The Mankato free press., 1905-03-03

attendance for the month OF February
in the schools shows an increase in the
upper grades, but not in the lower
grades on account of cold weather.
Water Supply at School.
Dr. Davis reported that he and Cap
tain Keysor had been looking into the
question of the water supply at the
Franklin school and concluded that the
best plan is to draw upon the city wat
er. The city health officer sent some of
the water of the Franklin web to the
chemist to be examined but has not
yet heard the result of the analysis.
One of the rules of the board was so
amended on motion of Mr.. Comstock
so as to make the length of the second
school term of each year twelve weeks
and the third term eight weeks. This
has been practiced for some years by
the schools and the rule was changed
simply to conform with the custom
Bills aggregating about $3.50 were al
lowed at the meeting. Among these
was one of the Lampert Lumber COM
pany, $33675, and another of E. P.
Martin & Co., $6O.77. The water bills,
aggregating $47.67 were laid aside for
further consideration, owing to the un-
reasonable magnitude of that of the
Union school building for the months
of November, December and January,
$2S.s2. 1t was generally believed that
there must be mistake somewhere
as the bill was out of all proportion
to the other school water bills.
Mr. Comstock gave notice that he
would introduce an amendment to one
of the board rules changing the order of
business in such way as to make it
easier to refer to the minutes.
Board Visits Assembly.
Although it was simply pressure of
unusual circumstances that caused the
board to hold morning instead of an
evening meeting this time, yet there
was one result that was as gratifying as
it was unlocked for This was visit
by the board members to the assembly
hall, where all the high school pupils
were gathered. The board sat grouped
on the rostrum with the faculty and
the pupils were indeed interested in the
unusual experience of meeting face to
face with the body that had control of
the destinies of their school, Miss Full
lerton, the principal, conducted the usual
morning exercises of song, Bible reading
and prayer, and then Mr.. Mcconnell
told the pupils that the board members
would talk to them If the visitors were
only given little encouragement. The
result was universal round of hand
clapping on the part of the pupils, who
thus rightly interpreted the superin
tendent's meaning, though they were a
little timid at the outset.
President Hughes told the boys and
girls how inspiring it was to look at
two hundred of the future generation of
Mankato, and then introduced Mr.. Com.
stock, hiumself once Mankato school
pupil, "and the coming municipal Judge"
Mr.. Comstock dwelt for some time or
the blessings of education that lay at
hand for the young folks, and impress
ed upon them that if they neglected the
present opportunities they would surely
rue it.
Mrs Smith, herself once a teacher here,
was introduced, and told how she taught
twenty years ago, and at that time
Captain Keysor and Mr.. Fletcher were
members of the board.
Rev. Davis Took the Cue.
DIR. Davis showed evidence of con-
seriousness that he was meant when the
president said he would call upon a
we'll rounded person. The doctor made
a few appropriate remarks, adding by
way of condiment that he could not say
that he did not anticipate being called
upon, as men in his profession were al
ways expected to tell the truth. He
had said that he would not speak, but
ahd been made to do so nevertheless
In that respect he found that he had
not told the truth as he did not live up
to his refusal.
Mr.. Currier was announced by Presi-
dent Hughes as one of Mankato's most
eloquent speakers. Mr.. Curriers' main
thoguht was opposition to corporal pun
ishment and for the breeding of true
self-respect among pupils, a truly Am
erican spirit. Now is the time when
patriots are needed. The country is
threatened with dangers, not from with
out but from within.
Captain Keysor was presented as one
who helped to trounce the south when
the south needed it. The captains
remarks were mainly along the subject
of patriotism. He urged the young
people to be ambitions, to aim at the
presidency of the United States, and