The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1903-03-19
A SYMPHONY IN @ FLAT.

The city report should have a front
seat in the story class in literature in
the public library, and the Tabard
Inn ought to have copies bound in its
distinctive style for the shelves soon
to be set up in this city. 1t is an ex-
tremely captivating tale of peoples
adventures by storm and flood, in sun
shine and shadow, in the arduous
tasks of municipal administration and
the gentle art of equipping the rising
generations "tu act we'll their part on
the world IS broad field of battle"
The opening chapters are somewhat
heavy with their serried columns of
figures and matter of fact details on
such very matter of fact subjects as
liquor agency, the gospel fund, the
police, the poor and the cemetery.
But these are only a prelude, rather
long drawn out, to the symphony
which begins with "The eighth an
nual report of the board of school
commissioners and superintendent of
schools'-a title somewhat severely
descriptive. Whereas the prelude was
somewhat prosy and, indeed, quite
pessimistic in spots, here all is hope,
buoyancy, sweet optimism. A low
minor note was touched in the story
of the coal famine and its possibil-
tiles, but the comm issioners recovered
their spirits instantly and sang of the
merits of the corps Of instructors of
progress made and progress to come.
The superintendent takes up the
strain, bows low to the commissioners
for their continued courtesy, SYM
pathy, and support" pledging his
"best service in the cause of our pub.
lie schools. - The chorus is large but
on the stage inconspicuous, and there
are only two solo numbers. Music is
more musical than the multiplica-
ton table, and the kindergarten is
somewhat more spectacular than the
departments devoted to the three RS
Still Why not allow the very useful,
if not highly ornamental, artists of the
rudiments to tell at length how grow
the arts of reading, 'riting and 'rith-
metic' in the public SCHOOL, While
the "kinder' are taken forth to see
how candy and clothes pins are made,
why not marshal their seniors to hay.
market square to measure loads of
wood and explain to them the differ
ence between a theoretical cord and
the cord of trade? Or to the counting
room, or the places of the money
changers to try their hand and learn
ing at making out invoices or COM
putting interest and discount
But this is a diversion. The COM
missioners are satisfied with the
schools, their work and progress; the
superintendent is pleased with the
commissioners, and the work he is do
ing, and the instructors-so far as they
report personally in print-are pleased
with themselves. So there is har-
mony in the reports, a status of gen
tention to details and incidents.
In the early years of his career dur.
ing the siege of city of France
which denied allegiance to the first
consul, an officer of artillery, spy
glass in hand, was observing the
effects of his fire from a secure place
behind his ratification Observing
the cringing officer, Napoleon COM
manded him to 90 outside, and i'll the
open field learn the effect of his fire
and how to direct his gunners. Com
plying, a cannon shot instantly took
off the officers head. 1t was unfor-
tunate for the artilleryman, but he
obeyed a precept which Napoleon
himself, and every great captain down
to Grant and Farrag gut, Dewey and
Clark, have practiced.
Every principal of school, college
president or professor, ought to get
outside clustered halls and take a
three years course in the university
of the world, under it's rafting fire,
before he should be deemed qualified
for the instruction of youth He
might have his college or university
head removed in his first experience
with the great practical world, but he
would get new head-if he were
built of the right materal-that might
be worth something to himself and
the rising generations coming under
his instructions, The average pupil
in high school, academy or college
gets his education, the real thing, after
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