Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1904-06-28

will not be honored above their des
erts by the attentions shO"ered upon
them. for. in broad sense. they have
made the Union what it i. say the
GlObeDemocrat. We speak ot tiit' IA.
theirs who wrote and established tn
constitution of the heroes who died ON
revolutionary fields that tn" men ot
he nation might be free. of the states
men who fought over again in the 70.
rum the battles of the field; but, after
all. the credit OF establishing the ma.
tion il due not more to these than 10
the men who welded the rod. each III
his little rcalm supreme, and tan.nt
the young ideas how to shoot in true
American fashion.
Time was when the little red
schoohonsc" vas the sole reliance ot
the nation for the education Of its peo-
people: its successor the grand palace
OF education of which every city pos
scSses dozens and solue own hundreds,
is still near to being so. Millions at
tend the district schools. only a few
favored thousands were able to apply
al academic halls for the higher edu-
cation which is the portion of the rich,
and Yet not entirely their portion. for
to every American boy if he chooses
20 exercise il, is open not only the
privilege, but the right of acquiring
whatever training. whatever of cul-
ture whatever of learning, general or
special. the college or university has
10 give
But the dist rct school is the folnda
ton of American education. Smile
at it as we may. it's humble corner
stones are also those of the entire sys-
tenn. The great. castellated buildings
every large city, the colleges. which
are the pride of the towns: the grand
,
endowment which crown the educa-
tioual work of the country With diplo-
mas in every line of scientific re-
search. these are but the rich descend
ants OF the Door little school house.
for without it none OF them would be
even possibility.
The little country schoolhouse OF the
olden days was. like its offspring, sit
uated with regard to convenience.
When our ancestors laid out a school
district walking was no hardship; a
child that could not walk from Cne to
four mites to school every day was re-
garded as hardly worth the trouble OF
educating at all. Yet some regard
was shown for distance, and the school
was located as nearly as possible to
the middle of the district. where equal
privileges of walking might be enjoy.
ed by all. The temple of education
itself was situated little off the road
that its occupants might not be dis
tlrbed by passing movers. drOves OF
market or derisive shouts of the yOttng
members from other districts having
joyng the privilege of shooting out
the lip loudly and scurrlOusly at the
its encourage. 1t was alway placed ON
hill or hillside. like the city OF the
New Testament, and if possible close
to spring or brook. in default OF
which a we'll was dug to supply the
este b' sbmant With the necessary
quantity of fluid refreshment.
The water question having been pro-
yided for by the trustees, or whoever
! located the school, was placed as a sa-
cred trust in the hands OF the boys.
generally OF the larger boys A dip
per Of tin, more frequently of gourd,
was provided TO be placed in d bucket
of oak. generally black with age from
having done duty in the we'll of a near
by farmer. The labor of janitorship
generally devosFsgd week by week on
the same boys who carried the water.
the two duties being almost insepara
bic. After school was out the jani-
tors for the week swept the floor as
We'll as the stubby condition Of the
school broom would permit, During
the pleasant months Of spring and fall
the Girt Went out at the door to be
brouah in again in the morning ON
tn shoes OF the seekers after knowl-
edge: il the wirter time it Wen iuto
he hGoad fireplace to be consumed
Will The next mornings fire DuriNo