The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-22

The museum contains many valuable
casts, copies, photographs and so forth on
various art matters. 1hs value Of the
school to the state can nop be oyeresti
mated. But Its best possibilities are held
In check ny reason that the school Is not
we'll endowed.
The bequest OF s25 600 by the late Albert
j. Jones of Rome is the only considerable
one that the school has IL the school
could get sufficient endowment there is
every reason TO believe it would soor be-
ccme one of the leading schools of its kind
in the country. But the spirit OF endow-
menJ does not eyist in the makeup of
Rhode Islanders TO any extent, and little
Is had from that source.
So what can be done To have the school
do the most good, endowment failingp
A bout the only other recourse is TO get
the consent of the corporation to turn it
over to the state, and the consent Of the
state to make IL a state school, or In
other words part of our public school
system.
IL is probable that II the corporation
could see the school we'll cared for in this
way their sincere interest in the welfare
of the school would prompt them to favor
such u project
On the other hand the state is not look
ing around for schools to adopt or for new
ways OF spending money, IL is claimed.
That may be true, bat it is no argu-
ment IL IL is the duty OF the state to
look out for such schools. disinclination
or argument will not lessen that duty.
And IL appears TO be very simple matter
to prove that 1t is the states duty to pro-
vide for IL.
As against this it Is claimed that the
school Is not one of general education,
but sort of special school for special
class and n special purpose, and it's scope
Is limited. 1his in way is true, but it
Is equally true of schools already in our
public system, ana true to q very much
greater extent of schools under state
control In other states. lt Is true OF our
Normal school, of our Manual Training
school, of our Agricultural school This
argument carried to its logical conclusion
precludes the idea of the state fostering
aud maintaining higher education. pre-
cludss the idea of n national or state uni
versity with its law school. medical
school. scientific school, divinity school.
and many other schools. The higher edu-
cation goes the more restricted and
speci li5ed docs its work become. How
can We say that law school has n greater
influence TO increase the happiness OF our
people than an ali school Each one does
its share in helping along tho progress
and civilization Of the nation. without
the knowledge that either of these depart
ments represent. each vast in its scope,
the world would be in sad plight.
Who're would we he IL no one could toll
us how houses and buildings, bridges and
towers should be built IL no one know
how To plan a piecesof machinery; II no
one was sufficiently skilled To draw the
likeness of = human being or represent to
our eye an object of naturey IL would be
like taking link out OF chain. IL is
nonsense TO talk of n chain with n link
in the middle gone, it is equal folly 10
talk of n civilization with some branch
uf education left out OF IL. IL Is an i'm
possible supposition.
The influence OF art is directly felt in
almost every detail Of our daily life. and
could not he separated from 10 without
destroying the nation.
In claiming that the school Is not n
proper one to be under state control, the
state surrenders its whole position by
sppropriating money for 10, as 10 does
every year. This is the argument advanced
by those who believe the state should
adopt the school of design. The state Of
khooe Island is. moreover. they contend.
peculiarly adapted Tor such n school n
this. The city of Providence Is the centre
of the iewelry business OF the whole couu-
try. and the income from this source Is
very large. The business supports thous-
anus ~ people, ana it constantly calls for
skilled artists and designers. The enorm-
Gus machine shops and other mechanical
aud textile industries have steady de
mand for skilled and intelligent men as
draugbtsIDen ana In other departments.
Collectively these form the chief source
OF wealth tO our state. ONLY Der cent.
oe DOR Iesale In Rhode Island are engaged
iu agricultural pursuits ar probably
about MOO farmers and their families. or
the other 3fiO OUO the most part il con
neeted with our mnnufactuii indus
tries
Can ~ be doubted that these y.eople are
UilItpg that rart All f.p fuonOv ray