Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-07-03
Correspondence.
"Not for Ourselves Alone"


July /, 1901.
To the Editor Of The American:
The all-absorbing question which has
fallen from many lips during the past
week, upon my ears at least, has not been
"What did you think OF the Fashion
Plate show when in Ellsworth" and it's
place upon the minds of the general pub
lie, by reason of its unique popularity,
was not of trivial Importance, by any
means, but OF vast significance to young
and old, rich and poor. But the question
"What did you think OF graduation
has been reiterated by all classes of
society, over and over again, and surely
the question, with all the attendant
vital issues and the praiseworthy answer
of approval which has already been
given by The editors OF our city papers,
gives largely the public opinion, not only
of the great Importance OF the occasion
but Of the general public's deep apprecia-
tion OF what was simply grand in every
detail, better In what was seen, said and
done by each graduate, and no less by
those who taught and counseled them.
When the call to the pastorate of the
Ellsworth Baptist church came to me
while minister in Quincy, Mass, the
city OF presidents, and OF renowned en-
dowed high schools for boys and
girls preparing for many cailings OF ex-
allied positions in the world, one thing
above all other things made me hesitate
in my acceptance, and that was what
most Bostonians think about Maine, and
our school advantages.
Upon almost every product raised away
down here, excepting butter and cheese,
pine trees and wild deer, they proverbi-
ally impress 1t with the stamp Of infe-
riority. But one has only to put Paul's
exhortation "Prove all things" into prac-
tical experience to know better.
1t has been my privilege to attend many
graduations In other cities in and around
Boston, and In other lands, and must
confess that more orderly, better
equipped and "more to be desired than
gold, yea, than much fire gold" gradual
ting class, / have never attended than the
class OF 1901 of this city.
In Quincy Mass, had the honor of be-
founded by DR.. Woodward for Quincy
born girls. The school being high grade,
prepares for any college and almost any
business sphere in life, and lacks for
nothing in the way of the best teachers
for every grade and almost any subject,
both scientific and classical, and every
modern improvement in school equipment
hat
as much each year to educate fewer
scholars than go into the high school
than it does for the whole educational
system of this city; and yet in spite of
all their splendid advantages, having ev-
erything modern and congenial to the
scholars comfort, taste and culture the
graduates of class Of 1901 of Ellsworth
high made most favorable comparison If
they did not excel in the grand display
which they made.
But what can be said in praise of the
teachers and graduates of the city can't
In any way be said when we begin to
compare our school buildings and the
equipments with other schools in more
modernized cities. We are certainly far
ments and accommodations, which must
greatly impede the progress Of the teach
ing staff in their work.
/ was utterly COMPOUNDED when visit
ing some of the intermediate schools not
even to find a small organ, not to speak
OF the latest grand piano. Such want is
not only something appalling as we enter
upon the Goth century, but is a great loss
to the education of even child who Is
taught more by what it sees and hears
than by what it reads and writes.
Where is the Sunday school to-day
child would care about attending rega-
larly with joy and profit II you had not
some instrument TO brighten up its wallis
as well as the life of the child who has
TO be trained and cultured to enjoy the
music OF heaven hereafter? And where
is the home aud family which can, even
at sacrifice, afford it, that has not got an