Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-17
A FITTING MEMORIAL
Argentine Statesman Recalled
by the Presidente Sarmiento.
PATRON OF EDUCATION
Reformed the Public School System of
His Country.
ALADDIN, RUSSIAN AGITATOR
Complains Of Surveillance While in
This Country - Mythical Secret
Service-Germany's Grievance.
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.

Herald
For several days full-rigged Ship with
a white hull and bewildering mass of rig
ging hanging from the yard-arms of her
masts, has been lying at the dock of the
arsenal opposite the beautiful new war col
lege. The other morning is cast off it's
moorings and sailed away down the Po-
tomac to join the other ships of the Ar
gentne republic under the command of
ton roads off the grounds of the so-called
jamestown exposition. 1t was the Presi-
dente Sarmiento, a school ship of the Ar
gentine Republic under the command of
Capt. Jose Moneta, now ma king it's eighth
voyage Of instruction around the world It
is a model ship Of about 5000 TONS built
ten years ago in England and designed
especially for the purpose for which it is
now being used. Each year the graduates
of the Argentine Naval Academy go aboard
and make cruise of ten or eleven months
in foreign waters to obtain a practical
knowledge of seamanship, visit the great
ports of the world and to pursue a post
graduate course in the science now used in
navigation. At present there are only four
teen cadets aboard. Formerly there were
from thirty to forty, but since the Argen-
tine republic and Chile had heart-to-
heart reconciliation and reduced their fleets
and their armies, the attendance at the
naval academy has been cut down IS per
cent
The ship has never been at Washington
before, although it has visited the Euro
pean countries several times and has had
pean monarchs except the kaiser. After
1t leaves Hampton roads it is going across
to Kfel, where William II has already ar
ranged for an inspection. During their
stay in Washington the officers and cadets
have received q great deal Of social at
tention. Secretary Root gave them a din
ner at his residence, they have been in
vited to all the functions in honor of Gen.
Kuroki, Prince Abruzzi and admirals of the
fleets at Hampton roads. Capt. Moneta and
mis- ofncers gave tea to reciprocate this
hospitality, which was attended by the Of
f1cials Of the Department Of State, the
members of the diplomatic corps and the
best people of Washington society. They
left a charming impression and 1t is hoped
that the Presidente Sarmiento will repeat
her visit soon.
Initiated Our School System.
The name of the ship is well known in the
United States, perhaps more familiar and
more highly revered than that of any
other associated with the Argentine repub-
lie or South America. And 1t is particularly
appropriate because DR.. Sarmiento was the
founder of the naval academy of the Ar
gentine republic and took our own school at
Annapolis for his model. He was minister
to the United States from 1868 to 1868, and
enjoyed close intimacy with many of our
literary and scientific men, with whom he
was especially congenial From Edward
Everett, Chas. Sumner, Horace Mann, Prof.
Longfellow, James Russell Lowell, William
Cullen Bryant, Henry Ward Beecher, Julia
Ward Howe, Elizabeth Cady Stanton and
other famous men and women he received
the inspiration and knowledge that was ap-
piled to reorganization of the public school
system Of his country when he became
president Of the Argentine republic ten
years later. He was perhaps the most
scholarly man who ever sat in the executive
chair Of an American republic, and one
of the purest-minded statesmen OF his gen.
Grafton. 1t was his ambition to make the
school system Of his country the finest in
the world, beginning with the kindergarten
and ending with the university. After an
investigation of the educational system in
the United States he adopted that of Michi-
gan as best suited to conditions in his own
country, and through his fundamentally
fifty teachers, young men and women from
our normal schools, were invited to the Ar
gentine republic under contract, at high
salaries, as a training staff.
DR.. Sarmiento was the most conspicuous
advocate of the higher education of women
In South America, having acquired his adj
vanced IDEAS while minister to the United
States, and 1t was through his influence
more than any other, that the Argentine re-
public has such admirable schools for that
sex.
The Presidente Sarmiento represents
one of his ideas, and upon its cruises the
cadets continue their technical studies, CIV
ing so much time to them every day. They
have a faculty of instructors among the
staff of officers, including a professor of
fencing and one of English. They study
nautical computation, mechanical engineer
ing, naval history and hygiene, meteorology
electricity, wireless biography, torpedo
practice, naval ceremonies and have prac-
teal experience In handling ship under
sail and under STEAM in handling small
boats, in target practice. with large and
small arms, and in fencing.