The sun., 1901-03-20
CURE FOR PEssIMIsM.

ailfying to people who are Interested
in the future Of this city and State. We
say this with the idea that the public
schools are the nurseries Of the States.
II is here that the minds and hearts Of
the boys and girls Of the next generation
Of men and women are being developed
and cultivated. Ii is here that habits
Of obedience TO law, Of respect for the
rights Of others. and also the defense
of their own rights are being Developed |
and fixed as the abiding characteristics
Of the coming citizen and ruler. To |
know how this is being done and To jndge |
both Of the means and the measure Of |
success likely 10 attend the effort. ap-
pears to US to be question: matter
Of wonderful import and interest. Pos
sibly that will not be denied But what
appears TO be more wonderful still, the
apparent carelessness Of the people
about this Interesting matter, is en-
phasized by the general acquiesence III
the asserted Importance Of the work il
hand and by lack of any manifest il.
terest in it.
The beginning of the school week is
an occasion Of reunion between the var
ious pupils and their teachers, and is
characterized by program Of exercises
more elaborate than those 0f tho opening
Of the daily sessions 1t begins with the
assembling Of the pupils in the various
rooms, followed By a march TO the front
corridors Of the building, where the files
OF boys and girls meet and Join for the
: ssaaasis tiie sssenUIy r0Ofn. mat or
itself is an inspiring thing to witness-the
march Of 700 pupils through the wide
halls and corridors Of the beautiful new
building, TO the sound Of music coming
from the assembly room, is not only a
pleasing thing to witness, but is sug-
gestive of admirable qualities in the
coming citizenship, and characteristics
~ the government of the near future
that npscts the pessemigtic theories about
the failure Of the Republic and the COM
ing VI an empire upon its ruins. These
boys and girls do not appear TO be the
kind 0f material out Of which subjects to
kings and emperors are made. They are
not being trained in that way, or for that
purpose. The march ends in the spa
cious and beautiful auditorium. Seven
hundred Of as bright and interesting
boys and girls as could be brought 10.
gethcr anywhere il the world met il
the High School auditoriu.I on Monday
morning to salute the fiag-"Old Glory
and sing the Star Spangled Banner"
70 listen 10 the reading Of one Of this
poems Of the Bible, to repeat the Lords
prayer in unison, and to listen to tht
defamation of selections from philDsD
All this was done with the apparent
whole hearted sincerity Of youth. II
the salute to the flag, which was dis
played On the front Of the stage, sever
hundred hands were raised and sever
hundred voices repeated in unison th'
pledge 0f loyalty and defense. Was tina
~ unmeaning incident in mere schoo
I history These seven hundred voice.
sang the national anthem with splendit
effect. Was that an uninportant Incl
n"nt Of merely school history We re
member time in the history Of thi
country when such thing wou.u have
called great crowd TO witness IT, am
when the pledge to the flag, and tn,
singing Of the song would have callet
forth a great shout Of applause.
ought 10 be 50 now.
There are hundreds Of men and wOmci
IN this city to whom these Monda!
morning exercises at the High SchOo
would be rcstful inspiration. Mel
and women to whom the cares Of lif,
aud business are burdGns0me, becaus,
Of their monotOny; there are public ofii
cals 10 whom they would be an IN
spiratiOn Of hope aud courage for th,
discharge Of duty, and there are man,
hundreds of citizens 10 whom these cXcl
cises would he revelation OF highc
idcalty in patriotism and citizenship
And yet, they occur stately, are takel
, part in by representatives Of, probably
: 800 families Of the city, exciting no com
ment and attracting no notice except tn
merest news note record Of the fact tha
the sessions Of the school have been re
slImed with the usual exercises.
For an inspiration in patriotism, am
for the cure of pcssimistic fears Of tn
future, for the State and nation, 90 I
the High School to witness and tax
:, part in the Monday morning splendid eS
! erciscs.