Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-05-22

VAAOoC AAoVAOOVAOkxAs 4A0 SkAVASASAA
made by President Shelton resulted
In widespread discussion of the con-
dition Of the rural schools. Several
newspapers began an immediate agi-
tation in favor of increasing the
wages of teachers.
5 school Enhiblts.
The educational subcommittee Of
the Iowa commission on the exhibit
of this state at the st. Louis EXPOSE
ton has recommended the appoint
ment of jury to pass upon the ex-
hibits of the schools which will be
offered for display at the exposition,
SO that only the very best will be
shown there. Probably this plan will
be followed. A vigorous effort is now
being put forth to interest the coun-
try schools in the proposed exhibit
SO that they will offer matter for
display. f. J. Sessions, of Cedar
Rapids, is in charge of the active
work Of the subcommittee.
Memorial Day.
A costly pamphlet urging the
schools Of the state to observe Me-
mortal day has been issued by the
state department OF education. It 10
one of the series of books gotten out
to call the attention of the school
authorities to the days that the
schools should observe Washington,
Iincoln, Flag, Arbor, Memorial and
other occasions. These books are IL
Illustrated, contain bits of poetry and
are handsome hand books for such
occasions. The department spares
no expense in these publications.
DECLINES Presidency.
President II. a. Seerley, of the
state normal school at Cedar Falls
was offered the presidency of the
State agricultural college at Ames
last week and declined it on the adj
rice Of his friends, who believe that
he could not be replaced at the insti-
tuition with which he is connected,
while there is much available timber
for the presidency Of the Ames In
stitution. The presidency OF the
Ames college continues in the air,
however, although It is believed that
the agricultural interests which the
institution is supposed to represent
particularly, and which are for Prof.
C. F. Curtiss for the presidency, will
force recognition from the trustees.
Over . Century Old.
Aunt Locky Perry celebrated her
one hundred and first birthday ami
yersary at the home Of A. Simmer at
Waverly the past week. She was born
in Vermont and is believed to be the
Oldest person living In this state, al
though Louise Beaumont, of the
Home for the Aged Of this city, was
100 years old q few weeks ago. Her
first distinct recollection is of q cy-
clone which blew the family into a
snowdrift in 1907. The oldest child of
the fifth generntionis now 10 years Of
age, and Mrs. Perry fully expects to
zee member Of the sixth generation
born before she passes away.
worthy Of Aid.
During the past week steps have
been taken to relieve the distress Of
William McDivitt and his wife, aged
people. formerly Of much promi-
hence in this county and in this sec
ton Of the state, and whose philan-
thropy all but landed them in the
poor house. They had built half q
dozen churches, endowed schools and
contributed toevery charitable move
ment. In their old age Mrs. McDiv-
lit was forced to take in washing,
her husband being too i'll to work,
and the tubs consumed 80 much of
the space in their single room that
1t was impossible to let down the
folding bed during the daytime,
there the husband, sick as he was,
was compelled to sit up during the
days. He is member Of the Octo-
genarian club and Tippecanoe club
of Des Moines, and their members,
having discovered the couples con-
idition, will care for them.
Question % Good Roads.
A. B. Chattins and F. Mcclure, Of
the department Of engineering OF the
State agricultural college, have been
conducting long series Of expert
ments affecting the question Of good
roads in Iowa and the department
will soon bring out q bulletin giving
the result Of their investigation.
They made house TO house canyasses
in three different and widely remote
townships Of the state, securing sta
tistics as to the amounts of vdrious
kinds Of product hauled to market,
the cost of hauling, the time con:
sumed and the amount Of other traf-
fic. For instance, they, discovered
that each farmer, travelled during o
year on an average of more than
1850 miles. All OF the conclusions
and facts will be included in the
Forthcoming bulletin. A large class
Of men are engaged continuously in
the study Of good roads subjects at
the agricultural college.
Medicine Vendors.
The state Of Iowa will this year
receive $4,000 from itinerant ven-
doris of medicine. They are required
to pay a license to the state of 500
q year. The money passes through
The commission of pharmacy, OF
which Fletcher Howard is the head.
The board prints o list of these itin-
Grant medicine men each month and
the authorities require the vendors
to display their licenses when they
try to sell goods IN Q town. Most Of
the peddlsra work f0f biz medicine