The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-11-13
EDITORIAL COMMENT

|
| are hampered by text books more than
| they are helped by them, provided the
| instructor is able to teach without the
use of a text book. This theory Is not
generally accepted. Possibly it prevails
| in Worcester, for the pupils In public
| schools there are now trying labori-
ously to study arithmetic without
text books The city owns all the text
| books that are needed for the public
| schools and therefore refuses to buy
new ones. The school board apparent
| ly feels itself bound by some secret
agreement with the publishers Of a
new arithmetic, not to use any text
book but theirs. AS the city authori-
| ties will not furnish the money for
| buying the new text books the unfor-
| tunate scholars have to study without
any books at all. Mature readers who
remember their trials with arithme-
tic even when aided by good text
books, will send to the school children
of Worcester a deep and passionate
sympathy.-Boston Advertiser.
South Africa is indeed the grave of
J regulations. After his speech of Sat
urday night at the Lord Mayors ban
quet it is impossible to imagine that
| Lord Salisbury has any heart in his
work He did beg of the people of
England to trust the Government, even
| though the Government was ont in a
position to take the country into it's
confidence. 1t has not been the Eng
fish premier's way to take the defen-
sive. But he has to do 1t now. In con-
nection with this unhappy war he has
| now made two exhibitions of himself.
About a year ago he suggested as a
solution of the difficulty of national
defence that all the Englishmen should
set up targets and practise rife shoot
! ing in the back gardens. Now he has
| appeared as vague apologist with no
| reassuring message to the people who
have to pay the piper.-New York
| Evening Sun.
France appears to have made a
quick and effective settlement with the
sultan without spending as much as a
pound of powder. What is more,
France has managed matters with
such moderation and good sense that
the succeptibilities of no other foreign
power have been ruffled, and no pre-
tense has been afforded for invoking
the concert of Europe" For the
prompt result attained credit is due to
the good sense and foresight Of M. Del
casse. The only parties left chagrined
are the sultan and those French Chau-
vinists who wanted to see the naval
demonstration made as annoying as
possible to Great Britain and Ger
many. 1t is pheasant to know that
our Government, when France asked
| its view, said it had no criticism to
make either of French purpose or
methods.-Boston Transcript.
| We notice that all the most extreme
of the Irish irreconcilables are fiercely
criticising Mr.. John Redmond and his
two associates, now visiting this coun-
! try because they are trying to ad-
vance their country's cause by ballots
rather than by bayonets. The criticism
is not well made. Nothing but misfor-
tune has ever come to Ireland from the
shedding Of blood in the effort for in
dependence. Peaceful agitation, on the
| other hand, has done much. has come
very near doing a great deal more;
and holds out the possibility, at least,
| of achieving, at no very distance day,
all that Ireland most needs. Besides,
John Bulls hide is more penetrable by
ballots than by bayonets.-Boston Ad-
vertiser.
| We supposes It is quite useless to ask
| Congress to keep hands off the Schley
controversy Probably a score of mem
bers will arrive in Washington with
typewriter speeches on the subject in
1 luelr DdBSdge. the IUulNSS Ol IHe
court of inquiry are not altogether
| favorable to the rear admiral. there is
sure to be a loud demand in the House
for a committee Of Neutrality-suspicious.
ably a successful demand. We wish it
were otherwise. Quite enough harm to
the navy has been done already
Hartford Courant.-
Journalism must be profitable in the
Argentine Republic. La Presna, pub
lished at Buenos Ayres, has completed
a palace of gray marble which is de-
scribed as the most magnificent news
paper office in the world. And we have
/ been accustomed to regard South
American newspapers as a century be-
hind usi-The American Press.
| General Funston has recovered from
his attack of appendicitous and is
| coming home for a well-earned rest
| The general will, after noting the
fckleness Of popular favor very prob
ably be willing to get on with a mini
mum allowance of ovation.-Washing-
| ton Star.
| Having been a whirlwind of elO-
quence during the campaign Jerome
now promises to be a blazing sword of
! terror at the entrance of the graft