The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-05

Montgomery, July 4-(Special.)-W the question of school books for the next five years well out of the way. it is con- sidered that great load has been lifted from the shoulders of those who have to do with the states educational progress. Much comment has been indulged in, pro and con, with regard to the adoption made by the state text book commls- sion, but after all 1t is very evident that good books have been selected, some of them much better than are in use at this time, and as a general proposition the outlook is exceedingly bright for eff ficient work to be done during the next five years.
 It Is matter of common knowledge that there was more or less of a split in the commission with regard to the changing of books. Superintendent H. C. Gunnels, with three, and sometimes Tour, others contended against any changes where complaint had not been made. This grew out of a desire on their part to avoid expense in the purchase of new books, and to prevent as far as pos stble disturbing the present courses of study.
 Those With Gunnes.
 The men who are known to have lined dP WitH MI. duIUelS III I01S connection are Messrs. Murphy of Mobile Glenn of Birmingham, Brock of Livingston, with Hobdy of Albertville some of the time. They agreed with the idea that only as few changes as possible should be made, but in the end all fell in line and the commission adjourned with good feeling and cordial fellowship among all the members Every man stands ready 10 promote the interest of the schools and Is in tborOnQb ryitb adoption as made with the selections of the commission
 While the changes will aggregate in the neighborhood of 90 per cent, there will not be so much of hardship. the pa rents will be able to swap old books for new at a discount of 50 per cent For instance, an old book may be traded for a 50-cent new book by paying 25 cents. The fact that this will extend over a pe- riod of five years will bring about an economical administration of school af- fairs and it Is believed that all things considered, the outlook is better from a text book standpoint now than 1t ever was in the history of the school.
 Health Conditions.
 Dr. W. H. Saunders, state health off cer is keeping a weather eye out on South America for infectious diseases which may appear along about this time of the year. He is particularly interested in the appearance of the Bubonic pleague in some of the countries rather too close to us to be comfortable. He has made a study of this awful disease, and does not think it impossible for it to do con- siderable damage if 1t should gain a foot hold in this country.
 Cities like New Orleans with it's large per cent of unsantary conditions would afford somewhat of a breeding place for 1t, though it is not anticipated that any general spread would follow even there with the modern scientific methods of con trol and prevention of infections of this kind.
 An Awful Disease.
 This plague is an awful disease, and death from it is of the most horrible kind It attacks the whole glandular system and the victim is often swollen and dis torted all out of proportion. In the Oriental countries treatment of it runs largely to heat and quite often the patti ent is baked to the point that if they re- cover from the disease they are left in had shape by the remedy
 It is comfortable to know, however, that neither the plague nor yellow fever are likely to come to our part of the continent this summer. South America has been especially free from yellow jack" so far and it is believed that the United States need not fear anything from it's ravages.
 School Institutes.
 Arrangements are now being completed for the nine district educational institutes which will be held during the summer under the auspices of the state educa- tional department Many new features are to be introduced, which will add greatly to the value of these gatherings nl,n a-te aah nf fham