Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1908-06-04

ington comes close TO auniveraal typ
but thereis bnt one American VII,
reached that point and that was Abra
ham Lincoln.
"Environment has had much to d.
with the growth Of types in the coun'
try. In the south the short, deep riv'
ers, connecting the large plantations
closely. with Europe precluded the 90
tablishment Of big cities. In the north
there were no broad, deep rivers, no
fertile plains ready for cultivation.
Instead the land was poor, timbered
and the rivers were swift and shallow,
and adapted to furnishing power for
factories. Aud the west with Its broad
plains and fertile soil suggests free
dom and quick achievement. And so
these types Of manhood have come
largely through environment.
.'Now this western type, I believe
there is western type. has three
ideals to live up to. The first is the
ideal Of education. We have the best
schools that money can buy here in
the west. 1t was here that the great
public school system took Its incep-
ton; here and here only that the laws
provide for public education. In the
east you find no great state UNIVERSE
ties. There are none and never will
be. The west wants efficiency and Sc
cures it through higher education.
1.-The second ideal Is that Of law and
order. The crime Of the nations is
lawlessness; the crime Of the big uni
versities is lawlessness; the crime Of
the public schools is lawlessness. We
have lost our ideals Of law and order
and the loss has had a demoralizing.
effect upon US. The discipline Of the
home has passed away. There is q
changed status Of the family where the
responsibility over the children has
been shifted to the public schools and
the teachers. The discipline Of the
church has been lost also. There is
but one church in existance now that
has complete discipline over Its young.
And aside from that church the only
organization to enforce discipline over
the child is the public school. The
public school is the only organization
that permeates into the smallest ham,
let Of the nation. Schools are for
discipline and that teacher who fails
in Its enforcement fails in his duty.
1.-THE third ideal that we must pre-
serve is that OF historic Christianity.
Our civilization. is based on the family
and would 90 to pieces without it.
But in turn the family is based on
Christianity. Christianity is
interviewer closely into our public
school system and the two must never
be separated. Christianity and edu-
cation are the two things that have
made us a great nation. We must
preserve them together"
The address was listened to with
much interest and was helpful and up |
fitting in its teaching Of higher
blame Of citizenship.
The high school orchestra gave two
pretty selections; Miss Pearle Carver
Il the Senior class delightful piano
'olo; Mrs. Young sang, "IfThou Vert
IN Oak Tree" written by Mrs. Short
II this city, and led the high school
'horus when 1t sang Schubert's "Sere-
lade." Mrs. Young has given the
chools splendid musical training
Turing the past year and every patron
/ the school has compliments for her
EXCELLENT work In that department.
Supt. Stacey presented the diplomas
n an appropriate and helpful talk.
The exercises were on the whole
mong the most successful in the
ity's history.
GRADES HAVE CLOSING.
The closing exercises Of the grades
,ere held this afternoon. The Fifth
nd Seventh grades with their
eachers, Miss Snider and Miss Fair
hid, met at the high school assembly
Dom and gave this program:
Iano Solo. observation-disclosures Ralph Morton
evel Of the Leaves. Seventh Grade Chorus
umb Bell Drill. Fifth Grade
ldian Club Drill. Seventh Grade
ing Of the Autumn RAIN. MUM.
......................... Fifth Grade Chorus
lano eolo. ,Freda Marsh
Antata.. :. Grades Five and Seven
The other grade rooms had special {