The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-23
SOUTHERN WOMAN ON THE Elk.
POSITION.
She Studied Difference Between Agri-
cultural Exhibits in France and
America.

To the Editor: Paris is under a
cloud. Literally, for we seldom see
the sun and the only way to keep ones
spirits up is to think of the bright
sunshiny days during the Exposition.
What ideal weather it was!
As you are carried through the EX-
position on tram-car and see the
grounds being torn up and the build
ings torn down, a feeling of regret
comes over you at the thought that
it is a thing of the past and our OPP
portunities to see it are gone.
Just now / am thinking of the fete
nights. Above all rises the vision of
the Eiffel Tower, the framework lost
in the darkness but outlined by cleo
trio lights, giving the thought of a
fairy tower.
The Champ de Mars. a fairy land,
with thousands of vari-colored liant
erns in the trees and the lamp-posts
artistically dressed as flowers. The
Chateau d Eau at one end, an ever
changing color scheme, and at the
other end the Trocadero, blaze of
light. The corteges wind through the
masses of people, excited as only
French people can become. The par
ade of the dark-skinned tribes was
amusing with their fantastic dress
and weird musical instruments. The
Chinese dragon, so long that it took
over dozen men to support it,
brought up the rear. The co1vteges of
the vintage fete were not so much of
a success from a practical standpoint
as the majority of them could not be
gotten up the Trocadero hill on ac-
count of baking horses. In this
Bacchus figured most prominently.
Quite a contrast was the Automobile
fete near the close of the Exposition.
1t was pretty to see the gayly decor
ated automobiles go up the hill at
double speed.
/ spent a good deal of time during
the Exposition comparing the Educa-
tional Exhibits of the various coun-
tries. Notwithstanding the excellent
classification there was such an i'm
mense amount of material that the
time was only too short to get an
idea of the whole subject.
The exhibit Of France was naturally
the most complete. but [ noticed espe-
cially the vast difference between the
agricultural exhibits of France and
America. The need for agricultural
schools is greater in the South, for
the people of the South are an agri-
cultural people. What is the cause of
the hundreds, yes, thousands of poor
farmers? Simply ignorance of the
principles of chemistry, geology and
the physiology of plants and animals.
Instruction by means of correspond
ence seems to solve the problem. This
system carried on in connection with
the State University of Agriculture
can be the means of waking up rural
communities, and when a community
is once walked up there is a pros
Dect for good times. The instruction
is given by means of leaflets, and the
farmers report progress and difficult
ties by means of blanks which are
furnished. This plan is to meet eX-
listing conditions but the reason of
course for these conditions is that
there is no attempt to instruct the
children of the rural schools in mat
tiers which will awaken an interest in
country life. 1t is a deplorable fact
that the ambition of country boys is
to go to the city, and as soon as their
eyes are opened to the beauties and
possibilities of country life, then their
ideals will be changed. They must be
taught to study things and not books.
The ordinary child. whether on the
farm or in the town. sees little of
what goes on around him. The won
ders of the trees. insects and flowers
are shadowy visions to him. The diff
ference between the scientist and the
ordinary man is that he is capable of
seeing better than his fellowmen.
Experience testifies that children
absorb facts from nature but not from
books. Their interest never flags so
long as there is something to- look at
and handle.
Many communities could not afford
expe sive apparatus, but that is not
need I so much in the country as in
the city. for the fields and woods are
overlooking with apparatus.
The former World Expositions have
had visible effect upon the progress
in educational lines. and let us hope
that the Exposition of 1900 will sur
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