Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-02-10
Local Matters.
A SPLENDID LECTURE
Delivered By George C. Purastrn Before the
City Teachers. Friday Afternoon.

G. c. Purington, principal Of the
Pennington State Normal school. de-
livered a splendid lecture on the life
and work of that great edu-
Gator Horace Mann before the
teachers in the William r. Smith
Grammar School building. Friday af-
ternoon. There was a large number
present and the lecture was one of the
most enjoyable things of the year.
Mr. burlington began with a brief
sketch of the life of his subject. Hor
ace Manns career as lawyer was
most worthy, In IA years Of practice
il is said that he won an average Of
four out of five cases. He made ii
point never to defend a cause he knew
was not right. He considered that the
truth was splendid equipment for
a lawyer in n case and that il would
enable one to win over an opponent
of more brilliant parts who was on
the side Of wrong. He was loyal
supporter Of the cause Of temperance
and was instrumental in the hight
against lotteries when they were most
popular.
During his legislative career ne took
an active interest in the insane ana
to his efforts, more than any one else
is due the intelligent solving of TINS
great question. The magnificent Wor-
cester asylum for the insane IS
grander monument to Horace Mann
than the bronze statute IN Boston.
He was radical temperance re
former when it cost something. lie
was on the side of temperance when IL
meant the loss of social prestige to
refuse a social glass. He was in the
fight against lotteries when they Were
universally popular. when chufcht
were built by their aid and Harvard
had conducted one to increase its en-
dowment. Massachusetts, was the frst
state to take measures against the
evil and Horace Mann was the first
to introduce a bill against it in the
state Legislature.
1t is not as a philanthropist. not as
an opponent of slavery, and not as
temperance reformer and lecturer. thar
the life of Horace Mann appeals the
most to teachers. but in his work for
the public schools. While in the Leg
fslature he began the study Of the
question He realized the degeneracy
of the school system. They We're
shamefully neglected and We're not Il
democratic institution for all classes
as they should be. Horace Mann con-
sidered that there should be only two
classes in the country. the educated
and the uneducated. and that the lat |
ter should be steadily decreased. He
thought that the rich and the poor
should be educated together lie dld
not believe that povery should be an
other term for ignorance. He believed
that teaching was one Of the highest
vocatiuns to which one could be called. |
He devised the state board Of edu
cation, At the time his Political pros
poets were very bright. He was the
idol Of the Wings. 1t was his bill tina
made the board a reality and he was
called upon to be its secretary. With
a feeling of the great responsibility |
and a keen realization that he might |
not be equal to it. he accepted. Ac- /
cordinG to the entries III his journal at |
the time the obstacles that he saw in |
his work are much the same that con-
front every teacher at The present
time and the means he took q over
come them can b used to good ad-
vantage now He left all the polite ii
allurements and the bright prospects
to take up the work which he consid
cred his duty For II years he was the
secretary. All this time he worked u
hours day. He never had Il holiday
and scarcely ever took even an even
ing for his own pleasure. His salary
was only $500. Out Of this he paid
his own postage and almost all Of the
extra expense he incurred in his Office.
The opposition that he had To face WAS
great and powerful. There We're an
emies in hiding and in til" open. Private
schools and educational associations
We're bitter against him. Through it
all however. he kept steadily at hi
chosen work. refusing tempting ~
fers. Through his efforts more than
those of any other 10 men MaSSaChu-
sets owes her prestige in school work.
ON the death Of John Quincy Adams
Horace Mann was elected to succeed
him in Congress. When Webster made
his famous and fatal mistake Mann
kept his ideals pura and refused to
defend his fallen leader. Politicians
saw that he must be crushed lie
failed to get a denomination, but took
the stump as an independent candi-
date and secured his election. He af
forwards was nominated for governor
Of his state, but failed Of election.
Antioch College a new and struggling
institution. then called him tn the
presidents chair It was poor and in Il
that woman should have equal edu-
cational advantages with man and that
the college should be non sectarian-
drew him to it and he accepted the
presidency. On the day Of his inaug-
uration 5000 people gathered and tn
limited facilities of the college and the
village We're taxed to the utmost to
provide entertainment for them. Stu
dents Of all degrees of knowledge came
for admission. out of the multitude
examined only eight were found COM
petent to enter the freshman class.
The privations Of the students and
president make tale of noblest hero
ism.
Inc presidents strength was I'M
equal to the mammoth task he had set
be1ore him and on August ,, 1859, he
dled. surrounded by the students, ev- I
cry one of whom would have been
willing to give their own live to save
his.
Horace Mann was a poor bow. He
became distinguished LAWYER cdr
Gator and statesman. To teachers his
"a &c nd