Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-31

one of that sort does get down here occa-
sionally, and many saw the profits to be
made In raising this great meat producer.
1t was really quite amusing to read the
colonels information that no money came
in from the outside, and that the industry
collapsed. He has evidently been living in
Pete's Gulch. Yellvile, or some other God
forsaken patch of country, not to have
known that Kansas City, Denver, ST. Louis,
Chicago, Indianapolis, Boston, Cincinnati,
even Philadelphia, have invested hundreds
of thousands of dollars in Belgian hares,
and that they depend on the Pacific coast
to supply them with breeders Following
are some extracts from letter just receive
cd from California, giving some correct
facts on the collapsed" industry:
THE value of the animal as meat sup
ply is becoming recognized. and Belgian
hare in some form or other is now feat
ure of every restaurant bill of fare in the
city,. AS the hares are supposed to be
oVerrunning the country, the following will
be interesting: 1.-THE supply is becoming
scarcer, and the result Is that restaurant
men are out tnqutring for meat stock to
supply the demand created here in the last
few months In consequence Of the con-
sumner seeking the producer prices are adj
vancng, and a ready market is assured for
all the home production"
Mr.. Egan likens the Belgian hare fad to
the tulip craze In Holland, which he IN
formed us died out quite suddenly. Tulip
bulbs are still bringing enormous prices in
that country. At the fioral exhibition, held
at Philadelphia last fall, a number Of
chrysanthemums changed hands at from
$500 to 50 900 each. Orchids are bringing
prices up in the hundreds, with a steady
demand
AS in every other line of fine stock breed
ing, there are two classes of Belgian hare
enthusiasts: Those that are rearing for
meat pure and simple, and those breeding
for points. Fine breeders will continue to
sell at thoroughbred prices, Just as fine
dogs, horses or cattle, while the meat AMI
mails will become the source of the finest,
cleaneSt, most wholesome and cheapest
meat to be produced.
Trusting this will serve to give the read
ers of The Star correct conception of the
Belgian hare industry, l am.
21S st. NV. j. HOWARD PAYNE.
The Normal School Rule Criticised.
To the Editor Of The Evening Star!
AS your paper has been the medium for
the rightins Of many wrongs, it would
please very many parents who have strug-
gled hard, often depriving themselves OF
needed things that their children might be
properly equipped educationally to earn
their living. II you would agitate the ques-
ton and find out why because child hap
pens to have the brains to be able 10 conf
piete the High School course of study -four
years. before arriving at eighteen years, 1t
should not be allowed to go to the Normal
School The new school board has adopted
a rule whereby child shall not be allowed
to take the Normal School examination UNI
less he or she Is eighteen years or age at
the time the examination is held In juno.
Another rule is that no person shall teach
in the public schools of Washington unless
eighteen years of age. Another rule, grad
yates Of other approved normal schools
shall be eligible for teachers certificates
In the schools Of Washington. Note the In
consistency. No girl In washington can
teach unless a graduate Of the Normal
School, and she cannot enter the Normal
eighteen years, she will be twenty years OF
age when she graduates therefrom, the
course being two years. Graduates of other
normal schools can come here at eighteen
sion of the children of taxpayers and citi-
zens In no other city of the Union Will
such a harsh and foolish rule be found to
exist. Why should the age have anything
TO do with 1t IL the child has the brains
to complete the course? If this rule stands
It will result in systematic lying by parents
whose children are extra smart In order
that their children shall not be shut out
of the Normal School. l know personally
of five children who will be under seven.
teen years Of age when they graduate from
the High School. 1t Is safe to say that
unless this rule Is modified the parents OF
these children will make their ages fit the
new rule. they being the sole judges OF
their children's ages. Any child smart
enough to finish the eight grades and q
four-year course in the High School at
sixteen years and six months the age re.
CURED in most cities for admission to the
Normal SCHOOL, is surely of the kind Of
brainy timber needed in our schools TO
teach, and should not be denied the right
to attend the Normal School in order to
finish their education, so that II too young
to teach here they could go elsewhere and
earn their living. AS matters stand now
graduates from other normal schools have
the best chance of securing schools, a.
they can teach here at eighteen years,
while our own graduates have to be twenty
years. which would seem to indicate that
the graduate from elsewhere at eighteen
years Is as competent as our own at twenty
years