The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-06-24

and his wonderful work is at it's hight,
the present appreciation of him being
commensurate with the abuse which was
heaped on his head az first. The reversion
of popular feeling was natural enough.
Mr. Frye simply went steadily ahead, re-
ceiving with smiling cheerfulness all who
came into his Office to denounce him
and unftilingly expressing his faith
in the Cuban people when they
should understand his real motives.
Above all, he never turned aside to notice
the forrest of vituperation that filed the
columns Of the papers all over the island
To-day The active work of carrying on and
perfecting the new school system is large
ly in the Cubans' own hands.
The system To-day.
There Are now 3,079 schools on the ISL
and, with about 10000 school children en-
rolled; over half a million dollars worth
Of most modern school furniture has been
purchased and sent to the different mu-
inequalities; the pupils of the island are
furnished with books and all necessary
school supplies free of charge; night
schools for adults are about TO be es'ab-
lished, and a plan has been formula ed
for teachers normal school on the island
during the summer months for the benefit
of those who can not join the excursion
to the United States.
Particular stress should be laid upon
the part the natives are taking In the
work. Thus the teachers are Cubans
boards of education are made up of Gu
bans, he alcade, or mayor, in each town
being eX-officio member of the board
and each municipality conducting its own
affairs exclusively This has contributed
to great and pardonable pride on their
TART. and they are doing all within their
power 10 make il a success. Local ambl-
ton in many cases runs high, as instanc-
ed by the alcalde, who went to Gen.
Wood and asked that a system of munich
pal taxation might be established in h
town, which, he said desired to make its
own appropriation for the school fund
and be self-support'ng, instead of be-
ing depe ndent on the island revenues. This
request Gen. We Oh was obliged to refuse
as the time for municipal taxation has
not vet quite arrived, and when il DIES
the system must necessarily be uniform,
but the case deserves to go on record
Mr.. Frye modestly asserts that the sue
cess of the work is almost entirely due
to the spontaneous and universal assist
ance the Cubans have given him nee
they understood the import of the sys-
tenn.
The supply of books, material, etc., free
Ct charge to the pupils is probably the
most remarkable in the word. 1t was
made necessary by the empty treasures
and the impossibility of raising money
sufficient for the purpose by any sys-
TEN of internal revenue until the coun-
try cou d recover somewhat from The de-
vastating effects of the war. The law pro-
vided for compulsory attendance at
school Now, if the children went TO
school they must have books, but the
parents had no money with which TO
buy looks and frequently there were no
h i'm of
phans on the island to-day, according
to the official returns. The time will prob
ably come when such lavish furnishing OF
supplies will no longer be necessary, but
that will not be for year at least.
To the Cubans the arrival of the school
furniture and supplies, maps, bookcases,
globes, blackboards, ETC., especially in the
remote portions of the island, marked q
red letter day. Never before had such
equipments been seen. 'Carramba!" was
the universal exclamation-here were
things meant for use exclusively in
schools, just like the Americans! The
awarding of the contracts for that furni-
ture was a most important detail, and
many days and nights of unceasing in
spection and vigilance were devoted to
it.
Representatives OF both Cuban and
American firms fairly swarmed about Mr..
Frye as soon as it was known that the
furniture was to be bought, for the value
of equipments needed mounted up to more
than $3.50 eco, the order being the largest
of its sort ever placed. This provided
for over 100,0 900 pupils, and it was thought
at the time that 1t would do for the whole
of the present school year, but the in
crease OF enrolment has been so great
that at this writing several thousand
children are unprovided for in any way,
and the prospects are that new awards
must be made by the opening OF the next
term.
Cuban Teachers Are Well Paid.
To most American teachers the salaries
paid TO the teachers of Cuba will proba-
bly, seem high. But IL should be remem-
bered that living is much more expensive
in Cuban than American cities, a fact
which Americans in Havana learned by
sad experience last winter. Also that
formerly the Cuban teacher had his
house free of rent, custom that has been
done away with under the new regime. 1t
was in addition thought desirable to fix
good salaries in order that the best posi-
bic material might be secured. At pres
ent about three-fifths of the more than
5000 teachers are women and two-ffths
are men, no discrimination being made be-
tween the sexes in the matter of pay
when similar services are performed.
The lowest salary paid 10 any teacher
in Havana is $500, and this is % per cent
more than the average of the highest sal
aries paid in fifteen OF the largest cities
of the United States. Seven ether cities
in Cuba receive exactly this average o
highest salaries in these cities Of cur
country, while the lowest salary paid 10