davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-12-20

Dearest Santa Claus: l am lit tie boy just seven years old ana would like for you to please bring me train, bugle, French harp, and an overcoat, horn and lots of candy fruit and nuts and one wheel. | will close hoping to see you for Christmas. am your little boy, Joseph Verret. 1920 West Pullen.
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-12-20

Dear old Santa. Will you please
Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-12-20

Dear Old Santa: l am little girl eleven years old and want you to please bring me a wheel, a bank, pair of leggings. l guess that IS all for this time. Your little girl. Carrie Verret. Please bring me some fruit and lots of candy and some oranges and apples and some gum. I live on West Pullen street. 1920.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-29

prepared for a properly conducted col lege that had in due time awarded him diploma of graduation, he would have come from college with at least crsditable preparation for the business of life.
 The Unprepared Student.
 But not all boys who enter college diploma that. 1t may be, enticed them all too soon away from the prepar- atory school Many of them fail of their degrees. Comparing his own lack of success. despite hard work. with the brilliant record of college mates. the sensitive student losing sight of his own lack of preparation as the real cause of his failure. be- comes discouraged, loses faith in him. self. and either withdraws from college or else gives himself over wholly to the pursuit of pleasure. If he with draws from college, he enters some vocation or other. and hiS education is completed so far as textbooks and a curriculum are herewith concerned, Worse still is the case of that dis- couraged student who, though remain ing at college, ceases to study. Having despaired of mastering the subjects of his course, he gives himself over wholly to the social side of college life. and. after three or four years of heed leSb lHQulkGnCG III IH0 6ACCHSb6 OL student social life. he leaves college without a trade. without a profession. without either knowledge or training from books, but, unfortunately. with tastes and habits of life that greatly discount his chances for. success in any field of useful endeavor,
 Responsibility of Colleges.
 Colleges are largely, though not wholly, responsible for the present system. Public sentiment in that it does not demand of the college a high CT grade of work. should bear an equal share of blame Still 1t must not be forgotten, that public senti- ment should receive It's enlightenment and It's inspiration from the college. For stimulus iTl education comes all ways and of necessity from above, and 1t may be stated without fear of refutation, that no state can possess an efficient system of secondary or even of primary schools without the et- fectual influence of a powerful uni versity. sustained by public grants or by private benefactors.
 Let the higher institutions establish and maintain fair standards of en- trance and of graduation, even it thereby the number of students in at- tendance upon them should be reduced by one-half, Such a course on their part would improve the primary and SecondaEy. ScnoOiS ol tne Sldte SD nuch as to yentitle the colleges to their ap propria tions, even though the number of students in attendance upon them for a year or two were reduced by one-half. If 1t be not expedient to in- sist all at once on rigid entrance ex- aminatlons, then let the higher in- stitutions gradually raise the standard of admission, but let them begin at once to withhold diplomas of gradua- lion until the candidate proves him. self master of such subjects as belong to a respectable collegiate course. whether the time required by any particular candidate be four years or forty.
 Either of these courses, if adopted and conscientiouly enforced by State
The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-29

Study of Science.
 Barnard Hall, the physical labora- Rorv- is of the same dimensions as Tuo- roay Hall At present the two-story nart is occupied by the Department of phvsics. On the lower floor are a work room, where simple apparatus Is made and repaired, and a large isboratory room for the use of ele- -osntary students. On the upper floor ts a large lecture roornI library room. an annaratus room, room for advanc- ad laboratory work. and a dark room Sor nhotoeraphy and experiments in nnt,cs The department is well pro s,ided with lecture room apparatus, and the instrumental equipment Is now such that great stress IS iaid on indl- x,Idual laboratory work.
 Amonr apparatus recently purchased .ra d fifteen-inch induction coil, Geneva Society dividing engine, a Geryk duplex oil pump. Kruss uni versai spectroseope, and large cathe-' tonneter There is an ample supply oS such apparatus as condensers. re- sistence boxes, galvanometers. Whet- stona bridges, ammeters. voltmeters, snd other instruments needed in prac- fical electric work.
 The work of the department of Bi- .oloev ia conducted in the east wing os yhe astronomical observatory. A 'ooderate1v large and well-lighted nao,,, is furnished with all tho neces sorv eouiprnent for the purpose of laboratory exercises as well as for
The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-29
THOROUGH PREPARATION: FOR
 ADMISSION TO COLLEGES
BY. J. AT. sTARKE. Principal of. Starke's School.

The legislature of Alabama some years ago wisely passed a law looking to the elevation of the teachers of the State. It is quite possible that this law has done more for the children of the State than would have been ac- complished by doubling the appropri- ation for schools without attempting to raise the standard of proficiency on the part of those who aspire to teach. wiser teachers have produced better schools and more thoroughly trained pupils. Hence. those colleges and universities that. for the lack, as they claim, of better preparatory schools, have heretofore been them selves compelled to do preparatory work. may now cease to compete with grammar schools and high schools for pupils By establishing and enforcing fair standards of scholarship for ad-
 mission and for graduation, they can address themselves to collegiate work broper, and at the same time force the lower schools to do more thorough ly the necessary preparatory work. Colleges hold the key te the situation. firm stand on the requirement or due preparation on the part of a can didate before his admission to college, would result in the greatest good to the boy who is compelled to end his education with the high school course as well as to the boy fortunate enough to attend college. For each would
The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-29

thus receive more thorough, and. con- sequently, far more useful training.
 School and College Competition.
 The present system or competition between colleges and preparatory schools tends to degrade the former and to kill the latter. Colleges have diplomas and degrees 70 confer. These serve as inducements to the ambitious youth, drawing him away from the preparatory school and into college. A youth of fifteen or sixteen years applies for admission to a college whose standards of admission and of graduation are low, or practically nothing. The preparatory school may say with all truth that this boy is not ready by three or four years for even the freshman class of any reasonably high grade college. Nevertheless the applicant is admitted to college on conditions" as they say. and after three or four years. receives diploma equal. apparently, to that received by a student who may have spent sev- eral years in a preparatory school be- fore entering college. The student without preparation seems to have saved three or four years of labor and expense in securing the same degree that his fellow class mate from the preparatory school receives. Useless indeed. for the preparatory school to insist on the comparative worthless ness of degrees won so cheaply as to time and scholarship. Many parents and guardians are themselves without education. What they see done in case of a neighbours son, they wish done for theiE own boy. By going direct
The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-29
THEUNIVERSlTYOF ALABAMA

lectures ana recitations A smaller room serves as a private laboratory ana contains a small reference library. The building is provided with gas. water and electric current The lab oratory is supplied with an adequate number of compound and simple mir croscopes of the best quality, paraffine ovens. incubator. one Minot-Zimmer- man microtome. full line of glass ware. chemicals and other accessories to microscopic work. There is coll lection of skeletons of representative vertebrates. including human skele- ton. An excellent stereopticon and micro projection lantern Is provided A large collection of microscopic prepa- rations Is available. The collection of lantern slides is being increased as rapidly as possible. A good collection of marine invertebrates Is on hand for purposes of demonstration. The lab- oratory Is. in a word, we'll equipped for advanced work in the lines of animal and plant histology and embryoiogy.
 The Astronomical Observatory is on a neighboring elevation, outside the campus. It is provided with an equa- torial telescope of eight-inch aperture and twelve-fo foot focal distance; also with fine transit circle. Of four-inch aperture and five-foot. focal distance. three portable telescopes. a sextant, two astronomical clocks. and chrono- graph.
 The Alabama Legislature has desig- hated the physical testing laboratory of the Engineering Department in con- nection with the Geological and Chem teal laboratories as the official State Testing Laboratory for cement and all other materials Of construction. This laboratory. splendidly equipped. is To- cated in the basement and first floor of the Ava Woods Hall
 Other Laboratories.
 Excellent laboratories for the study of Hydraulics and Engineering are also features of the equipment of the unt- versity.
 The Geology and Minera1ogy labor atories are located in Garland Hall. and the equipment embraces;
 l. The Laboratory Collections. in- cluding:
 a. The Lommel collection of one thousand specimens of European fos- sils. the Geological Survey collection of Alabama fossils; and the general col lection of American fossils, iIiustrat- ing the life development from the ear Hest geological age to the present time
 b. Systematic collection of reck specimens. the gift of the U. s. Geolog- ical Survey: a full series of the New Hampshire crystalline rocks. the gift
The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-29

seen in the vicinity of the University. and within easy reach of Tuscaloosa
 The advantages for the study of Gee ology. afforded by the location of the University, are spoken of in soma de- tall In another place.
 The present geological survey of the State has been in progress since 1873. under the direction of Dr. Flu gene A. Smith The office and chem ical laboratory of the survey are at the University. and the collections made by the State Geologist arc ry law deposited in the University n1ti- scum. ried on during the summer and au- tumn months by the State Biologist and assistants.
 All specimens sent to the State Ge- ologist for examination will be eare- fully tested as to quality and value ! in the survey laboratory. and reported on without charge.
 Thirty reports have been published by the survey since 1873. These re- ports. except that on the Warrior baa- 1 in, which is sold for S1. will he sent to any one desiring them on recepit of the stamp5 necessary for postage and descriptive list will he sent on ap- plication to the State Geologist. This laboratory occupies two rooms on the second floor of Garland Hall. and has been fitted up for the chemical and photographic work of the sur vey Advanced students of the geo. logical department have access to this laboratory and may avail themselves of the facilities for special work which it affords.
 Natural History Collections.
 These collections. unsurpassed in the South are. for the most part, displaye@ in the geological museum, which cc- cupies the ground floor of Garland Hall. They embrace.
 l. A very large and complete series of specimens of the rocks. minerals, fossils. etc, brought together by the Geological Survey of Alabama during the past fifty years; augmented by spec linens from other States and from for eign countries, acquired by purchase and exchange. These collections are constantly increasing by contributions from various sources.
 g. The Lommels collection of one thousand specimens cf European rocks and fossils.
 8. The Schowalter collection of min erals and fossils. the gift of the late Dr. E. R. SchowaIter.
 {. The Aidrich collection of Terti- ary shells from Caloosahatchee river. Florida, the gift of MT. T. H Aldrich.
 s. The general mineral collection, containing representative specimens of all the mineral species.
 6. The petrographical collection of
The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-29

that ham and eggs be cut of the bill of fare. The funny part about 1t i9 l that we are always getting letters from the parents urging us to give their sons plain and sinipple food. There is no better illustration Of the fact that the ''kick" is necessary and inevitable than the case of t9e United States Military Academy at West Point. The United States Government is the host, and the food furnished to the ca dets provides no exception 10 the gem eral rule. Yet tho future coionels and Generals often tell their friends in the utmost seriousness that the grub ts rotten A peep at the culinary depArtI ment of the academy is a delight even to a man who cares little for such things. To find a specq of dust you would have to go a hunting with q microscope. Machinery takes the place of human muscle wherever possible. The most fragile crockery is washed by an ingenious mechanical contri- vance.
 There are many varieties of food. and the greatest quantity of it. When one of the cadets takes a visitor in to din- ner the stranger exclaims with aston lshment at both the amount and the way in which it is served. His host, ders if he's joking. A peculiar fact ia, too. that the boys who were less used to palate-ticlklers at home are tue very ones who express more dissatisfaction with what is put before them.
 "You'Il find that invariably the rule one of the officers told visitor at the Point not long ago. 'Tts hard to uR- derstand. isn't it? Of course, most N4 the boys who come to West Pint are by n means wealthy. A few. though, have always had everything they want ed You never hear them kick about the food. But a man who never had more than one kind of meat at once when he was at home will turn up his nose If he doesn't see three on his table here"
 Last year a youth from a southwest- ern State complained bitterly to tho man at his side because fly bothered him while he ate. It was about tho only fly in the big room. apparently. and singled him out for its victim.
 Don't see why they let all these files get in het." he gTumhled. Pretty poor way of running things. say"
 stop your klcking," replied a bis football player beside him. banteringly. You know you had lots more flies than this at home"
 An hour later. the Erumbler who weighed about hundred and twenty pounds went to the athletes room and demanded an apology threatening phy- sical violence in cIse 1t was refused With difficulty the big fellow stxlfled laugh.
 said Gravely.
 PacIfied. his visitor withdrew.
 'T wasn't sure when said it," re- marked the football player. but now I bet ten to one that fellows homes full of flles.''
The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-29
CsHooL BoY,s FOOD.
They Always Abuse It and UsunIIy
 Grow Fat Thereon.

They Always Abuse It and UsuaIIy
 Grow Fat Thereon.
 New York Times.
 Is there any one of us who does not remember with what vehemence he abused the food that was set before him when he went to boarding schoOl7 And how the boys got tip a monster petition in which i've, the undersigned" supplicated the powers that were to stop having corned beef, or ham. or oatmeal, or whatever 1t might be. so many times a week7 There Is some thing wrong with the memory of the man who can't recall these things. n
 No matter what is put before Him, the schoolboy simply has to "kiek.S He considers 1t his prerogative. Il be- came the fashion long before he was born. and 1t never. occurs to him that 1t isn't exactly the proper. thing to do. When the juicieet steak is served to him he ayers, with righteous indigna- ton, that 1t, is Heather and not Tit for dog 70 eat" When the endi of thS first school year away from home comes the "kicker" fInds himself some twen- ty pounds the gainer. and perhaps twice as healthy and strong as if he had stayed undedr the sheltering paternal roof.
 Of course he never connects this with the food he has been eating for nine months Such an Idea does not occur to hi nperhaps until several years later. Then he suddenly realizes that the sifn- pie food he gbt at boarding school was tho healthiest he ever ate. that in hts cshool days he had less dyspepsia and was in better general health than ever before or since. Whatever the motive of the school authorities. whether 1t be to give just the right quantity and quality or to save money. 1t is a. fact that the mess hall' menu of modern days Is very good one.
 Not long ago a papent went tU visit his son at a school not far from New York. Many years before this same parent had been there himself and one of the first places he went to see now was the mess hall" I tpleased him to see that 1t was the same ald room; he could have sworn he saw tho idef ti- cal stool he used to use himself
 What do you give 'em to eat now?" the prosperous business man asked the Principal who was showing him around"
 Well. oatmeal at breakfast. milk. Volls, sometimes heef and sometimes ham, eggs two or three times a week.
 The merchant ohuckled.
 Just what we used to get twenty i've years ago." he said. T remember how l used to 'cuss' that oatmeal would eat about three plates of # and then go out declaring ] couldn't swal- low 1t. don't believe I've ever felt quite as healthy since"
 We expect 'sm oabuse the food" replied the principal with a sn~le. They're really happy when they're doing it. The other day every boy in the school signed . petition asking.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-29

to low grade college. their son will receive a diploma anywhere from one to four years earlier than he would receive 1t, by first attending a pre- paratory school.
 Thus money and time are both saved, and the boy gets a diploma differing, apparently, in no respect from the one he would have received had he first gone through 8 prepara- tory school. Clearly. a low standard of admission to colleges tends in this way to destroy the secondary schools of the state.
 But now for the effect upon the colleges themselves.
 E6ect on Colleges.
 To negin with thoy have but a small per cent of students capable of doing collegiate work. Hence, courses Of study must be so modified as to meet the necessities of the case. The result is neither a collegiate course nor pre- paratory school course. By-and-by, the day arrives when the graduating class is to receive diplomas. All have been over the required four years course. Some entered college wholly unprepar- ed. rave groped their way along through the dense fogs that enveloped every study, and finally, are to re- ceive a diploma that signifies nothing
 
 this same graduating class perhaps re- ceived beforehand thorough preparation for college, grasped the subjects taught at college, and, by reason of proticien. cy, are entitled to diploma of gradua- ton. The members of this class are themselves, it may be, conscious of the great difference in proficIency existing among them, yet a diploma of like grade Is the reward of each. Can any aya1 Ina hfuhlU such diplomas? They can not. Nor does the educated public. Having at tempted to do collegiate work without the necessary preparatory work, or hav- ing attemptcd to do both, the college has done neither thoroughly. It has destroyed the preparatory school, and has degenel ated itself Its graduates reflect little credit on their alma ma ter.
 Business men when brought into con tact with thIs spurious article of edu cation. are quick to detect It's worth lessness. and, without fair discrimina- ton. they pronounce collegiate eGuca tion A future iheV see, that young men. ignorant of the principles or arifhnnetic and grammar slow. inaccu- rate. and without power of conccntra- tion ae sent out from college with academic and professional degrees. Little wonder that the business man douhts inc value of such training. He has possibly come into contact with a young man who. withoLt ade.l1s te preparation, was admitted to college. He skinnned along through trigonom- airy and calculus withou' gaining half a dozen clear ideas from both subjects |. .nnbined. Hs probably had similar eN- perience in other studies. consequent- iy. his mind has como to be nothing nor. than A very unreliable guessing machine. with no power of close. con secutiye reasoning. and with little or no confidence in it's own conclusions. The business man sees this. and i'm nnediately condemns colleFiate educa- ton. whereas his condemnation should be Jirected against a system that pro- duees su.h a spurious article of educa- tion. Had this boy been thoroughly
The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-29

several hundred specimens of the va rious types of ingenious and sedimen- tary rocks.
 T. A special collection of concrs- tionary forms.
 Here, too. are the famous Mohr her. barium and the Peters collection as well as the Avery collection of Birds. An Pathological collection of rare val ue completes the museum which in many respects is one of the finest Tn the United States.
 The Library contains 21,000 bound volumes and large number of use- full and valuable pamphlets.
 The library Is open every day ex. cept Sundays, and holidays. from a m. to D. iD.,. and from p. m. to } p. m. All students are allowed to draw books and are aided in consult- ing the library by the Librarian and members of the Faculty.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-29

of the New Hampshire Geological Sur vey; a collection of the crystalline and sedfmentary rocks of Alabama
 Q. An extensive collection of min erals and ores for the full illustration of the courses in Mineralogy and Eco homie Geology.
 3. The reports, typographical and geological maps, published by the United States Geological Survey and by various State surveys; physiological models; lantern slides and charts H. frustrating paieontology and geology, especially of Alabama
 8. A laboratory Tor blow-pipe prac- tice. with all the essential materials, furniture, and apparatus. situated on the second floor of Garland Hall.
 4 A collection of crystal models and natural crystals Illustrating the cour- ses in crystallography.
 5. The geological phenoma to be
The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-29

to the entire educational system of the state Demand of young men and of young women thorough preparation for admission to college. and the re- suit will inevitably be better prepara- tory schools better colleges. and bet ter preparation for life
 T. M 9TARKE.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-29
Death of n Llnsuist.

2 Walter Graham Blackie. of Blackie and Sons. the Scottish publishers, died the other day at the age of ninety-ona Beside Latin and Greek. he read Ger man, French. Italian. Spanish Danish. Morse and Dutch.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-07-29
cu..ss.u<a from Fare one.

{ Mary Cowper Pittman. A. E. 1sOe' Fellow and Assistant In Physics.
 James Rice, B. S. 1905, Fellow ana Assistant In Chemistry.
 Truman .A1drich Smith, B. S. 1905, Fellow and Assistant in Engineering.
 officers of the Geological Survey. res tdent at the University:
 Eugene A. Smith, Pr. D. State Geol- ogist.
 James A. Anderson, Assistant - in Museum.
 Robert s. Hodges. Chemist.
 Roland M. Harper. Ph. D.. Botanist.