Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-06-09
dents. As patrons they paid for the

philosopher Epictetus are well known
examples
The Romans gave MS law but they
could not give the world liberty. The
time for the little rad school house
was not yet.
With the Jews the tide of progress
rose almost to its food. A peculiar
development was theirs Apparent.
y they needed little the training of
body and mind. or even that part of
MS represented by the word" Soul q"
But the Israelitish development was
greater than either Of these. since it
was purely spiritual
The Mosaic law vas decided ad-
vance upon the morals of the age.
Then might made right and the
strongest won. Human life was
counted worth little more than tho in
scot Robbery and plunder we're
practiced openly. the spoils belonging
to him who could take them JUS
ticc the Greeks pictured 7s ooauti-
ful woman. pair of scales in her
bands and thick bandase over her
eyes. See they said"Justice is blind. /"
Was it any wonder then that the
commands: Thou shalt not kin
Thou shalt not steal" sounded
strangely on the ears of those who
heard them for the first time?
In the Pentateuch those wonderful
books, where the law Is laid down so
minutely for the guidance of the
chosen people the underlying princi-
ple is Justice demanding IAN eve for
eye 4 tooth for a tooth" Respect for
the rights of others must be indicated
before the love that means sacrifice.
BEFORE mercy comes Justice.
But far more important contribu-
ton to the cause of education came
20 tho world through the Jewish peo-
ple-Christ. the greatest teacher
earth has over known. Christ the apos-
lie Of humanity. the lover Of little
children. the friend of the weak and
oppressed with him the reign of
worcv began. How manv times shall
7 FORGIVE my brother? until seven
tiwes? Jesus answered and said m
10 him. 81 saw unto thee. until seven
~ times seven"
Learned dtvinos have written and
snoker much concerning Christ's mis-
sion on earth To one person at least
This ls very plain. that II he died mob
iv he lived even more nobly. All
his life was self sacrifice. Every
word and action breathed love to
his fellow man While he taught
love TO God. he emphasized strongly
love 10 our neighbor
rn1av tho vngft;Dp 81 ,,o,,,,, A.
'rtorest IN the educntion % the vonng.
the relief of the unfortunate. the care
Of the sick and afflicted NAV be trac-
Cd not to the death of the man who
Sufferod or Calvary hut to the influ.
e1ce Of his life and teachings Low.
ink YOUR neighhor means ielpin" hlu
he tausht-it was there the little red
school house began.
/ Looking at the subsequent history
time the influence of Christ's teach.
ings was lost. earning in the Dark
Ares seemed to he dead. and gloomy
indeed was the outlook
In Europe not only were the com
mon people illiterate, hut manv a
noble could neither read nor write
his name. What little learning there
was the monks kept alive in their
monasteries.
Even in tho laws of Qeea Elizabeth
the per cent of illiteracv was teplor
able. Edncation was still for the
few But better times were coming
With The landing of the Pilgrims
and the permanent settlement OF
America the cause of education came
/ again to the front Among the first
deeds of the early settlers was the
est ablshment If free schools. Afte:
three thousand wears of preparation
the little red school house had come
nj last.
Its appearance was not yet all It
might he The little Priscillas and
Williams of Puritan days. went tc
school in a far different building from
those where Mary and Johnnie attend
nov. At that time. the school house
was built of rough hewn logs. Its
chnks were daubed with clav and It's
roof matched with long grass. In
stead OF glass, the windows We're fit
ted with oiled paper Rough benches
anu II Iutt ifbl' iUu Nltll lbl Nh'
teacher stood upon the earthen floor
There were no clocks or watches
The children came to school one after
another. taking their places near the
master and reading and writing in
turn.
Thus we come to later day. 1t is
doubtless within the memory of some
persons in this audience when it was
customary for the teacher to board
rouad. among the neighbors. They
may perhaps also remember the time
when the teacher MADE the pens fol
the school from goose quills. The
bov is still living. VINO was accustom
cd In his school days to make his own
slate pencils.
The log school house Of Franklin's
day hal not changed greatly when
Abraham Lincoln went to sch =, But
with 'he progress OF the country the
schools kept pace and marvel
osu has been the improve
ment within the last 80 years
The little red rooted school house is
now a familiar figure of the land
scape As pupil or teacher you and
| | have learned to love 1t.
Dear little red school house peep