Evening journal., 1904-06-16
LETTERS FROM
THE PEOPLE

To the Editor Of The Evening Journal;
SIR Last fall i made a proposition
to give a course Of free illustrated lec-
lures IN the schools OF this county on
condition that fund sufficient to pay
all expenses should be subscribed and
that enough applications from the
schools should be made to Justify the
undertaking. Both money and appli-
cations were received. Three persons
gave $50 each; two. one woman, gave
$25 each; and two $40 each, The chair
man of the educational committee of
the New-Century Club, Mrs. Frank M.
Jones. labored diligently to make
benefit lecture a success but on ac-
count Of the stormy afternoon only
$3.50 was added to our fund. I re-
ceived from other sources SLIPS, max
ing total Of $25075, Of which Sl199
still remains in bank.
Speaking in generan terms the money
has been expended as follows; For
stereopticon with necessary attach
ments and screen with adjustable
poles, $780, for additional slides, $50;
for gas and express charges on cylin-
ders to and from Philadelphia, S112.
The applications for lectures were
many. over sixty schools applied with
requests for more than one lecture at
a place amounting to nearly one hum
dred. The first was given on Decem-
Der IA and the course closed on the oath
Of May fifty-six lectures In all hav-
ing been given.
With few exceptions the attendance
was excellent. over five thousand peo-
pie attended the lectures. The severe
weather at times and the bad condition
Of the roads We're the principal draw
backs. A few schools however, were
deprived Of their lectures altogether on
account Of the prevalence Of scarlet
fever and measles. The order was uni
versally good and there was no lack
of interest.
All four Of my lectures were more or
less used. Leaves and Blossoms" was
given three times; "Fangs, Fins and
stings," six times; Eggs and Feath-
ers" twenty times. This lecture caused
over 500 people to join the Audubon So
ciety. 'The Historic Shenandoah Vail
ley and Picturesque Luray Caverns"
was used twenty-seven times. But few
schools charged an admission fee. The
total amount, however, received in this
way by the schools was S10O.25
Illustrated lectures IN time viii be-
come part OF the school course IL
Is my opinion that in no other way can
so much good be done. When we once
learn how to run our schools in a bus
mess way, consolidate our small dis
tricts, build better school houses, make
them the centre of interest the year
round for everybody in the district in
stead of keeping them open only a
part of the year for small children, free
| Illustrated lectures will be a part of
every school course. Our country chill
dren need this instruction and enter
tainment, and what is now enjoyed IN
some of our large cities by everyone
must Ia the course Of events come TO
the district schools. Good roads and
trolley lines win solve the greatest diff
ficulty, namely, a means Of transporta-
tiOn for the lecturer and his outht.
1t Is proper that l should publicly
thank those who supported my under
taking so generously. The votes of
thanks given by the audiences to the
lecturer are now given to those who
made the lecture course possible.
should like 10 suggest to persons of
wealth that the public schools should
no longer remain below their dignity.
These generous people have showered
upon our colleges and universities mill
lions of gold, and have to a very large
extent ignored the public schools.
While we do not want these schools
made charity Institutions we do need
gifts of money for special purposes for
which legislatures do not usually ap-
propriate money.
The newspapers I'm this city without
exception have encouraged this work
and they too. deserve our thanks for
the encouragement and for the inter-
est manifested in the undertaking.
A. r. Spaid.