The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1902-06-20

MnItn VIII ~ hliNhAfN ~ Wv
women's Christian Temperance Union
this summer amongst the principals
and teachers and the parents - th'
scholars in the hope that such an in
stitution may be started when th'
schools resume sessions next fan Th'
work win be taken up In onneciior
with the Unions nghtl against cigar
cites aud liquor. believing that the sav-
ing of money will produce habits of
economy amongst the boys and be an
enectual bar against "A desire 10 pur-
chase cigarettes or tobacco put up in
any form.
At the regular monthly meeting ~
the w. c. 7. T., which was held yes
torday afternoon In the Central Union
church parlor the matter was pre-
sented 10 the members by Mrs. J. NJ.
Whitncy, president OF the Union. and
after reading an account OF the uses
and aims OF the institution, the Union
voted to have the matter brought 10
the attention OF the school teachers
while the summer school is I'm session.
/ The first business OF the meeting was
a discussion of the anti-cigarette move
ment. Mrs. Rietow. superintendent of
this department, reported that the
pledges had been generally distributed
amongst boys and that a japanese gem
tleman was circulating them extensive
ly amongst his own people. In order to
present the question fairly and intel
| ligently to the Hawaiians. Mrs. Rietow
thought that literature In their Ian
guage should be printed and circu-
, lated.
Mrs. J. NJ. Whitney told OF the Saw
ings Bank project as follows:
When this society in the United
States was first organized as the out
come OF the Woman's Temperance
Crusade, the general plan, naturally.
was TO do only Temperance work upon
| Christian lines. But IL did not take us
long 10 learn that no reform can stand
| by itself. The forces of evil are so
linked that 1t IL impossible to secure
the overthrow Of one alone while soon
/ If that could be. it's neighbors would
I crowd In and more than fiji the brok-
en- ranks. So as the years passed, one
! department OF our work after another
was added until forty or more are list
ed upon the catalogue. each with a
national superintendent. often with a
corps Of assistants and state and local
superintendents everywhere.
| After a time the work multiplied so
upon our hands that there came to be
much complaint and criticism that we
wer" undertaking too much. that no or
ganiZation could carry on so many de-
partments and that we ought to return
TO our original simplicity and devote
all OF our energies to the one direct ef-
fort to put down the drink traffic At
this crisis. Miss willard with her
usual courage. said: I'VE will not, we
cannot withdraw from any work We
have undertaken" and she wrote n
small book called do Everything" in
which she urged the women to take
up without fear any line of work which
can lead directly back TO the reforma-
tion Of men and women and promote
purity and temperance and thrift.
Thus il came about that among many
seemingly less important schemes, that
of School Savings Banks has risen. The
thought Ia that in our contention with
evil, We are dealing largely with the
lowest Of vice from youthful seed
sowing The cigarette habit in
children, self-indulgence and lack of
economy, are almost sure to bring the
Notaries sooner or later to poverty or
crime. II We can impress upon the
children in school ideas of thrift and
economy, induce them to save their
pennies and nickels. have regular
system by which weekly they may de-
post whatever sum they may earn or
save, which will soon be drawing a
small interest, IL can be readily seen
that long step toward prosperity has
been taken and great source of
temptation removed.
II is remarkable how many leading
educators have not only endorsed the
plan. but are recommending and pro-
noting the system of school savings
banks in the schools under their care.
France mas this system in all her pub
lie schools, and the nation acknowl-
edges its rich benefits. About 500 pub
lie schools in the United States are re-
ported as employing 1t. and our COM
missioner Of public education. DR.. w.
J L. Harris Of Washington, has been aid
ing the work for six years by printing
the records of the scholars savings in
his official reports. We have statistics
for some twelve years OF 500 public
schools of the United States in which
5000 school children have today over
100000 on deposit The system was
taken up in Los Angeles in 1900 and up
Ia Jan. !, 1902, $50 scholars in the 81
schools had deposited s39, 1894 90 or over
W each on an average. The scholars
of Grass Valley. Cal, had deposited Si0o
in three months.
The superintendent of this depart
ment for the National women's Chris.
uan Temperance Union, Mrs. Oberholt
annual report:
"A number of the superintendent
and principals of the public schools
aave written me that cigarette smok.
ing III their schools has decreased Il
per cent since the children have beer
given this opportunity to save theil
pennies"
Others say: our boys and girls ar,
in better condition because they us,
I less cheap candy. chewing gum an,
cigarettes. and they can study better
IL would he Il boon indeed TO our va
= Iious nstionalities here II our educa
= tors ssuid be induced TO look with fsv
d, or upon some such scheme for ou
u schools, IN which this w. &. T. l.. woulC
!. be most happy to assist. n
Il She stated that the usual way wa
:, TO get the parents interested, as thei
y support was necessary to the success
Of the movement. 4 savings bank /
the city would be selected as the dc
y pository, the teacher of each class bs