davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-14

ers. it is stiu to be answered as to whether the
american, and particularly the New-York boy.
Is becoming eneminized at all. Statistics upon
'hls subject seem to me wholly unavailable so
that can only call attention to certain widely
known and exceedingly significant facts Promi-
nent-possibly most prominent-in the life OF
the American boy outside OF school is his devo-
uon 10 sports and games Personal experience
with this group OF activities extending over
twenty-four years and professional relations to
athletic sports and gymnastc games for the last
nineteen consecutive years have given me the
opportunity for some conclusions with reference
to the extent and power Of these games, as well
as TO their nature and effects. I have not OBJ
served that the American boy has become less
strenuous, courageous, resolute, enduring In
different to pain. in connection with these sports
during these years.
Football. baseball and basketball have ex
tended from the colleges with astounding rapid
ity. Ninety-fve per cent of all high schools in
America support football teams. Baseball is
about as common. Basketball is as common in
the East and is rapidly becoming so in the West
No game affords better opportunity for the dis
play and development of manly power does
football By manly power I mean the direct
and obvious qualities such those referred to
by Professor Armstrong. already quoted, that is.
the ability TO punch another boys head or to
stand having his own punched in healthy and
proper manner" 1t is directly against, not
merely the observations Of those who are pro-
fessionally related TO physical training but also
the whole consensus Of public opinion, to be-
HeVe that these sports, or that football in par
tcular, are becoming progressively ladylike,
Some OF US are very much more inclined to agree
with President Eliot in his trenchant criticisms
as TO the brutality Of the game frequently
played II is true that in the teams from these
secondary schools and colleges to which have
referred only small percentage of the students
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-14
FOR THE BREAKER BOYS.
Pennsylvania Raises Age Limit for
Work IN or out of Mines.

Wrkesbarre Penn, May Is (SpeciaD-The
signing Of the child labor law by Governor
Pennypacker will result in between three and
four thousand boys who now work in the
breakers and in the anthracite mines being
taken from work and sent to school The bill
forbds the employment inside the mines of boys
under sixteen years old ard outside them of boys
under fourteen, and as this increases the pres
ent age limit two years, a great many young
sters will benefit by ii.
The bill is the direct result of the agitation
started by President Mitchell Of the Mine Work
ers Union four years ago when, while making
a series of addresses 10 the mine workers ne
advocated the education OF their children, and
advised the fathers and mothers TO dispense
with the few dollars their boys could as
long as possible and let them get all the school
instruction they could and protested vigorously
against the employment OF youngsters as soon
as they were large enough TO appear older than
they really We're
The members of the strike commission in their
trip through the coal region in the fall OF 1902
were particularly impressed with the immature
youngsters whom they saw at work in the
breakers Some Of these did not seem more
than eight or ten years old. SO small that he
dinner pals they carried touched the ground as
they swung them. But they were earning their
90 to 60 cents day in the dust choked breaker
and were apparently happy and contented, and
as determined unionists as many of their older
brothers.
The benefits of child labor laws have already
been noticed here, as we'll as the desire OF
fathers who are mine workers to keep their
children out of the mines If possible. As a
result there are hundreds Of professional men
Of Irish and Welsh descent whose fathers still
work in the mines, but VINO have been able to
provide for their education and inspire
them with an ambition that has won them
places in the professional world. The same
evolution is now noticed among the children of
the foreign born workers particularly the Poles
MANY Of them taking full advantage OF all the
education they could get, are now III business or
are LAWYERS bankers or physicians.
The new law will be OF material aid IN de-
veloping the younger generation In the coal
acids and the union officers mean 70 see that il
IS enforced. They will prosecute parents max
Eng false af1davits and aldermen and justices
tssuing them when they know that the child's
age is not shs-issal limit and swear that
Il iR@
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-14
AN EccENTRlc Led

one Of the most eccentric characters in England
Is Lord GTimthorpe now nearly ninety years old
but still hale and busy He is man Of many fads
ana hobbies. and OF these is clock making
He designed the biggest timepiece in Great Britain
the clock of the Cathedral u St. Paul in London
and he also is the designer OF the great clock I'M
the Victoria Tower OF the houses of Parliament
Doubtless II was his usefulness in this line which
caused hIn 10 be elected president Of the British
Theological Institute. Ills lOrdShIp is also an &C.
cesastiCal architect of note. and his plans have
been followed in the building of churches and
restoration OF cathydrals He declines any re-
muneri'ton for his services. but he insists that
his crest, which is a b0ar's head. shall be tvunli-
uenty displayed in the sacred ediuces for which
he has made designs. This display a. eccerltricty
on his part Is not taken atcsetEer in good part IN
those "EDm he has benefited. but there seems to
have been no serious protest against It, As uresi-
dent of the CnurCh of England Burial Aesoca-
tiOn Lord Grimth rpe is working 10 abolish the
embalming of Corpses, heruetlCalI. sealed caskets
va Its ard toml.s. and 10 Bring about no usa Of
wfckerworlI collins. which will permit the rapid
dissolution OF dead bodies In this latter endeavo
ne mas the approval Of KinB Edward. the head %
the English Church. Among other tokens Of Lord
Grmthorpe's activity many practical treatises
on bells, watches and clock mal1ing.-(Leslle
weekly.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-14
WHAT IS EFFEMINACY?

IN the discussion of this subject confusion has
frequently arisen because of a failure to agree
as TO just what is meant by effeminacy itself.
some persons mean that the individual lacks in
those qualities that supposed to be distinct
Neiy masculine particularly bravery, original
lty and power of individual initiative Other
people understand by effeminacy the acquire
ment by the individual of the traits that are
distinctly feminine, in their origin least such
as modesty, obedience and patience. To a casual
observer there might not appear to be great off
ference between these two conditions. A visitor
to school who saw the boys only in the school
hours might see only that the boys were or
derry, obedient and patient and he might there
by conclude that they lacked bravery, original
ity and initiative, whereas the facts might be
exactly the reverse. l believe that 1 have de-
scribed the case OF exactly that of English
friends. They have discovered that our boys
are acquiring these feminine characteristics. and
they therefore conclude that they have not al
ready acquired the distnctiveIy masculine char
acteristic. because they fail to look at the boys
at time and under conditions where the dis
play of the distinctively masculine characters
tics most feasible and desirable
This process deserves a still larger interpreta-
ton than has yet been given to 1t. The very
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-14

OF the approaching harmonious relations. I
don't anticipate that the schools will get to-
gether Immediately. There are, of course, many
men away from the centres who still feel bitter,
but there is a tendency toward harmony. I was
glad DR.. Oser showed his broadness in this re-
spect'
DR.. Porter has made a special study of sanI-
tary science. and one of the steps which he will
take as State Commissioner of Health will be
the improvement of the water supplies of Dor
oughs and cities in the State having popula-
ton of from 1900 to 5000 He will make sug-
gestions to their health officers of ways in which
their water supplies may be made better He
hopes also to reduce the adulteratiou of articles
of food. "Adulteration of food is growing all the
time he said. IF people knew what they We're
eating they would be Mortified I have been in
terested in this subject. especially as regards
milk"
Dr. Porter, who has been member of State
hospital boards, and until his appointment as
State Commissioner of Health was d member
of the board Of managers of the State Hospital
at Gowanda, says he does not believe in the prin-
ciple of divided responsibility for the care of
the State hospitals as provided by the recent
enactment restoring the old system of hospital
management This measure divides the respon-
sibility between the Lunacy Commission and the
boards of managers. 1t is not good policy"
he said. Each, however, is made to serve as q
check upon the other"
DR.. Porter is slightly above medium height
He has grayish hair and mustache. although
only forty-nine years old. He likes books ex-
ceedingly, especially works on history He en-
Joys conversation and is coupanionable with
those who are congenial to him
His interests are wider than his profession.
He is the president OF several business orsanf-
zatlons and a director Of the Amsterdam Savings
Bank He is u member OF the Republican Lo-
tos ana Cornell University clubs ana is secre-
tdry OF the American Institute of Homeopathy,
an honorable member Of the British HomCeO-
pathic Society and OF the homeopathic Medical
Society Of France. He was al one time profess
sor of physiology and materi1 medtca in the
New-4ork Homeopathic College. He is also a
consulting physician to the Laura Franklin
Hospital He was born in Client, y. 7.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-14
n TRTR

do vase or fire. Last fall in one Of the great
tba aaCo"n East Side schools, during the session.
10, to alarm was given. 1t was manifeStiy a
or5a SaiI ana not drill, for the children We're
nart su INTO the street by bells which did not
~ INT or their securing their wraps, although
60 60 medlher was bad. Each class had It's definite
70 10 take; the lines formed so close that II
Necessary for every individual to be in step
- ieIe boy being out of step has been known
sFo tiIIoW number OF pupils not only out of
feot put TO trip and throw them off their
go "hen going down stairs rapidly. The rooms
S4 OF them. became rapidly filed with smoke
80 OL all the over two thousand children in that
~ csaihg and the fifty teachers, not one screamed
80 t'ILiled not single class started before its
60 nau come, and apparently not q pupil got
~ % step. Every pupil in the school was on
80 o street in less than two minutes and fifty
~ seconds. This Is not an exceptional case
80 ing the past three four years there have
80, Dsu several fires in schools airy one Of which
80 u. nave resulted in the worst kind of panic
IL, NiiSdSIer, except for the presence of perfect
$50 CipAlhe and self control the part of prin-
and pupils
,,o ms merely illustrates in dramatic way the
eSesSiIles Of a big system Obedience and
6ueillileSs are fundamental. These are usually
Illuminated as feminine qualities: hence those
"tIU olly see the schools when operating
su S ran TO see the opportunities for, or the
AIiIoItIon OF, the qualities of individual manli-
n1ss' seI-rehance and aggressveness, which are
.pHe the less present. If the members Of the
HIoseIy commission had only examined with
ItSIe care the athletic sports and other activities
where lhe exhibition of manlinesS of the type 10
MIIICh they refer is both feasible and desirable
am confident that different Judgment would
been
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-14

process Of civilization itself consists, to a con-
siderable extent in tanning the male" Men
must learn to work together, to be patient and
virtuous before the cooperative life of civiliza-
ton is possible. II has taken ages sufficiently to
tame the savage warrior he will become the
peaceful worker Of modern life. He still breaks
the laws Of the community far more than does
the woman. Thus I am profoundly of the con-
viction that the American boy and that the
American man is steadily becoming more civil
lied, effeminized: that he is acquiring the
characteristics which have been especially
known in connection with women and the facts
do not indicate that this requirement of what
must be for him the secondary virtues has
initiated against the maintenance of the superb
primary virtues Of manhood. of Independence.
resolution, aggressiveness. bravery, individuality
and capacity for herosm.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-14

IAN October to December, 1903. commits
a., a, educational experts from England visited
"a studied the educational conditions in Amer
Ca No one subject OF their report has been
more generally commented on by the public
rrsss than that which refers TO the effects Of
o,- large number Of women teachers. In order
,bo+ nav be perfectly fair in considering these
Criticisms. venture to quote them with some
detail. Ny quotations are taken from the Re
,o-ts OF the Mosely Educational Commission to
The United States OF America, London, 1904"
T have selected the statements from these re-
,orts as voicing the particular criticisms which
we are to consider. because no%here else have
these criticisms been more FUZZY or concisely
made as well as because they have attracted
such widespread attention. 1t is not my aim to
consider merely the report of the Mosely Com
mission as such. take this report because It
stands for the whole subject. Professor Henry
z. Armstrong. Phi. D. LID. F. r. s.. says,
page %:
Most OF US who are corversant with school
york were struck by the distinctly low average
Of attainment in the American high schools. To
what IS this attributable? In part probably TO
the conditions which prevail in American life,
but n large measure also. I venture TO think, TO
the pre- -alence Of mixed schools and the prepon-
derance Of women teachers.
Admitting that It may be possible, even de-
sirable, 70 bring UP the two sexes together in
the early years of school life. venture to think
that we must sooner or later come to admit that
IT'S wrong TO do so during the later years. if the
object be the development OF q virile man. To
put the matter in very simple terms, 1t seemed
10 me on the occasion of my former visit-and
the impression was confirmed during my recent
visit-that the boy in America is not being
brought up to punch another boys head or to
stand having his own punched in a healthy and
proper manner; that there IS a strange and in
de1nable air coming over the man: tendency
toward q common, If I may so call it, sexless
tone oFr
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-14
HTS WOMEN TEACHERS.

But If co-education be bad in itself. It becomes
infinitely worse when the teachers are mostly
women: they should rather be men mostly. No
where is the claim on behalf OF women to equal
fly with men put forward strongly IT is
IN the United States Nowhere, believe, would
it be found 10 be more disDroved In practice, If
carefully inquired into. Women have sought IN
recent times 70 prove that they can compete
successfully with men in every field: they claim
10 have succeeded, but the claim cannot be al
lowed, think They have shown--what 1t was
unnecessary to show-that they are indefatlga-
bic workers; and they have shown that they can
pass examinations with brilliant success But
what has been the character Of the eKamina-
tons? Almost invariably they have been such
10 require the reproduction OF learning, not
original effort. History records but very few
cases OF women with any approach to original
fly; It proves the sex to have been lacking IN
creative. in Imaginative power. Those who
have taught women students are one and all in
agreement that, although close workers and
most faithful and accurate observers, yet, with
the rarest exceptions. they incapable Of
doing Independent and original work. And It
must be so. Throughout the entire period Of her
existence. woman has been mans slave: and if
the theory Of evolution be in any way correct,
there IS no reason TO suppose I imagine. that
she VII recover from the mental disabilities
which this has entailed upon her within any
period which we. for practical purposes. can re-
gard as reasonable. Education can do little to
modify her nature. The argument is one which
women probably viii not, perhaps cannot ap-
preciare. No better proof could be asked for,
however, than is afforded by the consistent fail
ure OF women to discover special wants Of their
oWn-they have always merely asked to have
what men have. TO be allowed TO compete with
men. Domestic subjects have been taught in
the most perfunctory manner possible"
This quotation gives excellent summary
Of the general point Of view Of the gentlemen Of
the BIosely Commission.
Before proceeding TO the consideration Of the
facts themselves, II is interesting 10 note that
the critics DO not think that womans nature
can be changed by education. but that mans
can be. for Professor Armstrong says: "Educa-
ton can do little to modify her nature"
Professor Armstrong evidently appreciates the
force Of social heredity in the case Of boys, but
not in the case OF girls. This IS TO me an ex-
ceedingIy interesting example Of taking the two
horns OF a dilemma alternately. according to the
n he mar
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-14
TOUGH BOYS PLENTIFUL.

TOUGH BOYS PLENTIFUL.
If we turn now to the activities of boys outside
Of school we find similar facts. Jacob Riis has
stated that he regarded the greatest peril Of the
modern city to be the street gang, composed of
boys in the first instance, and later on of men,
who unite their activities frequently for lawless
political and other purposes, but with great 10y
atty to each other, with bravery and great force.
1t is no answer to say that these are evil; they
do show masculine qualities, even though we
! admit. or affirm that they are masculine quail
ties showing themselves in a bad way. Crimes
Of violence are increasingly performed by boys
in their teens The records of police and
chdrens courts do not indicate that city boys
lack in aggressive qualities.
In view of all these facts, it is not uninterest-
ing TO attempt TO account at least partially. for
the unanimiJy Of the judgment pronounced
against US by the distinguished members of the
Mosely Commission. l do not think it possible to
believe that the inevitable preiudices in favor of
that which obtains IN ones own land should have
been completely laid aside by the gentlemen Wis
iting institutions which differ in such
marked respects from those With which they are
most familiar. II seems to me that there are
earnest and honest endeavOrs to regard our work
swith not merely dispassiOnate. but even flvora-
bic. eyes. They We're endeaVoring to discover
that which might be carried back to England OF
a useful and constructive nature. Still, such
prejudice must be reckoned with, that IS, sug
gested as an Introductory fact
The chief reason seems to be a somewhat diff
ferent mode for the expression Of manlness in
this country from that which obtains in Eng
land, that. looking for 1T where they were ac-
customed to see IL, ii was not so evident here as
there. To be specific. athletic sports are an In
tegral part of British life and Of English schools
IN quite a different way from what they are here.
A person may here come into relation with all Of
the official activities Of one Of our great city high
schools without coming at all into relation with
the ways in which student initiative is chiefly
exhibited The great bulk Of our athletic sports
ere not administered by the school authorities,
but are outside Of them and too frequently indie
pendent. The vast congestion of such city as
New York imposes conditions upon school life
that emphasize certain qualities to a degree TO
which they have never before been emphasized
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-14
NOT TOO MANY WOMEN TEACHERS.

Let Us now examine the facts in the case. 1
draw my data from the schools Of greater New
York because IN New-York City many of the
problems OF education are discovered in their
most acute form; it is our largest American city,
as well as because Il has borne the brunt Of
especial criticism. In New-York are seen the
results OF many conditions such as congestion,
which are not as yet equally apparent in smaller
cities. To what extent Is it true that the female
teachers preponderate in the elementary schools?
We all agree that the tea hing Of children dur
ing the first few years OF school life should be
by women. The teaching Of girls all through
the elementary school should be by women. and
one-haK OF the instruction ,of boys should be
by women. To accomplish this result in New
York there would be needed 9.463 women and
SO men. AS an actual fact New-York City has
e.565 women and 709 men.
Il Goes not appear, then, that the assumption
that these boys are being effeminized because Of
the excess Of women teachers is a true one.
They may be becoming effeminized, but If they
are & is not because Of the preponderance of
women teachers in the secondary schools.
have not been 70 the pains TO get together the
data with reference 70 the proportions of men
and women teachers in the colleges. for these
are at present attended by less than per cent
OF population and thus cannot be Of specific
and general influence in the directions claimed.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-14
OBEDIENCE NOT UNMANLY.

To give an extreme case-there is q single
school in New-York City, having under its roof
5000 pupils The conditions which would per-
nit the boys Of the school to punch each
others heads in q healthy manner are COM
pletely absent here. It IS impossible to have
playground, where 5000 children may play
contiguous TO the school The conduct Of such
a school must involve discipline and a perfection
Of order which IS quite unnecessary and would
be injurious In a small school The mere fact OF
the enormous mass has altered the emphasis on
social quality What IS true Of the school is
true Of the whole city and of all Of our cities
The greater the mass, the more is 1t necessary
10 minimize those clements that make for social
friction. II each boy in 4 school of 1000 should
occasionally punch somebody's head, put lacks
on the seat. throw spit balls and perform those
other activities Of a similar nature, by when
the average country school boy used 70 assert
and develop his individuality, the whole scho9.
would be thrown into hopeless disorder.
The necessity for perfect discipline ana the
almost complete obIiteration Of individual dif-
ferences so far as the routine OF the school ~
concerned Is well illustrated 6X-aVhat napQsns
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-14
BOYS FUN ROUGH ENOUGH.

Granting that the case has been made clear,
with reference to at least the New-York public
schools, that any possible effenlinizing has not
ttesos due 70 the preponderance OF women teach
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-14

are to be found. The spirit Of the team. how
ever. is something that reflects the whole spirit
Of the school.