Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1899-03-06

an the right place. That thissrapid deveI-
opment viii 20 on, there need be not the
slightest doubt, Itrequires not the gift Of
pFJph4cyi tutonly a. flight Acquaintance
sure Is that the progress already begun
will continue, until she huit OF our prss--
ent faeihries Is reacheds'
For Of all SCHOOLS, the Normal is the one
which stands nearest 10 the people. To
the average American citizen there Is no
object so dear as the education of bis
Gchlidren. IL is his pride, almost to the
|ipeint of manis, to give tntm in this re-
specf s0meihiDg better than he himself en-
jnyed. Toe log school house, with its
W ID -rer's spelling book and Rays arith-
metlc for text books was goo0 enough for
hun. But for bis cbilnren there must be
table, and maps, charts sDd models, IL
braries and lsboratoties, and stately build
ings 10 contain them all, 10 comparls on
with which the humble equipments Of his
yosth would be historic cbriosities In
some places, indeed, ), hey are preserved as
such l well remember, on visit / ouce
made to the famous and ancient coIleReof
Eton, in England, being shown, 10 the
midst Of all the splendid. structures erected
there as fit Surroundings to the queens
palace, the old, original firm room in-
stalled by Engiand's earliest educstors
Henry VI There were the rude benches
Oh tOuku Ddts put tUk5buCl WIN rUE1f uAa
orpamented with the carvings Of centuries
whittled by tue pocket knives of sturdy
English bovsjn the cause, not of art, bus
OF mischief This venerable spnt was the
holy of hOIies Ia that temple OF learnipg,
and within. IL, ihs most sacred object of all
was pointed out to He th~ altar on which
these euielesa youth did frequent and
fearful sacri6ce--a well shapsd 0sken'
block, fitted to the form OF kneeiing boy.
n fnh FOR t.oo v
greatest poets, Statesmen and soldiers OF
England bad received, &C the vigorous
hands of muscular head masters. the fudi-
ments Of SQUAD English %education, nd
minissered through the medium OF we'll
picked birch 80 rods.
THE MoDERN AMERICAN
wants his children better educated than be
was, and easier. For nothing else, eavs
alone the hpnor of his fiags.wiA he SO vii.
lingly endure toll and tcrifice. For this
he pays without complaints the taxes levied
for the support of schools, and when nec-
essary TO provide advantages greater than
the common school aff ,rds, he denies him
self tbe uxuries. and often the comforts OF
life When, therefore, public institu-
tion has for its leading object the making
and training of the teachers, to whom the
people are to entrust the education of their
children. it is but natural that 1t should
hold place in their minds aud attentton
of far more direct and vital interest than
ary other
Such lr the Institution which we dedi-
case today 1t is the school of the people \
and for the people. Here shall be equip
ped, trained aud made ready for their
work, the brains and hands OF those on
whom We shall depend, for the mental,
physical and industrial development OF
our children. Itis organized upon lib
sfal and far-reaehing plan. The teachers'|
whp 60 out from here are to be the aposs
ties of that modern systeus-> of education |
v hich holds that none Of the powers and |
facultie- OF human beings are unworthy OF
its care; WHICH gives attention to muscle
as well as mind, and to hand as we'll as
brain; which teaches that sound mini
cannot endure save in q tound b0dys |
which and dertakes to make the youth Of
this country practically fit for the duties
aud responsibilities of citiz snship; SO that |
they, in their turn, when their fathers bs- |
gin to lag behind and drop out, may take
thesr places in the ranks OF. that mighty |
army OF peace and enlightment which IL
to carry this nation forward to the high |
destiny that lies before it's f<
It's with such ends in view that our leg |
islators have created and enqowed this |
And it is because they. enter-
tanned these views of its legitimate aud
only proper scope and function, that the /
regents 10 whom its organIsa alton was en- !
trusted have seen fit. even upon a slender |
foundation OF otmeagerFesources end scanty |
means. to build for the future rather than |
for the present. lt'wasa usver the inten-
sion Of the IegislataFss and II u had been |
so IL would hfvs heeu an INV 3rthy aud !
nightmare exerciseof its power, TO create
with public funds there high school for !
the town Of Lag Vegas. But 1t was rightly |
to be inferred that the intention vas to |
build up schoek Of = se< 4
WIDE AND PAR -RIfACHrEe fNFLUENcR,
with aims and purposes worthy OF its
name. and holding out to tho people Of the |
whole Territory. benefits for which IL
might Justly -clajm their approval and |
support. Thersfore thit building was de-
signed upon plan aud OF d imensions COM
uiesurste With the extent and nseds Of the |
future State OF New Mexico. A structure |
which. while AT ,rdiug the facilities for |
carrying out It's purposes In the most eff |
rienl manneri will eIsoi hy its very pres
ence ana imposing appearances. stand ~ |
eyer present witness, IN the view Of thou |
sand from other states who yearly pass |
70 an fro through the Territory, as to !
where Nsv Mexico may be found on tbs |
question OF public education, Thorefors u |
sssthat when public funds were found 20
beihadsquate. public spirited citizens, out |
Of their private MEANS made np the |
am cunt ntreauirsd 10 fgish and equip the
advancing the monsy 20 the |
Territory until such time as lt should be |
able knd willing 70 reimburse them. This |
was done without ostentation. Even the
local press has never given any complete
account OF the transactidn. l. was done |
hv the neople OF THIS oommuuity, drst, that |
this efest work might nor be longer de-
Iayed and second, 20 prove tbs wisdom Of
Ebe legislature IL locating this iustItotIsn |
IN pace whers| its ebj-cts are SO veil an- 4
n<scIzfed Tue pborlo OF Las Eesasand |
vicinity. N thus advancing nesrly 90 Iper |
cent OF the oost Of this building, did 80 |
witt the 1nil knowledge that
NO EEezk oBLlakTIoSHAsascuaRED
for is REDEEM oliou. and that Ihey might
never receive back q single dollar. Butt
= pleasure III record the fart that the
legislature 81 New Mexico, By an almost
unanimous vote. has recognized t1a high 4
motive and lekIzimefs public purpose Of
zhis set, br providing for re-ImbuTzemea1I
81 tbs money within such reasonable tlnae
IS the cnndition Of the public finances
would warrant. Not onIE has this been
done. but maj riff of the lssiaIstuzs have
h8nofed rs br coming here today 70 give
. ihzs OCCASION lf6 sudoEzsmeat Of their
nfesenco. ancqu1eRanent ana FympathY; /
md thus E.xiae kq kns lpauz uzgkas'on .s.1 q