The log cabin Democrat. [volume] (Conway, Ark.) 1901-1982, 1909-02-25

born with children. From earliest
dawn of intelligence one may note
how readily they are attracted by
bright colors, and how the infant
mind is lulled to sleep by the
soft grooming of mother or nurse
as they bend with tender solicitude
over the young nesting in the
home cote. Sad it is, however,
that to many children those things
that make the young life a beauti-
full reality, instead of a dreary
monotone in the scale of existence,
are wholly lacking. That the
school should be thus neglected,
seems to be to many TEACHERS and
parents a matter of course. Even
the homes in which there is some
re gard tor the aesthetic send forth
to the school pupils who must
there see the other extreme ),
and from the parents there rarely,
if ever, goes up a protest against
this state of things so sure to pre-
vert the child nature.
When one stops to consider the
influence of attractive surroundings
upon persons of any age, when the
history of the great hives of human
industry, into which at one time
workmen were crowded like prison
ers into cells, now transformed into
places of beauty by coloring of
walls, the hanging here and there
of pictures, the growing of flowers,
and many other helps incidental to
making these places attractive, he
is at once impressed with the fact
that a new light beams from the
eye of the worker, new inspira-
ton seems to urge on his efforts,
new desire seems to awaken in his
soul, and he realizes that life is
worth the living after all. Even
our penitentiaries are looked after
in this day and time with much
care. Here may be seen bed of
flowers, there long line of choice
shrubs, yonder an inviting grove,
while within cleanliness and order
impress one with the careful man
agement of these places. Our
courtyards are rendered attractive
and their grounds are well-kept by
those whose business il is to see
that nothing unseemly shall render
repellant the place where justice is
meeted out to the offender.
But what about our schools? A
very travesty of order and beauty
and attractiveness are they in many
instances. Need this be soft only
those who should be most interest
ed take time to think out plans
and put them into effect for the
remedying of these glaring ev-
licences Of lack of thought on the
part of somebody. Who is the some
body, it matters not. The matter OF
most concern is, who will do his
part to remedy the evil. AS usual,
the attention of woman has been
drawn this way, and the results OF
her labors in many of the towns OF
this and other states are little sh ort
OF marvellous.
In 1906 the first School Improve
ment Association in Arkansas
was organized in Little Rock
and from this the influence
went out over the city till
each school ward had its own
Association, auxiliary to the
central association, to which II
makes regular reports. In 1907
the state superintendent received
a small amount from the Southern
Educational Board for work among
the schools of this state. A por-
ton of this amount was devoted to
to the sending out of literature con-
corning the organization of i'm
provement associations n d
through this means a number OF
associations were organized. A few
ladies volunteered their services to
4 aid in this work, and were sent to
various places, notably Morrilton,
Russellville, GAINESVILLE, Conway,
Bonneville and Fort Smith, where
they were pleasantly received, and
were instrumental in arousing All
interest in this kind of work, and
in organizing associations, in most
instances. This work has been ex-
tended by the present state superin-
tendent under the efficient help of
Mrs. Clio Harper and Miss Eve
Reichardt, who have visited many
parts of the state and started wave
of enthusiasm that will result in
untold good for the children of the
commonwealth.
1t is a work in which every citi-
zen should be interested. The