St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1906-04-18
Our Washington Letter.
from our Regular Correspondent

nr1SOrV education Cnen before congress;
Ps several thousand children do not at
+snd school, the state of illiteracy in the
Instruct is disgraceful. DR.. William A. Bald
Yin at one OF the hearings before the
Honse Committee stated there were
e 900 children between and Is years of
oge who are not in school, and they
need the training OF obedience, and for
o;orers should learn our laws. In a list
o7 90 cities, Washington stands the third
in iliteracy. Mr.. Stewart, the superin.
tendent OF schools, favored the halt day
SESSIONS of three and half hours for
children between and 7 years of age,
for there is not enough space for them
and full session OF five hours is too long
Mr.. yelling, of the Associated Charities,
felt compulsory law would help regu-
late child labor and administer juvenile
court laws. Many boys cannot even be
messenger boys because unable to read
street numbers. Education would ele-
vate the moral standard.
For some months past, the playground
committees extensive plans have been
under discussion and many mass meet
mos have been held to endorse the move
ment for Fairgrounds and playground
houses. Chicago has spent four million
dollars in this cause. People owning
vacant land in this city have very gener-
ousIv allowed the children the use OF
their land, hence the police report fewer
boys in the police court. The National
Playground Council met April ~, in the
Young Mems Christian Association
building to form permanent association
and adopt a constitution. Among the
delegates to the Council are DR.. Luther
Gulick OF New York, director of Physical
training, Miss Sadie American, in charge
ofTacation Schools of Chicago, and Seth
T. Stewart, the head of Vacation Schools
and Fairgrounds in N. Y Miss Hotter is
to give an exhibition of playground
games Friday afternoon. Since the COM
pulsory education bill passed the House,
question has arisen, where will they
obtain pages for the Senate, how supply
the department stores with boys, and
who will act as messengers for telegraph
companies, and sell newspapers?
The Senate believes in erecting monu
ments to commemorate the memory OF
noted men and women, for short time
ago they passed bill to grant appro-
prations to erect three monuments: One
tor Henry W. LongfelIow, the poet, cost
ing S5000 $4,000 for one to Dorothea
l. Dix, and John Paul Jones, $4,000.
1t is now expected that imposing cere-
monies will take place at the laying OF
the cornerstone Of the office buildings
tor the House of Representatives on
Saturday, April ID 1t is said that 5000
invitations have been issued. Nearly 113
years ago, President Washington presided
when the Federal Masonic Lodge laid
the cornerstone for the Capitol. This
stone will be at the New England corner.
It is expected that President Roosevelt
will be present and take part in the
exercises, and probably Speaker Cannon.
The D. A. X. society have thus far raised
S53. 900 for Continental Hall. Mrs. A.
Leo Knott of Maryland, is strongly
urging that Maryland marble shall be
used instead of Vermont for the 10
memorial columns OF Continental Hall.
The architect and other persons will be
consulted in reference to the ACCESSIBILITY
Of having it.
Next Tuesday evening. the bust
presented by the French Ambassador,
NJ. Iusserand, will be unveiled. Thurs
dav will be observed as Patriots day, as
it will be the anniversary of the battles
of Lexington and Concord. 1t is
arranged to have Will Carlton read an
original poem. The President Of the
Society, Mrs. Donald Mclean. will
receive the Daughters at the New Willard
hotel, Wednesday evening, April Is.
grand boulevard from Baltimore
to Washington has been projected, which
will furnish fine carriage road and
speedway for automobiles. 1t is to cost
500 900 and to be 80 miles in length,
and it is intended to avoid railroad
crossings for the old road passed six
crossings. They intend to employ some
OF the inmates of the House Of Correc-
ton and may be several years in build
ing it,
The funeral of the former librarian and
founder OF the Public Library, Col.
Weston c. Flint. was held in the Church
OF the Covenant; there were representa-
tives from many prominent societies,
with which he has been connected
The Carnegie Public Library is great
public boom to the people in Washing
ton. 1t is open from 10 a. M, to 10 p.
m. The reading room is always well
patronized, they have 9 children's room,
where they can enjoy their books and
papers. Last winter a course OF tree
public lectures was organized and it has
been continued this winter they are
exceedingly popular, and often the
lectures are illustrated with the stere-
opticon. They are held in a hall above
the Library.
The commissioners of the District favor
the Senate bill to have 10th street, the
great boulevard of the city, called Execu-
tive Avenue. There have been many
changes made in the names OF the streets
which has caused much confusion the
past winter.
Gen, Luke E. Wright, the new Ambas-
sador to Japan from the United States,
expects to sail April 20, and reach Toxic,
about the middle of May. Hon. Henry
\. Ide oil Vermont, of the Philippine Com
mission, became the head of the govern
ment and will continue until Sept. Is,
Wlen James F. Smith will become the
encouragement OF the Islands.
The W. c. T. u, of which Mrs. Clinic n
o. Smith, native OF Vermont, is the
PRESIDENT, held Morning Glory" sale
last week, to raise money to help pay off
the mortgage on their nice headquarters
on 9Th street, N. w.
John 6. Carlisle in concluding his ar
guments before the Senate Committee IN