The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-12
SCHOOL DAYS o. YOUTH
PROF. SMITH GROWS REMINISCENT
VISITING THE SCENE OF.
EARLY WORK
SPRINGFIELD IN 1858 AND NOW
Illinois Legislature Verifes Tncitus'
Declaration That when n Ma
ton Becomes Corrupt It's
Laws Multiply.
Special Correspondence to the Globe.


Special Correspondence to the Globe.
SPRINGFIELD, III, May 1O.-IIere in
the heart of the best farming region in
America one is irrestibly drawn to the
consideration of agricultural matters, and
he is much inclined to magnify the i'm
portance of farm life and farm products
For two years the farmers have been
exceedingly prosperous, and with Phil
lips, the corn king, in control OF the
visible supply they heartily congraru-
late each other, and have abandoned
fault-fnding altogether. The abundant
rains of the past few days have i'm
proved prospects, so that there is now
an unprecedented promise of abundance.
Especially is this true of all kinds OF
fruit 1t is small wonder, therefore,
that most men hereabout are inclined to
invest in real estate rather than In rail
road bonds and stocks, although Northern
Pacific at noon todaSeis reported at $1,000
q share. I remember an old proverb.
''Who so hath land, hath contention"
but having been brought to- fun realiz-
alton of the fact that a man may nave
contention and yet have no land, I have
concluded to add land to my sources of
VeXation and take the consequences. !
am therefore, much pleased with the
outlook, and resting upon the assumption
that the real sources of support and Of
wealth to the nation lie in the soil and
Its cultivation I take pardonable PRIDE
I'm noting the advance in prices of all
things belonging TO the farm.
SCHOOL HISTORY.
However, as I have said, although
may seek to turn my thoughts into other
channels, / can not long divert them from
educational interests in the city, whittier
J came a mere boy in the year 1865. The
war was over, but much of the fever and
prejudice and animosities that it engen-
dered were still here. The soldiers,
many of whom had been mustered out at
This point, were gradually Withdrawing
from the cities and going back to the
country home, but it was long time be-
fore the people could Gease looking back
ward could give up expectations of
great profits from war contracts; could
turn towards the future, and plan for
real prosperity.
in consequence # this fat tie ely
went backward fol a number of ars
Every department was unsuficiently pro-
vided for and the schools suffered I'M
usual hardships. The change came alb u
Slowly but surrey and today but fe v
cities of the size of Spring cid Cal
boast OF better scho-l Gacili i s. The
buildings have been handsomely i'm
proved, and the now fiyh scho-l build
ms 10 Il iIleA Il4lN civ u ilui w III
pacity for fully three times the number
now enrolled In 1861 a very fine building
was erected for high school purpose;
but it has been recently sold, AMI as I
passed the place a day or two ago l
found many workmon tearing H. down
had worked in the building for some
years, and it had sheltered many boys
and girls now scattered Throughout
various portions of the Union Some
years ago at one of the reunions held in
the building, ! heard read a hi tory Of
all the graduates, nemlv loo in number.
and it was particularly gra IFS ing To
learn that every living gradua wa II
some honorable position in life. Not on
had gone wholly astray | accepted the
statement then as an argument (and a
very strong one at that in favor of at
least q high school education 50 long as
our high school graduates prove useful
members of society. So long as they con-
tribute to the general i'm proven ent in
ethics in morals; so lorg will the schools
need no argument in favor of their OK
istcnce; FOR Il beautiful IL s more row
erful than the strongest argument.
There have been many chang IS in igh
school methods during these years AMI
the equipment has been vostly enlarged
and 1t is claimed that teachers are muc
better. but conced,ng all this, unless the
pupil, while IN the schco, loom, has Gu
hvatCd within him sense OF things above
and beyond those Of Immediate concern,
he cannot conceive success. Success II
school must be measur and tested b.
the nature Of the character formed thera,
and no high school can cer;a My defenl
itself against cersu c founded upon tn
proven fact that the Pupils arr not
properly fitted for the du s they are
called upon to dscha &c in afterlife.
The years have wrought many changes
and removals. Many of my pupils; manv
of my associates, those who assisted in
carrying the heavy burdens of past years
are gone 1t was not claimed for all
who died in those days that they 800
martyrs TO the cause" or that they were
worried into their graves by an unfo .ng.
unthinking public, and yet those days
were far more stormy, far more trouble
some than modern ones. l worked side
by side with brave-men and women, now
no more on land or sea- Inseparahly con-
nected with thoughts of them, are
memories of unseldshness, of courage.
of personal friendship, when those .hin2s
counted for much, 1t is impossible that
my thoughts should not lead at last to
the grave, silent receptacle of death.
tranquil depth of calm, out Of reach
of tempest and trouble, and to the gal
liant hearts beating a few years since.
and now in a little dust quiescent.
In those early days principles counted
LOT HlICn, more imam nelilOuS, ana the
best character was always the highest
qualification. Children were taught that
the world sells dearly what we think it
gives, and that those things not honestly
earned by the expenditure OF faithful
effort founded upon an earnest purpose
were likely to prove valueless. But Uf
these "reminiscences enough.
THE LEGISLATURE.
The closing days of the Illinois leg sla-
ture were characterized by a great deal
Of pernicous activity. Hundreds Of
years Tacitus wrote, when a nation
becomes corrupt its laws multiply" This
saying is wonderfully verified in Illinois
today. Only the tax payers will be deep
ly interested in the work of the session
and they win find their interest centered
In growing tax rate. which in this city
last year was I 69-10O per cent of the
assessed valuation. The only laws that
will be strictly enforced without any ex-
ception, so far as the rural districts are
concerned, win be the tax laws In
deed, aside from these we seem no lon