River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-06-05

HlCllouS or great business corpora
ton, Mr. Lusk showed the weak
ness of "the spoils system" and
"rotation in office" and the benefit
accruing to the public by carrying
business methods into the Civil
Service. Miss Florence Mcdonald
followed with pleasing sketch of
the work of the Hoosier dialect poet,
James Whitcomb Riley, showing
how faithfully his stanzas depict the
child-life of to-day.
Agriculture in the Schools, topic
of live interest at the present time,
was presented by Mr.. Perry Forsyth,
who argued that the rural schools
are not doing all that they should
do for the farmers boy and girl, and
that they should present course
that would give the boy help towards
being farmer and the girl help
towards caring for the house.
Miss Ada TAFT interested and pleased
the audience by sketching the story
Of the settlement and growth of
River Falls. The next number was
a solo, by Mr.. Snodgrass, sung in
his usual pleasing manner.
Mr.. J D. Linehan reviewed the
character and aims of Cecil John
Rhodes, showing him to be man
Of great intellect and broad views,
but in many things behind the spirit
of his age. The reasons for calling
Whittier "Our Most National Poet"
were we'll set forth by Miss Esther
Martin, who described him as Sec
tional, yet broader than section,
portraying we'll the life of the entire
nation.
In "Grave Crises in American
History" Mr.. Albert enson touched
upon some of the important points
in the history ofthis country, describ-
ing especially the disputed election
of 1876 and its settlement, showing
how this country then set to
the world an example of arbi-
tration of great disputes.
Miss Frances Crippen gave a
clear and we'll written review of the
character and work of the great
Russian writer and philanthropist,
"Count Leo Tolstoi," showing him
in his true character as lover and
benefactor Of the human race.
Mr.. Snodgrass and Mrs. Almy
sang duet in a way that pleased
the entire audience.
Mr.. Geo. B. Skogmo, with pro-
phetic, vision traced the history of
the members of the class for the next
IS years, showing in a humorous
but happy manner the success which
is to attend their efforts.
"Manual Training" in the schools,
by Miss Louise Mayer, was one of
the interesting numbers of the eve
ming. Miss Mayer showed the aim
and character of the work of Man
ual Training, its effects on the boys
and girls in the schools, argued that
the schools are not now doing all they
should for their pupils and made
plea for the early introduction of
Manual Training into the city school,.
Martin Cornelius showed the
"Value of School Training" and,
as first honor pupil, gave the
valedictories Of the class. F. M.
White, of the school board, in few
we'll chosen words presented the
class with their diplomas, then told
the audience a secret, told him by
the high school inspectors, amely,
that our high school is one of the
very best in the state, due to the
loyal support of the people and to
the very efficient work Of the princi-
pal, and his able corps of teachers.
Principal Ames then gave short
talk to the audience, supplementing
the paper of Miss Mayer on "Manual
Training" with some statistics as to
the cost of installing course, and
telling the people that it would be
for them to decide very soon whether
this school should have a Manual
Training course or not.
The program was closed by
chorus by the high school. This
chorus singing is new feature in
the school, brought out by the work
of Mr.. Snodgrass and is something
of which the school, is justly proud,
and on this occasion the school
maintained the high record it had
made for itself earlier in the year.
Our public school certainly occu-
pies warm place in the hearts of
the people. 1t is doing a good work