The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-03-16
CONFERENCE
 FOR EDUCATION
THE NINTH ANNUAL MEEING IN
 THE SOUTH.
VIII Be Held In Lexington. Kentucky May 2-4. 10O6--Extensfve Prep arafions Are Reiug
 NTade.

arafions Are Beiug
 Made.
 The Ninth Annual Conference for Education in the South will be held at Lexington, Ky, in the new Audi torium, on the old Chautauqua grounds, May 2. 3 and { 1906; to open on We'd nesday evening at s o'clock and to close on Friday night.
 A number of years have passed since Captain ". H. Sale of Capon Springs, West Virginia. sent out his first. hos pitab1e invitations to a conference of this kind and gather to his mountain retreat, in the summer of 1898 some fif- ty congenial guests from different parts of the country for the untram- meleh discussion of educational sub jects. in which all alike were interes- ted. That little council in seclusion has grown Into manifold activities. The first. second and third meetings at Capon Springs were followed by the larger and more broadly representa- tive assemblies at Winston~Salem. Athens, Richmond, Birmingham and Colombia. Men of eight and leading came into the forum prepared for them, thoughts there presented found express sion in organization and new enter prise, and the whole educational sys- tenn of the South was stimulated to 8 more vigorous life.
 The first conference met at mo- ,ent when a new national spirit was uniting the soldiers and sailors of the North and South on the battlefelds around Santiago, and in similar mood the representatives of peaceful pro- gress consulted together at Capon Springs on those higher educational concerns that were common to the whole American people. The president of the first conference was Bishop Dud. ley of Kentucky. and of the second Dr. Curry, a statesman of the old South and the new alike. and their fine, board intelligence. shared by their as- sociateS. has continued to animate every subsequent gathering.
 The earlier meetings were quite in formal on account of the limited num- Der present. but for the last five years the attendance has been such as to crowd the largest halls obtainable and the speakers have been. not only lead ing men in educational callsugs, school superintendents, teachers and college presidents, but governors, members of Congress and authors Of national celeb rity. who have esteemed 1t an honor to contribute their shares to so aus picious movement.
 Lexington, the place of the meeting for the Ninth Conference, is centra to a re- zion quite distinct from those which have been most affected by previous conferences. Heretofore the meetings have been east of the Alfeghanies or in the Gulf States. This year the point chosen is at the conveyance of thor oughfares that cover the great central region Of the country, the South-een- tral and the North-centraf together. Kentucky and Tennessee have won derful history and have contributed nightly to the upbuilding of the na- tion. Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Mis- cnY cd haV VacaaIfa irr popular education during the last half century as great and fine perhaps as can be shown anywhere in the world. With such an environment we may well anticipate that this conference will be fully equal in interest and power to any that have preceded: and for such a result ample preparations are being made.
 The exercises this year will be of the most practical character and will have direct bearing on the vital dues~ tions of the hour. Of foremost im- portance will be the session of Thurs day morning, which will be in charge of the State Superintendents of Public Instruction, as last year at Columbia, and will be occupied with a review of significant events in the educational work of the several States during the past year. The interest Southern la- dies are taking in public schools, and
 
 so marked that the review would be quite incomplete without their partici- patton, and several who have had es- pecial success will give short reports of the work in which they have en- gagged.
 The subject appointed for Friday morning is: Agriculture and the Ap- plication of Scientific Knowledge to the Work of the Actual Farmer on His Land. Canada Is now presenting striking illustration of successful farming under the guidance of practi- cal science. The master who has prob- ably done more than any one else to bring about this result IS Dr. James w. Robertson. of the Macdonald Col lege at St. Anne de Bellevue, P. c. The committee of arrangements is fortu- nate in having received from Dr. Rob- ertson an acceptance of their invita- ton to deliver an address. An invita- tion has also been accepted by pr. 8. A. Knapp. of Lake Charles, La., who, under the direction of the United States government, has had remarka- ble success among the farmers of Tex as, in staying the ravages of the boil weevil and making their lands pro- ductive. Other speakers of wide ac- quaintance with the subject will fol- low Drs. Robertson and Knapp and as- sist in making the discussion of un- usual interest.
 The hospitable people of Lexington are preparing a variety of entertain ments for their guests, which will ac quaint them with it's honored local in- stitutions and afford them a glimpse of the far-famed stock farms in the immediate vicinity.
 The customary favors from the rail- roads may be expected, as well as from hotels, etc. Private hospitality will be provided by the people of Lexing- NA aA n ggfh Those expecting to attend the con- ference are advised to write early and inform Dr. George J. Ramsey, Lexing- ton, Ky, the corresponding secretary of the local executive committee. More detailed information will be giv- en through the press when the time for the conference draws nearer.