The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-10-20

C. G. Pearse. Superintendent of
Schools. Milwaukee, Wis. Who
Spoke This Afternoon at the First
PRESBYTERIAN Church on "Some of
the Next Things
which are not encouraging. First,
will take the point which perhaps is
most often used by those who argue
that the world is growing worse, and
that is the divorce evil.
The Divorce EVIL.
I'm a certain district in Kansas City
where there are $50 children, there are
1O2 children whose fathers and mothers
do not live together For the entire
nation for every twelve marriage there
is one divorce.
"Then there are other city conditions
which are abnormal Take Kansas
City. nearby. for example. 1 found
there a situation which was appalling
In a house with but II rooms there nv
ing 20 families.
''There are places in the United
States where two or three families liV-
ing the same room take in boarders-
There are districts where poverty 10
growing deeper and deeper. Thousands
and millions of people are growing up
without proper food and clothing, ow-
ing to the unequal distribution of
wealth.
I'm the state of Connecticut there
are los IOWHS-lH6Te d lONn AS
than a city-Gnd in 40 of these towns
last year no church services were held
| I mean to say that about one town IN
four and a half had no church ser
vices.
Il have seen so much of foreigners
I have no alarm in regard to them. L
find d south European is a good deal
| like an American. but 7 find that the
people who come from northern Europe
and England have certain endowment
! which enables them more quickly 20
make good American citizens.
Let me give you another alarming
| fact The rural population of Missouri
| has decreased and the city population
| has increased all out of proportion to
the development of the state. There
are about four million people in the
city of New York, and if you work
this out you will find that this figure
represents a no small percentage OF
the population of the entire country.
There is an immense difference in
the attitude of the citv and country
people on great questions. These men
who rule us today don't want farm
ers and villagers VINO will think
politics
Uncle Worth 100 Millions.
'I had an uncle worth a hundred
million dollars (and he left me moth
ing) and have another worth fifteen
million dollars. Still a third uncle
was a travelling hobo, and his where
abouts has been for some time mys-
terry.
II have had the opportunity to sit
down to dinner which cost a quar-
ter of a million dollars. The reports
which appear in the newspapers of the
extravagence of rich men in serving
costly dinners is not exaggerated.
Il mention these things to show eX-
listing conditions.
so much for the pessimistic side
of the question. I like the other side
very much better" Then the speaker
stated that he considered the ''redis-
covery'' of women of significant i'm
portance.
creation is that fifty years ago men
and women were considered old at
I45" he continued. ''Those old fa-
thers' who framed the Constitution
were only 81 years of age on the aver
age The average age of the directing
minds of this country has been in
creased 5 or 20 years.
| Now we have vigorous old men
with clear minds who are able to give
| the young men advice. There is a
| pyramid with its apex at 20 years in
stead of So years of age.
81 am enough of a Chinaman to
believe that we ought to teach rev.
erence of the wise old persons who
have gone out of their achievements
into wisdom.
lspeak is that of the children. This
discovery of the children, if you please
lis the outcome of the discovery of the
old people and the women. The old
people have taught us to care for
their grandchildren. We are the first
nation on earth to make the discov-
cry of the children.
Haven of Freedom.
What do we think of tho children
We Americans believe that every
American boy and girl has the right
to have the opportunity for the devel-
opment of his or her powers. 1t Is a
new heaven on earth to be born in
this kind Of freedom.
81 can go from Portland. Me, tc
Portland Ore, if 1 can get the ex-
pense account. I don't need any pass
port We have come to the point
when there there is a great brother
hood.
'eThe American people are to be g
composite of all nations of the world ano
we are trying to get out of all the peo-
pies their best characteristics.
We have discovered ourselves in oul
normal condition. In order to under
stand health we must understand dis
. ease: in order to understand virtue we
must understand sin.
I don't draw any rainbow conclu-
, sions, such as in the future there vii
be no war. | believe that good results
from fighting that which is not good
] believe that the good nations and in
! dividuals will be those who seeing thai
which is evil will have the courage tC
go to the front and stick on the fir
ing line"
c. S. Risdon. of independence, presi
dent of the State Teachers association
on introducing the president-elect, DR.
Frank Strong. of the state university
expressed himself as being much graft
/ fed on account of the growth of tn,
l society. 1T certainly MEANS" said he
: that there has been. an increase il
| the interest in educational advance
z ment.
Il count this election as president o
the Kansas State Teachers association
as a great honor as I have much re
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