Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1908-09-27

Washington, Sept. 26.-The opening of the schools and colleges this year brings to light the fact that Washing ton is rapidly becoming one of the greatest educational centers in the country in accordance with the ideas of it's founder. For many years the capital has occupied but a mediocre position in this respect. Now through the efforts of it's citizens and of Con- gress, is has at last reached standing in which not only this city, but the nation, at lareoe may take just pride George Washington, in his will, ex- 4ressed a wish that the capital of the nation might become the center of na- tional education and being a practical man, he backed up his wish with generous legacy, for the establishment of a great National University. While the city is not yet what might be called the great National University, there are in the capital schools, col 1eges and universities which. with the museums, laboratories and libraries, collected here go to make the whole city one great university. Washington now has eight colleges and university, seven professional schools Of law, three of medical and dentistry and three in geological. In addition there are 70 private schools that attract boys and girls from all parts of the coun- try In these institutes there are AS professors and instructors and more than $500 students. Washington is particularly we'll equipped in the way of libraries. There are 34 distinct government libraries available for the students and the general public. They contain more than 100000 books 5OO0O0 other articles literary in haracter-manuscrip maps, mu- s sic and prints. In addition there are district libraries and libraries sof private associations and lnstl- siutions. The greatest of all these col s;actions of books is the library of Con ! sgress. housed in the largest and best feouipped library building in the world and containing more than 1.100,00t books and pamphlets and more than 500,0O0 other articles.
 In the way of museums and !abora- tories there are the Smithsonian In sfitution the National Museum. the Army Medical Museum, the CorcoraI } Gallery of Art. the Departmental lah- oratories, the scientific bureaus of the government, as, for instance, the many connected with the Department of Agriculture, the Geological Survey the Coast Geodetic, the Bureau O. Standards, the Washington Academ. of Sciences with 14 affiliated sciences the Carnegie Institute and other or ganizations.
 l How extensive this feature is, i l shown by the fact that there are l' chemical laboratories alone, attached I GS the different government depart ments. Tn addition to these purel. local institutions there are many na tional scientific associations whlcl maintain headquarters here such a the American Association for the Ad yancement of Science and Archaelogl cal Institute of America.
 Seldom has Washington been s
 stirred bv anything between session
 of Congress, as it has this summer D
 the exhibition of the Wright aeroplan'
 When Orville Wright smashed all rec
 ords for heavier-than-air flights wit
 his machine, Washington all but put
 Iically celebrated his achievement
 Probably the most unmoved person
 the capital. when all this had bee
 Bone. was Orville Wright himself. Ii
 s a little, quiet man with mild ten
 per and pleasant ways. When ne wa
 again on the ground after accomplish
 ng the feat that was of internatlon'
 uta1est, and would go down in histol
 An6 event, he showed not the sligh Afgn of elation, but as if he wei
 llN most uninterested person Of
 almly walked the quarter of mi
 rom where he descended 10 the pa
 bon shed to get pair of goggles
 rotect his eyes from bugs. When
 as all oyer and Wright had made tV