Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-24

ed. l have been delighted with the de-
bates in both houses and l must align
myself with those who are resentful that
so little of these noble efforts ever
reaches the country. Thinking the mat
ter over. l must place the blame on the
way the people are educated nowadays.
Every body seems signing for some past
condition. so / sigh for the old methods
in education. When l went to school we
learned to spell, We were taught grammar
and best of all we were taught to read.
Those dear old readers. | think, were the
finest part of our education. They had
all the grand old speeches of the ia
theirs, the men who made the nation. and
every school child could repeat with
grand tlourishes and much sesticulation
what Tom CorWin said before the MeXi-
can war. what Webster and Calhoun and
Haines read, all the splendid efforts Of
Clay and the history-making epoch after
Lincoln and Douglas came on the scenes.
"These fragments of great speeches
were to my mind the most ennobling
preparations for the future citizen. From
them he learned the big issues of the
ton and to appreciate the crises
through which it had passed. Nature
studies, now so popular. are to my mind
rather Of the molly coddle kind of knowl-
edge and cannot fire the ina gination like
the orations of Patrick Henry the
trumpet call of the AdamSes and the
other leaders in the continental days.
Then l resent that children are not
taught to read aloud and to appreciate
gems of thoughts in literature or from
the oratons of famous men. Reading is
of the best accomplishments, and |
call to mind many happy hours sewing or
embroidery while a member of my family
or a friend read us some extract from
fine writings.
IF it should come into fashion again
to take excerpts Of the agnificent
speeches which are so frequently deliver
ed in the legislative chambers, | can see
a tremendous incentive for philosophical
men and women in the coming years. |
would like to put all the excellent old
readers on the. market. Certainly the
new brand of school book is not an inn
provement rather the reverse. would
also like to see our school children know
more about photography and grammar
that is. on the old lines. The student
of today has vast contempt for the
ancient methods. but they created deep
er appreciation for history, for literature
and for the memory of the men and WON
EN- who make the nation than the rather
dilettante matter which makes up the
fashionable iSms and asmS. In Jackson
willie our clubs cooperate with the schools
but not on the subject of the curriculum.
though we hope to reach this part eventu-
ally. We act with the teachers when
matters OF sanitation or Improvement are
concerned, anu NY Sii'iei"ih OF teaching
methods are not meant In the local spirit
at all We are working well against
big odds all over the south and perhaps
we cling to the older ways more tena-
ciously than the advanced pedogogic ad-
vocates would desire.
Mrs Fletcher is among those who take
an interest in present conditions. and all
her efforts are for some good purpose.
She is profoundly interested in the tenn
perance question. and has studied it from
all the standpoints where it affects con-
dtions in her home She is of the opin-
ion that the local option solves the ques
tion more satisfactorily than enforced
prohibition. For many years Mrs. Flet-
cher was state regent of the d. A. r. in
Florida. and her constant association
with that beloved leader Of d. \. r.
policies in Florida, Mrs. Katherine Egan,