Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1898-01-26

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master is superseded by those once
supposed to be children, and TO rem
der their employment practicable
the attendance of pupils who have
reached an age when the value Of
an education is appreciated is pro-
hibited. Iowa wisely maintains a
magnificent university within the
reach of the high school graduate.
but she has made no provision for
the country boy and girl to prepare
to enter it. It's annual support costs
the state, in round numbers, 100000
outside of permanent improve
ments, and in it she is able to assist
far less than per cent of the young
people of the state, and none from
the farm without preparatory as
sistance in some way unprovided by
the state. Within a half century at
least two years have been added to
the average college curriculum, and
fully as much dropped from the
more important branches as actual
ly taught in the country schools,
thus ever widening the gap between
the district school and the college,
and the pupil is left to bridge 1t as
best he may. AT no time is young
man or woman so lily prepared for
self-support as while fitting for COL
lege. The state ought to provide
liberal things for all her educational
institutions, but ought also to pro-
vide some means to assist the coun-
try pupil to take advantage thereof.
The town and city graded school is
designed solely for those who enter
it in infancy and remain continu-
ously. 1t necessarily offers poor en-
couragement for the country pupil
who may be behind in some branch
es, though perhaps fully abreast In
those which tend to make thinking
men. 1t will take the greater part
of a year to get graded, and he
might about as we'll miss a year as
to lose a term. 1t requires an I'M
usual thirst for knowledge to keep
a boy in school to girl of his own
age, or to consent to be graded in a
town school with boys several years
his junior.
There are great possibilities In the
rural population of Iowa. No in
considerable number Of the indus
trious thinkers of earth have come
from the farm. The rising genera
ton Of Iowa ought, and surely will.
carry westward the laurels now
held by the middle states. 1t has
always been the first rural born
generation of men that has given a
state her reputation. Nowhere Is
there such indomitable courage,
such incessant industry and such
constant hope as among those who
follow the pioneer. and transform
the wilderness into a garden with
villas, and the children of these men
and women have always been heard
from. With such a generation now
of practical school age, shall iowa
neglect them? Motives of patriot
ism as we'll as of philanthropy ought
to secure for them as good oppor-
fnnitipc ara insured their town
and city cousins.
Iowa Is an agricultural state and
will remain one. Not exclusively
agricultural, but predominatingly
so. OF this fact we are assured, and
with 1t we are content. Those who
have read the current report OF the
dairy commissioner, must have been
impressed with the remarkable de-
velopment and wonderful possible
ties of the dairy interest in Iowa.
1t is difficult to conceive what might
be accomplished by the people Of
our state, were this great industry
adequately developed. 1t should re-
ceive the fostering care of the legis-
lature.
There Is but one material from
which butter and cheese can be
made. The very terms themselves
should be as sacred from infringe
butter and cheese made from the
product of the cow should be al
lowed in the markets in such garb
as to permit of deception. Any
wholesome product of lard, tallow,
or OIL should find an open market,
but it's color or absence of color,
should protect the purchaser from
the possibility of mistaking it for
what it is not. This most wise pro-
wi n
urged upon the attention of the peo-
pie of every state and country likely
to afford us market.
If the eradication of tuberculosis
will be Of assistance to the industry,
and helpful in finding a market for
the product, then this disease
should be exterminated. Let it be
known everywhere that Iowa but
ter is made from pure cream, and is
wholly free from disease germs, and
the prairies of our state present an
Ell Dorado unsurpassed.
An industry that is likely to oc-
cupy any appreciable per cent Of
our farming area, and afford en-
ployment to any considerable num-
Der of our people, is worthy Of every
encouragement, incluing both the
prohibition of fraudulent imitation
at home and abroad, and national
protective tariff. One consid eration
quite generally lost sight of by our
people is the fact that the dairy
mans farm will be worth at the end
of decade IS per acre more than
that of his CONTAINING neighbor.
Within the past few years mon
ument, beautiful granite shaft,
has been erected by order of the
general assembly, at considerable
cost, to the memory Of those who so
nobly and at the peril of their lives
took conspicuous part in the trag-
edy of our civil war. 1t was con-
structed from patriotic motives and
for patriotic purposes and was ex-
pected, at the time of it's erection,
to be dedicated at no distant date.
This ceremony, through some over
sight or otherwise, has been neg
lected venture to suggest that the
question is worthy of public consid-
Grafton. The monument has been
constructed, it will stand forever.
No one now, or at any future time,
will dare to lay ii low, and IN the
coming years 1t will be priceless. 1t
is educational in it's character. and
is calculated to impress itself and
that for which ii stands upon the
hearts and lives of many million
people Shall 1t be dedicated to the
principles of liberty and patriotic
devotion, or stand perpetual
memorial to human misunderStand-
ings?
Iowa has history. There is much
associated with her territorial ex-
istence, as well as her subsequent
statehood. of which our people may