The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1910-12-22

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your disposition? And, If this Is true
hasn't LINDEN a right to be PROUD
that It is a center for the dairyine
industry of this part of the state
Well We are proud. And, SO, we are
proud also to have the State Dairy
mems Association hold its convention
here.
7 don't remember just how man.
were in class, but at every pehol
there was a worker. Superintendent
Wright had asked me to come up te
the school and see the Seventh grad
ers at work. but Mr.. Mulder, who has
charge of the manual training WASH
looking for me, and didn't notice me
when l stepped in at the door. Neitn'
er did any of the boys.
Think of that will you? l can unoei
stand a teacher being SO busy that ne
wouldn't see visitor step inside me
door. but l can't imagine him being
ignorant of ones arrival long, for the
peeking and turning of the students
ought surely to warn him.
But, here there was no peeking ano
turning. Some of the boys were plan
ing. some were measuring, some were
saving, a few were hammering Ol
carving, but every blessed one was
at work, and so interested that
thought seriously of shaking some
body to announce my arrival.
Finally a boy who was facing the
door happened to look up. l heard
him tell Mr.. Mulder that he had COM
pany, but he didn't stop his work to
do it. l learned afterwards why they
were all so busy. You see they only
have an hour or two to devote 70
manual training, and the time Is new
err long enough to suit the boys. Very
often, at the request Of the boys, over
time amounting to an hour or more
is put in after school.
l noticed that hardly any two Of tn
boys were at work on the same pat
tern, and l learned that the reason
why. was that no boy could leave one
thing until he had been able to CON-
plete that thing perfectly--accurately
The first thing every boy has to learn
to do first is to convert a rough stick
of pine into a smooth square piece.
Until he can make a stick that is
absolutely SQUARE and absolutely
smooth he must keep On working
with his plane. Next they learn to
make various sorts Of joints, and
make them we'll. Then they do some
simple work--the patterns chosen dc
pending upon the age Of the boys In
the class. The Fifth graders were MAX
ing a marble game--Quite a compli
Gated bit of cabinet work that
wouldn't undertake to do as well a
some of them have done it. The Sew
enth graders, were. most Of them a.
work on a very neat little bool
shelf with carved end pieces. One o.
two had finished them, and were a
work on a new and more complicated
pattern. You see none can quit On'
pattern to go to the next until he ha!
finished it properly. And, while Mr.
Mulder insists on accuracy in all th'
work, strange as it may seem tn
boys seldom get discouraged. One lit
tie fellow was plodding away making
square stick the day l was there
l don't know how long he had beef
at it, but he was seriously, honestly
trying. l didn't feel like laughing a
him. 1 couldn't help but wonder how
long Mr.. Mulder would keep me try
ing on a square stick II l belonged
to his classes. But there Is prid'
in finally achieving the perfect a
one may do in that work. and thu
boys soon learn it, and as a conse
quence they are learning the Joy O
accomplishing something. Mr.. Wrigh
tells me that this manual training
work is making better students o
some boys who were not very good
and that it is teaching all of then
the need of accuracy.
Anyway l was awfully glad I visite'
the class. l believe any father II
Lynden would be awfully glad for
few hours spent there.
The editor, that's me, is hom'
again. For the past five weeks have
been in the Northwestern Sanitarium
at Port Townsend.
II it didn't sound like disloyalty II
Lynden l would say that the SAM
tarium has the most beautiful location
in the world, and I don't know but
ought to say it anyway. From m!
room window l could look over tn,
beautiful Puget Sound, at the plac'
where it narrows until all oceal
shipping must 60 within three miles
I could see Mt. Baker and Mt. Rainie
and all the beautiful snow covere,
peaks between them, and II I bu
walked across the hall l could SCI
ne Olympics. seemingly piling W
right from the back Of the garden.
But, l didn't start out to tell about
the beauties of the place. You know
they say in prayer meeting that any.
one who is not willing to make public
confession Of his religion, hasn't got
much of it. Well perhaps l haven't
got quite as much health as I'd like
to have yet, but l am glad to make
public confession that DR.. Simmons
and his quieting, sanitary treatments
have done much for me. 1t is q
mighty good place for anyone to stop
awhile whether they are sick or well
but II they are sick it's a dandy. DR..