milwaukee, the
beauty of Madison, the intelligence and
liberality Of the peoples attitude
towards the public schools and the
state university, its progresslveness in
the care of insane, establishment of
libraries and its tolerance in dealing
with all dangerous questions. Read the
chapter and YOU will be prouder of our
Stale than most of US now are. Next
week | want TO quote i'll this column a
beautiful poem of Benz. T. Tayior's en-
titled Wisconsin,"