Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-07-23
Commissioner Macfarland Talks to
the Vacation School.
DISTRICT GOVERNMENT DESCRIBED
Little Ones Both Entertained and
Enlightened.
Mr.. RIORDAN'S METHODS

The pupils Of the vacation school, which
is being so successfully conducted by Ray
Riordan and his corps of assistants, ir
the Greenleaf school building on ~ street
southwest. learned in a most simple but
entertaining manner this morning how the
District of Columbia is governed at the
present time, as well as the different meth
DDS which have been employed in it's gov
eminent in the past This information was
impaired by H. B. F Mcfarland, president
of the BOARD of District Commissioners. He
was listened to by room full of the larger
pupils Of the school, and the interest with
which they followed him evinced their in
terest and understanding of his narrative
Before speaking, Mr.. Mcfarland was
shown what the vacation school has done
and is doing. He began his inspection in
the yard of the school, where each little
pupil has his or her garden spot. Along
the entire length of the school lot there
are little plots of ground f1ourshing with
vegetables and flowers, all the result OF
the planting and care of the children. In
the back yard on the girls side there has
been erected a canvas pavilion, where q
party of girl pupils can be seen every af-
ternoon playing games and listening to the
stories of one or more of the teachers, who
are detailed in turns to this work.
building and Equipment.
Entering the building, the first room for
inspection was the kindergarten in the
basement. Although the sun shines in this
most delightful room. it is many degrees
cooler than the outer air, and it's decora-
tions of pictures and flowers, and other
objects of child admiration make it an
ideal bower for the little tots during the
hot summer days. They are amused and
instructed, and they enjoy every minute
Of their stay in the cool basement.
Ranging from five years up to students
In the high schools, the classes are ar
ranged in grades as conveniently as pos
sible The object Of the work, however Is
to get away from the formally and dis
cipline of the regular school and to COM
bine pleasure and recreation. At the same
time lessons of the practical things of life
are given each day in a unique manner.
Telephones have been placed throughout
the building by the larger pupils, and not
one of the 327 pupils which constitute the
average daily attendance but have learn
ed how to properly use these instruments.
Reception to Pupils and Parents.
Three nights a week Mr.. Riordan gives
little informal receptions to his pupils and
heir parents. Sometimes they go up on
he roof. where ices and cakes will be
served. and sometimes the entertainment
will consist of music and recitation in the
ssembly room. Another feature of the
work which is showing good results is the
daily visitation of teachers to the homes
of the children. Each Of the fifteen teach
ers, and they are all young ladies, have
their scholars. Then, there Is the Satur-
day excursions. Last Saturday Rockville
was visited in trolley cars, and next Sat
urday which will be the last excursion,
as the school closes it's six weeks term
on the folio wing Wednesday, the pupils
will be taken to Great Falls in wagons.
Gymnastic apparatus has been set up in
the boys yard, and the development of
in the afternoon shows how enthusiastic
cally 1t is enjoyed. The school is dis
missed each day at noon by songs In
which all the pupils join. They assemble,
to come from their rooms in the rotunda
on the main floor. Here they sing the
songs they have learned without books
or effort, and as they are singing the last
song they move out of the doors for lunch
with the refrain still on their lips.
Mr.. Macfarland's Remarks,
Mr.. Macfarland was introduced to the
school by Mrs. Myers, assistant superin-
tendent of schools. After complimenting
both the school. Mr. Riordan and the
teachers on what he had Just seen. he
said
THE District OF Columbia is different
from every other political division, but it
Is to be classed with the states and terri
tories and not with the Cities 1t used to
have three cities-Washington, GEORGETOWN
and Alexandria-each with its own govern
ment of mayor and council and it now has
one y-Washington-theo only city In the
world which has no government Of it's own.
Inc District also contains q number of
small towns and Villages which have no
governments of their own. For the first
seventy years the District Of Columbia
mad no executive government. 1t had Con-
gress to legislate, and had courts of law.
The cities of Washington, Georgetown and
Alexandria (until the latter went back TO
Virginia with the Virginia side Of the Dis
trlct In 1916 were governed by their mu-
r1cipal officers, and the outlying regions
OF the District were governed by local Of
ncers until 1871: Then the municipal gov
ernments of Washington and George
town and the. local governments Of
the county of Washington were abol-
ished by act Of Congress, giving
the District of Columbia it's first general
the territories. with governor, legisla-
ture and delegate in Congress This was
followed In 1874 by temporary govern
ment, composed Of three commissioners.
form of government. The three Commits
s1oners who are at the head of this gov
eminent, are the successors Of the COVER.
nors Of the District of Columbia, rather
lHdn VI tue mayors OF washington, George
town and Alexandria.
Given It's Proper Place,
1T Is interesting to recall that, in the
celebration Of the centennial anniversary
Of the District Of Columbia, on the 18th
of last December, it was given by the ma
tional government in all the official func
lions Its proper place in precedence after
the states and before the territories. It is
interesting also to remember that. while
the District Of Columbia, with its seventy
one square miles Of land and water. ia
smaller than any of the states or terrific
ries, 1t has larger population than six
Of the states and than any Of the terrific
ries. According to the last census it con-
teins more people than either Delaware.
Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah or Wyo-
ming, each of which Is now a sovereign
state, with two representatives in the
United States Senate and a representative
In the House Of Representatives. Besides.
the District has honor not possessed by
any OF the states or territories in being
the national capital. There is every reason
why the residents Of the District should be-
as proud of 1t as II it were state or ter
ritory They ought to see that 1t is treated
with the same respect as states and that
1t Is not classed with cities This Ia ono