davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1911-08-13
Dr. Ph1ander p Caxton the New Commissioner OF Education

the State Normal and Industrial College
of North Carolina. which position he held
until 1902. At that time he became a
professor of education. and was made A
professor OF secondary education and in
spector of high schools of the University
of Tennessee in 1906.
But that does not represent the only
field Of DR.. C1axton's endeavor during
those years. From 1897 to 1901 he was
the editor Of the North Carolina Journal
of Education. and. following that. of the
Atlantic Educational Journal. He was a
member Of the southern education board,
being chief of the bureau of investigation
and information during 1923 He has
also held the position of superintendent
of the Summer School of the South since
1902
He is member of the council OF the
National Educational Association and of
the Southern Educational Association,
director of the Playground Association of
America, chairman Of the executive COM
mittee of the National Story Tellers'
League, OF the American School Peace
League member of the National Society
for Scientific Study of Education, MEM
ber of the American Association for the
Advancement of Science and a member
Of the Rockefeller sanitary commission.
With such a list Of duties to perform
DR.. Claxton has yet found time during
these busy years to deliver on an aver
age of about 200 lectures a year. For
this he is peculiarly fitted, as his voice
is not only of great carrying power, but
he is also an easy speaker. He Is the
author of number of pamphlets on mat
ters pertaining to educational affairs
which are deemed OF considerable value
by educational authorities. DIR. Claxton
has been twice married, but is widower.
1t is thus, equipped with more than
twenty-five years experience in education.
that DR.. Claxton comes to Washington
to assume his duties as commissioner of
education. And, what is more. he is
ust in the prime of his life, and as well
equopped physically as heis mentally. Not
yet fifty. DR.. Claxton took up his duties
regularly the first of this month, and
even in this short time has taken firm
hold of affairs in the bureau.
Not less interesting than DR.. Claxton's
life is the manner Of his being chosen
for the position he now fills. When it
became known, in the early spring of
this year, that DR.. Brown was going to
become president Of New York Uniter-
sity, the need Of securing new COM
Evening star., 1911-08-13

teachers are capable OF accomplishing the
tasks before them.
But / do not want it thought that by
that | have no regard for the city
ideas for their development for the
rural schools. In cities such as New York
and Chicago. where wealth abounds ana
where the highest level OF education ana
culture has been reached the school prob
lem is less difficult and the situation
more able to look out for itself. There
the people are grouped so closely together
that the welfare of the educational sys-
tenn is part OF their daily endeavor, while
in the rural districts, where the popula-
tion is so widely scattered, the school
house holds far different and perhaps
even more important position"
And by education DIR. Claxton means
that which tends toward making practical
men and women, men who are capable OF
going out into the world and carving their
own way. and women who are equip
ped to be competent wives and mothers.
What tends toward culture is at the same
time what tends toward the practical.
"A man cannot have two separate parts,
one cultured, the other practical | do
not believe that the two are distinct, but
that culture lies In the highest possible
practicabiiity. Culture is not apart from
life, and life should mean the ability to
cope with the daily happenings which oc-
cur, just as life and education should be
so closely interviewer as to be whole
and indiscernible in their separate parts.
One of the plans which DR.. Claxton
hopes to carry out, and one which will
be also the fulfillment of DIR. Browns
idea as well, will he the development of
a corps of efficient specialists who will
be authorities on their respective SUBJ
jects. In this way DIR. Claxton expects
10 gather around him men who will be
equipped with full knowledge of santa
tion for rural schools. agricultural edu-
cation and other subjects of which there
is need.
Evening star., 1911-08-13
A Frightful Risk.

I INCOLN BEACHEY. after his flight
= over Niagara Falls in a biplane. was
congratulated on his daring by a re-
porter
But ! wasn't daring the aviator said
II put my machine only to such ordeals
as knew it could withstand. In flying.
as I'm love. must run no risks
He laughed softly.
II know" he said, "a young woman
about to wed who decided at the last
moment to test her sweetheart. So.
selecting the prettiest girl she knew. she
said to her, though she knew IL was a
great risk:
I'm arrange for Jack to take you
out tonight walk on the beach III the
moonlight, a lobster supper, and all that
sort of thing-and | want you in order
to put his fidelity to the proof-to ask him
for a kiss
THE other girl laughed. blushed and
assented. The dangerous plot was car
fled out. Then. the next day. the girl
In love visited the pretty one and said.
anxiously:
well. did you ask him.?
mo, dear
"'No? Why not?'
IT didn't get a chance. He asked me
first"
Evening star., 1911-08-13
EXPLORING The HIGH MOUNTAINS Or
GLACIER FARK

day included the turning upside down OF
the raft when it ran aground in swift
water, the knocking down of all three
men when 1t struck a rock at breakneck
speed, and leaving one of them stranded
on rock and the pulling off Of two of
the men by sweeper" or overhanging
tree. In this latter emergency one man
swan ashore and the other was lassoed
around the neck by the man still on the
raft and pulled aboard.
= =
The experiences Of the wild are often
strange and unprecedented, but Thomas
G. Gerdine holds the record Of having
fought the only hand to-hand duel with
a mountain goat on a precfpitous ledge
that has ever been chronicled Gerdine
is one of the stout hearls OF the geologi-
cal survey, and the late nineties found
him placing his mark on many lofty
mountain in many regions previously un-
trod by the foot of white man. 1t was
while exploring Copper river in 1900 that
he was separated from the rest OF his
party, and was following a narrow ledge
above a stream in an attempt to ind a
passage around the mountain front 1t
was out on a narrow ledge that he met
the goat. The animal had probably
never seen a man before and as conse-
quence was not afraid OF him. Gerdine
was indisposed to give up the ledge and
Gerdine was armed with a small hatchet
and the goat was armed with the effect
i've frontispiece which is worn sby all his
kind. The goat charged Gerdine, who
sidestepped and attempted to use the
hatchet This process was repeated sew
eraI times without much damage being
done on either side. Finally, in pas
sage at arms. Gerdine emitted great
shout. whether of fright or exuitation J,
is not stated. The sound so frightened
the goat that it jumped over the cliff and
left the mountain side to the explorer.
Robert H. Chapman is a slender, rather
Evening star., 1911-08-13

section OF Tennessee. in schoolhouse Of
most primitive design and equipment. that
he received the foundation of the educa-
tion which today has placed him at the
head of the governments educational
force. And Of the conditions surrounding
the rural school he knows not only the
weak, but the strong points.
"A little log hut is the way he de-
scribes that building wherein he learned
his first lessons One room, with
puncheon floor not nailed down, without
ceiling or glass windows and without the
cracks even being stopped up" The furni-
ture it seems was crude as the building,
and consisted of nothing more pretentious
than benches made Of split logs with no
backs And under such conditions, dur
ing the reconstruction period of the south,
DR.. Claxton received his early education.
OF the teachers. however, he is
more ready to speak praise. For
while he claims for them no technical
knowledge of education, he yet con-
siders that they-for he went to four
such schools-were fully capable Of In
stillng into the young mind the more
rudmentary studies. After having
gone to these four schools, or up until
the time he was twelve. he branched
out into what he calls a half high
school half academy. in which he pre-
pared himself for college.
Evening star., 1911-08-13

what he is today, but did have the de-
sire to be a teacher. When a small
bow he was fond of reading, and what
books his fathers home contained ne
devoured greediiy, From TINS Is ne ne
formation along this line included
books borrowed from relatives and
friends in the vicinity. Thus 1t Is that
he can just remember the time ne
read histories of ancient Greece and OF
the world.
DR.. Claxton spent his childhood on a
farm. and to this day holds the country
in strongest regard. The school terms
then running but for three or four
months. the remainder OF his time was
spent on the farm. Here he helped to
make a living fer the family at time
when even the most strenuous labors
secured only the most meager results.
that time when all the south was
struggling to overcome the result of
the war. And. like a great many
others. DR.. Claxtons father had lost
nearly all he possessed during the war
and was thus placed at the necessity
Of making both ends meet under the
most difficult circumstances.
However meager may have been DR..
Claxton's early education, that which he
secured later made up for it. Born in
Bedford county, Tenn. in 1892 DR.. Clax-
ton began his education as already told
and then entered the University of Ten
nessee That he was far from be-
ing even an average scholar is shown
from the fact that he received the b. A.
degree at the age Of twenty. and five
years later he was awarded an M. A.
degree. For two years. during 1ss4-S0. he
was student at Johns Hopkins Univer-
sity. from which he went abroad and at
tended the educational schools of Ger
many for the same length of time.
When but twenty-one he was made a
school superintendent at Kinston. n. c.,
in which capacity he served for two
years prior to his becoming a student at
Johns Hopkins University. He also filled
a like position at the end of that course
in Wilson, n. c.. for more than two
years, and then became superintendent
Of the Asheville On. CO. schools. in which
position he remained five years. In 1892.
at tn eterminatio nof his term OF office
as superintendent at Ashville, he be-
came professor Of pedagogy and Ger
man, and then professor and director OF
the Practice and Observation School Of
Evening star., 1911-08-13

bled ashore and overlook his partner,
who was tugging away at the boat un-
mindful of the things that had happened
to Brooks
Geologist Elliott Blackwelder was an
other man in the geological survey who
has penetrated to interior Alaska. trip
up the Alseck river is one Of the accom-
plishments to the credit OF his party.
The stream is swift and shallow. Some
times they poled and at others dragged
the boat from the bank. High up the
stream a series of rapids was encoun-
tered, with the snout of glacier on one
side and precipitous mountain on the
other. The stream was too swift for
p0fing and too deep for wading. 1t be-
came necessary to carry the supplies
along the foot of the mountain and de-
post them at the head of the rapids.
On one trip. as the party crept along the
foot of the precipice, the rumble Of an
avalanche was heard from above. The
melting SHOWS had softened the noun
tainside and the voices Of the packers
had Jared loose an overhang1ng rock.
which started the landslide.
1t bore directly down upon them. They
covered beneath an overhanging rock and
thousands of tons of earth passed over
them. The boat was demolished, but no
member of the party was injured.
X
Topographer R. H. Sargent and two as
sistants found themselves near the head
waters of the Talkeetna river one sum-
mer as the season came to a close. There
was danger Of being caught in an Alas
kan winter. The Talkeetna river was
swift and strong, but its course was un-
known and there was the possibility of
encountering rapids or waterfall at any
point Yet the party built themselves a
raft of such strength that no contact
would break it up, tied their provisions
securely to the raft and got aboard. AS
had been expected many difficulties were
encountered. The experiences of a single
Evening star., 1911-08-13

state might be dropped into 1t without
the knowledge of any of its inha bftantS.
There is a cattle ranch once in hundred
miles, a quicksilver mine at Terlingua,
an occasional visit Of rangers in pur-
suit of a cattle thief and well covered
trail or two over which smugglers occa-
sionally introduce tobacco and Cinnamon
from Mexico. Otherwise the country is
left alone with it's great solitude and the
mournful howl of the benighted coyote.
1t was into this region that Arthur
Stiles, representing the geological survey.
went for the purpose of making maps.
standpoint of the roll-top desk or the
morris chair. For instance, in the spirit
of the explorer seeking knowledge. he
once allowed himself to be let down on
a rope into a cave he had discovered
Such caves had been known to yield the
mummified remains Of prehistoric dwell
ers in this region, and Stiles was In
search of mummies. Before reaching the
bottom he, by chance, dislodged a rock,
which fell into the cave. The result of
multitude of rattlesnakes which inhabited
the chammer below. Stiles signaled to
his assistants above to haul him up, and
escaped the fate that would have been
his but for the incidental falling of the
stone.
One of the best examples of the su-
periority Of the scientific explorer over
the mere adventurer is to be found in the
case Of DR.. w J MCGEE, government
Seologist. ethnologist and soil expert. in
his trip to Tiburon Island, In the Gulf Of
California Upon this island dwell the
Seri Indians. the most isolated and prim-
itive people in the world today. These
Indians are of gigantic stature and fa-
believe that the touch of any
man from the outside world is damna
tion TO them. They, therefore, resist TO
the death any expedition that is sent
into their country. Sixty miles of desert
and a stretch of exceedingly rough water
separate them from inhabited Mexico, of
which they are supposed to be a part.
Any invader Of their island is forced to
surmount these difficulties which nature
Evening star., 1911-08-13
Dr. Nc GEE AND
ANAT1VE Or T1BURON

had all the information with reference 70
outcroppingS around Carbon mountain. 1t
knows the streams that lead to the great
interior and what is at their headwaters
1t knows the passes that must be mushed
in getting from stream to stream that
will float supplies. Its men of science
have discovered these secrets in their
summer trips TO this new land. Had men
other than scientists passed through the
experiences Of these men there would
have been romance and to spare in the
work. But in this case knowledge OF
the difficulties has discounted the adven-
ture. But here are some of the expert
ences of the individual men.
A. III. Brooks, geologist in charge OF the
Alaskan work, knows more about that
territory than any man living. He it
was who took the first expeditions into
Alaska. studied its geology. mapped it's
mineral resources. He it is upon whom
Congress or any of the government de-
partments call when they want to know
the facts with relation TO things Alaskan.
Mr. Brooks is scientist a geologist,
wears spectacles, has long hair does not
believe in adventure.
One day in the Alaskan wilds Mr.
Brooks gave directions for the moving of
camp. His directions were msunder-
stood. He spent the day in exploring. and
at night reported at the point where he
had ordered the camp made. 1t was
not there. He could see no signal sno e.
NO answer came to signal shotS from his
pistol. There was nothing to eat and no
blankets upon which to sleep. He spent
the night alone in the solitude, and the
next day took his back trail to the old
camp. From there he followed the trail
of the party into the camp where it
awaited him. Yet these two days in the
solitude, with his life dependent upon his
ability to follow so small thing as a
trail made by single man. were not con-
sidered an adventure.
The possibility of exploring such re-
gion as Alaska depends upon the ability
to carry provisions. 1t would require
many mules to pack the provisions that
may be conveyed in single small boat
The streams therefore are the highways
to the interior. Mr.. Brooks was once
guiding Il boat up one of these streams
while his partner pulled it from the bank.
Under this arrangement when the boat
strikes the bottom the man in it always
jumps out to tighten 1t that it may float
free. On one such occasion when the
boat struck the bottom Brooks jumped
out, but instead of leaping into shallow
water as he had expected, he jumped
into a deep channel alongside the boat.
He was carried long distance down the
stream by the current, but finally Scram-
Evening star., 1911-08-13

And In connection with this new
school is an interesting bit of fact. not
only concerning the new commissioner
of education. but Of education as well
Dr. Claxton's father, Joshua Calvin
Claxton, was the school commissioner
of that district wherein he resided.
When the present commissioner was
about twelve years of age a plan was
afoot to build another school build
ing on his fathers farm and near the
home. This. however, came to naught,
but the three or four schoolhouses
then in existence were consolidated
and one large building of several rooms
erected This. Dr. Claxton says. was not
only a great improvement on the con-
ditions previously existing. but was
the first instance of school consolida
ton of which he is aware. Three or
four capable teachers were also Sc
cured for this new school, and the
educational advantages thereby greatly
improved.
According to DIR. Claxton he enter
tanned no ambition as a child to be
Evening star., 1911-08-13
A Dangerous Drink.

JUDGE BEN B. LINDSEY, the noted
reformer of Denver, was lunching one
day--it was very warnl--yhen a politician
paused beside his ia bic.
Judge said the politician. Il see
you're drinkin hot cawfee. That's .
heatin' drink
"Yes?" said Judge Lindsey.
''Oh. yes In this weather YOU want
iced drinks, judge-sharp, iced drinks. Did
you ever try iced gin and ginger alee''
No. said the judge, smiling, but I've
tried several fellows Who have"
Evening star., 1911-08-13

places in the way before they can be in
truded upon. For 800 years they have
successfully resisted all attempts on the
part of the Mexican government TO sub
due them. Scores OF parties of adyen-
turers and prospectorx, led on by the
tales of a wealth of precious metals in
Seriland. have attempted to explore Ii
buron. and in practically every case up
to the time of the McCiee expedition the
attempt had resulted in tragedy. and
often in the determination of the men-
bers of the party.
But DIR. MCGEE arranged his trip upon
the principles of the scientific explorer
He knew the amount OF supplies neces-
sary to take his party across a sixty
mile desert and guarantee their return.
He knew the necessary materials with
which to build craft that would make IL
possible for his party TO cross to Tiburon.
He knew the strength of a party equipped
with modern firearms that would be re-
quired TO beat off any attack of the ma
tives. He met every one of these re-
quirements on the scientific basis the
casion demanded As result the trip
was made without any especial risk.
When Tiburon was reached DR.. McGee
kept his fighting men together i'm such
force as to discourage any attack from
the natives, who knew the danger OF
firearms. The entire expedition, which
had proved death to many adventures.
was In this way made entirely safe
through the man of science.
So are the men of the test tube and
the spectacles robbing the Adventures
of the glory of slieir many accomplish
ments in the face of danger and death.
So is it being demonstrated that adven-
ture is a thing that comes only to the
amateur and is due TO a lack Of knowl-
edge and precaution. So are the great
feats in exploration and discovery now
being made by the men of science rather
than the lover of adventure. The season
is now on when the stunts are being done
and the coming of autumn this year. a 5
in other years, promises additions TO the
store of knowledge, because these men Of
science have gone afield in the summer
months.
Evening star., 1911-08-13

One of the chief functions of the bureau
now is the reparation Of statistics re-
garding school matters in all its branches,
and this work DIR. Claxton regards highly
and believes should be kept up to the very
highest possible standard, not only in it's
exactness but its up-to-dateness as well. a
task. however. that is far from being
simple. Just how he will perform the
giant task he has set himself is sub
ject upon which he prefers to be reticent
IL DR.. Claxton seems to have a greater
regard for the development of the rural
than of the city school, the rea son for 1t
is not far to seek; for ii was in pioneer
Evening star., 1911-08-13
Iku's Departure.
the Westminster Gazette.

From the Westminster Gazette.
The departure OF the arch-criminal Iku
from Peking to exile is described as RI
valing in splendor that of the most distin-
guished envoy TO foreign parts. All ths
unoccupied great ones of Peking saw
him OFF,; he took four cooks and twenty
servants with him. and left behind with
each servants family a solatium of fiftv
ounces; moreover. each servant had tn
sign on and secure bail" for good L..
hayior. 1T pays 10 be traitor.
Evening star., 1911-08-13

missioner of education, DIR. Philander
Priestley Claxton, who has recently as
suned his duties as the successor Of DIR.
Elmer Ellsworth Brown, now president of
New York University.
Progressiveness is one OF DR.. Claxton's
chief characteristics. and the progress
which the school must make Is OF para
mount importance. according to his views,
as on IL depends the future OF the state
and Union. In fact he claims that there
can be mo perfect governmental. social
or religious democracy until education
has reached the highest possible standard
OF perfection.
The men and women OF tomorrow" he
says "are the boys and girls of today.
and education IS the foundation of the
states future
Closely connected with things educa-
tional for twenty-five years. DR. Clayton
csn feel tho pulse Of the educational sys-
TEN from Maine to Florida. the Atlantic
10 the Pacific. and in him there responds
an echoinG pulse, the ouickened deter
mination 10 aid in the great progress he
some day hopes to see fulfilled
xx
The rural school must be brought up
10 the highest standard of perfection" he
continued the elementary school
wherein two thirds OF the boys and girls
OF this country receive their education.
For IL is not In the cities that the greater
portion OF the child population resides,
but in the rural communities where the
school facilities are of the poorest. And
when / say the rural school conditions
should be improved. j mean in a sanitary
as well as in an educational way. I mean
that the school buildings themselves
should be as scrupulously clean as the
Evening star., 1911-08-13

4 Is just DIT tiItS
late summer season
that those Swash-
bucklers OF science,
the men who in
her name penetrate
TO the remotest
corners of the earth
and wrest secrets
from the unknown,
are at their buSi-
est. 1t is now that
the explorers OF the
Evening star., 1911-08-13

HERE can be no
fixed system OF
education as long
as man lives and
makes progress. So
long as there is
life and vitality.
Just 50 long must
education move for
ward. day by day.
abreast of It."
Such is the theory
of the new COM
Evening star., 1911-08-13
FOUNTAIN CLr1B1Nd
FOR SCIENCES SAHE

THERE Are Men in the
l Employ of Uncle Sam
Who Are High of Brow and
Deep in the Lore of Books,
Yet Who Go Out in the Open
and Perform Such Feats in
the Name of Science as
Would Make the Soul of
Many an Adventurous Spirit
Quail With Dread - These
Bespectacled Daredevils See
Their Performances Only in
the Light of Science, and De-
clare That There Is No Dan
ger and No Risk in Their
Tasks. for Danger Comes
Through Encountering the
Unexpected, While They
Have Foreseen Every Posi-
bic Emergency and Dis
counted 1t.