Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-14

policy. and unless citizens can read and
write II is hardly possible to have his
necessary result secured.
New Orleans school Holiday. g
"All that ! ask in return is that the lit
tie children of New Orleans may come oncs
a year and strew my grave with flowers"
This closing clause OF the will of John
McDonogh in which he bequeathed thou
sands Of dollars for public education in
New Orleans, witnessed again its living
testimony recently, not, indeed in the ex-
act way that the great philanthropist spec
flied, relates the New Orleans Picayune,
but in a far more beautiful and touching
one, In the decoration Of the splendid monu-
ment that the children Of New Orleana
erected to the memor of their benefactor.
One day has been set aside as Founders
day in the public schools, and Founders
day means John McDonogh's day, for ia
him more than all others are the public
school children of New Orleans indebted
for the magnificent opportunities that they
enjoy. The handsome monument which
stands in Lafayette square was the Mecca
for hundreds Of them during the early
hours. Their visit was like that which
~ ~ iNAA W 80 bAAN VI WV
OF an idolized hero. They came from all
parts of the city. white and black, in the
street cars, on foot and in hired vehicles.
bringing their offerings OF flowers to lay
upon the monument, which all the year
around is aglow with blooming plants. Each
school sent its delegation, and each child
who came was burdened with flowers. Roses,
peoples. sweet peas, carnations, larkspurs.
lilies. buttercups, oleanders, all the sweetest
blossoms of the season laid down their lives
at the base OF McDonogh's statue, a
beautiful and fragrant offering from the
children he had loved to the memory Of
the man who bequeathed his fortune to
unborn generations.
1t isn't often the fate of a benefactor to
be loved and honored by those whom he
has served, but McDonogh has been one
Of these rare exceptions. Every child who
has eaten OF the bread OF knowledge pro-
vided by McDonogh has been one OF these
taught to love the hand that fed him. His
pictures and his busts stand in every school
In the city. The story of his life and his
rules of conduct accompany the study OF
the alphabet, and every year an entire
school day is sacrificed that his name may
be additionally honored. Joyous exercises,
songs, Rotations, compositions upon Nc
Donogh go hand in hand with the decora-
ton Of his bust in each public school,
while the public remon in Lafayette
square unites them all.
AS is usual on this day the flowers on
the monument had been woven into hand
some designs. The entire mound was
buried beneath the quantity OF loose flowers
which were brought and the wreaths, bas-
kets. a harp AN anchor and a pillow were
arranged Hastily on or about the figures
themselves.
A committee OF teachers from the schools
and young boys from the Boys High school
received the flowers as they were brought
and helped to place them artistically. When
the decoration was complete the three
figures on the monument, the bust OF Nc
Donogh himself. and the models OF the two
children. Edward Bienvienu and Lucie Tou-
jan. were entirely concealed by the wreaths
Of gorgeous flowers. There was a Ittle
ceremony at the monument when the pupils
OF the Franklin school came with their Of
ferings. 430 strong. They carried their ban
ner with them and as they deposited the
flowers on the mound they sang as they
marched the ode to McDonogh as well as
Nearer. My God, TO Thee" and the Battle
Hymn Of the Republic"
Educational Notes.
The efforts being made in Japan to raise
the educational standards, particularly
htnOnB women. are Regarded Dy General
Stewart l.. Woodford, recently returned
from that country, as the most hopeful
sign of progress.
Thanks 10 the gift OF $1,000 recently made
by Dean Sage to Cornell university Stimson
hall, which has been In course OF erection
for two years, will soon be completed. The
100000 mark has almost been reached by
the Sage donations to Cornell.
DIR. Sarah s. Whittlesey, who has been
appointed instructor In economics at
Wellesley. recently took her Doctors degree
at Yale. Her thesis on the labor legislation
tion of Massachusetts is a valuable con-
tribution to the literature on the subject.
DIR. D. M. Wolf, one OF the most distin-
guished and successful teachers in centra1
Pennsylvania, rounded out his hftieth year
recently. and the golden anniversary was
appropriately celebrated by many OF his
former pupils at Spring Mills, Centre
county. He has taught since he was II
years OF age.
Prof. Melville NJ. BigeIow OF the UnIver-
sity of Michigan, who has just been APP
pointed dean OF the Boston University Law
school, was born at Eaton Rapids, Mich.
ia 1876. He was graduated at the Univer-
sity OF Michigan In 1856, and received the
degree OF doctor of philosophy in Harvard
University In 1879. He has been for several
years past a regular nonresident lecturer
IT. the law school OF the University OF
Michigan. Some OF his works are used an
text books In the English universities