The herald., 1898-05-21
What a contrast, this. to the poor little red
school house Of my childhood.

What a contrast, this. to the poor little red
school house Of my childhood.
&c. F. A. JOHNSON"
Judge Ling, as the ex-mayor of the old
disincorporated city, he having assumed
the duties Of that position at the Masonic
ceremonies in the laying of the corner
stone Of the building last fall, made n
speech, which, for wit and humor, would
be hard to beat. Among the handsome
things, he said that without ever having
seen one of the intelligent faces that he
then saw before him. the sight of the>spien-
did building their enterprise and liberality
had caused to be constructed would be all
the evidence he cared for as to the culture
and intelligence of the community in which
the building was located"
Prof. Lunt, in accepting for the district.
said: "In behalf of the school district to
which this building has just been present.
ed, am very glad to respond with a few
words. 1t is a mere truism to say that a
popular self-government, in order to be EN-
during. must be founded upon the intenl-
gence of the people, and that universal in.
telligence can be brought about only by a
well-planned system of popular education.
But great learning is not the measure Of
any mans worth. His knowledge unless
allied with goodness, has very little real
value. 1t is not how much a man may
know, but the end or purpose for which lie
obtains knowledge, that is of the greatest
Importance.
"These are days when people on all sides
are making a great show of patriotism
when young men and old men are offering
to give UP their very lives for the national
honor. But am glad to say that the men
and women of Long Beach, who have CIV
en- of their substance toward the erection
and maintenance of this beautiful building,
have also made noble display of patriot
ism, because they have contributed to the
stability of our constitutional government
and to the permanency of our glorious na-
tion."
Ex-Congressman James McLachlan in
responding for the state, made plea for
the mechanical as well as the mental train
ing of our youth. and in apt terms showed
its many advantages. In closing his re-
marks, which were listened to with the
closest of attention, Mac being a prime
favorite with the people Of this place, he
said: LET us not forget to teach the les
sons of patriotism and the story Of the
flag. Let the first words that our children
learn to lisp be Freedom 'Mayfiower,'
Washington Concord Valley Forge
Lincoln Grant, 'Appomatox,' and, last
but not least, Dewey Let us not forget
that freedom and knowledge have ever
been the chief factors to national great
ness, and that where ignorance prevails
species of slavery and its attendant mis-
cries have been the legitimate coneom-
ct,,tl
ization and the growth offree government,
we shall find that those have made the
most rapid progress and reached the high
est forms among the nations where edu-
cation has been most liberal and universal.
National retrogression and decay are the
natural and inevitable consequences OF ma
tional ignorance. The dying nations are
those where general ignorance prevails.
and the living nations are those where
knowledge is most universal. The contest
which is today being carried on between
the United States and Spain-the one dom
mated by the spirit Of freedom and guided
by the light Of knowledge, the other the
symbol of ignorance, crime, retrogression
and barbarism-is at once a fitting ana
convincing truth that freedom and knowl-
edge are the twin conservators of national
progress and integrity. The public school
is now, as it ever has been. the safeguard
of the country, the architect of our free
institutions, the builder of our national
greatness Here the fire of patriotism Is
kindled into fervent flames in countless
youthful breasts. Here the great principles
for which our forefathers fought and died
are instilled into innumerable young
minds. Here the mists of ignorance and
superstition are dispelled before the trans
cendant light Of knowledge, and here the
future safety of the republic rests secure.
The little red school house of our fore
fathers has been supplemented by the
spacious and magnificent high school edi-
fee, where the arts and sciences are CO.
crdinated into a strong and beautiful uni
ty. and in the common focus where all
their shining rays converge the fire of ill.,
erty beams with a steady and enduring
splendor."
benedicion by Rev. David J. Lewis
closed the exercises.