The Washington herald., 1911-01-05
VIE WS AND
INTERVIEWS
School syste. Criticised.

school systen Criticised.
.-The standards Of study as established
by the school authorities are not adapted
to the average child. but to the bright
child" said Leonard p. Ayers, formerly
assistant to the commissioner of educa-
ton in Porto Rico. now Of the Russell
Sage Foundation. when seen at the New
willard recently.
1T Is not true" continued the peda-
gogue. THAT the average child in our
schools can complete one grade In one
year. There is not a single school in
America, SO far as I know. where the
average child goes forward one grade
each year. There IL no such thing as the
lockstep in promotion.
AT the present time We are not giving
our boys in the public schools as square
q deal as we do the girls. In the lower
grades there are more boys than g1rs.
while in the upper grades the siris con-
siderably outnumber the boys. Statistics
show that the two sexes stay In scnooi
about the same length Of time. but that
the girls get much further ahead IN this
given time.
Under our present system. many Of the
children of the public schools are des-
tined to failure in life. simply through
repeated failures in school. We are COM
mencing to realize that high standard
of education is not always good thing
for the average boy in school. 1t Is the
greatest economy when we accomplish
something to do away with the tagging
half in the classroom. 1t will be OF the
greatest benefit to see that children do
not simply stay in school a certain num-
Der of years. but that they profit by It
Japan to Raise sheer.
DR.. Ioda Tanamura. dean of animal in
dustry of the University of Toxic. who
was seen at the Shoreham. said that the
Japanese government has secured stocks
Of sheep in this country for experimental
ton. --..
Herds Of goats and sheep have beAn
sent from the United St8tes to Japan"
said the doctor, ''for the use OF the jap
anese government in developing stock
raising. We raise a few sheep in Japan.
but no goats. and our purpose now Is to
get into the industry to a large extent.
providing it proves profitable and feasi-
BILE in our climate.
American Capital In Mexico.
Charles /. Gardner, Of Mexico City.
who is interested in mining operations
in Mexico, is at the Raleigh. Discussing
prospects in the republic to the south Of
this country. Mr.. Gardner said: Amer
lean capital is still being poured into the
mining industry in Mexico. That coun-
try is q domain that is destined in the
future to become the greatest producer
Of precious minerals Of any nation in
the world. Its mineral storehouse has
barely been touched, notwithstanding the
fact that scratching around the surface
in spots has been in progress for two
or three centuries and untold millions
of wealth in gold. silver, and copper
have been extracted. There is scarcely
state in Mexico in which mining Is
not carried on more or less extensively.
In the localities where the mines are adj
vaptageously situated as. to railroad
transportation facilities and other mod
ern adjuncts to successful and profitable
mining. the mineral development has
made giant strides during the last few
years. ,-, . e..
capital Is far in the lead in mining en-
terprises in Mexico continued Mr..
Gardner; '.in fact, in some of the min
ing districts Americans are practically
In control of all the best properties. This,
is true not only as to the more asAes-
sible properties and localities. but $50
in the remote camps which are re1ched
tain trails on burro back
Texas widows Great Factces.
In the development of the Southwest
said c. N. Stillwell, of San Antonio, Tex,
who is at the Arlington. which has been
likened to the dramatic growth Of the
West, women are playing a prominent
part
ITO three Texas widows belongs much
| OF the credit for the greater growth of
San Antonio, and another Texas widow
has done much to establish the onion in
dustry. which brought the growers in
| her district. that Of Laredo. more than
81, 900. 900 in profits last year.
| These four widows" continued Mr..
| Stillwell, lit Is estimated, are worth at
least $1O.00o,000. and they have been po-
tential factors in the growth Of the city
and section. Out of their fortunes they
have constructed great hotels and of1ce
| buildings and perfected estates that -
| rapidly growing in wealth.
| These four widows are Mrs. Roxe
Gunter, Mrs. G. Bedell Moore, Mrs. Ell
abeth Kampmann. and the Texan onid
queen, Mrs. Edwards Callahan Dodt(
| They are all widows Of wealthy cattle,
| men. their husbands having died jusSl
prior to the era Of development that has
| been producing such great results in
1 both the cities and country districts Of
| my State
GaynoF Very StF0nG.
| Representative W. 8. Hammond. Of
Minnesota. the only Democrat from that
Commonwealth elected in November, is
Of the opinion that the Democrats should
attend to business and do the will of the
people by enacting legislation as promised
in the last election and quit playing
politics and harassing the Republicans.
IF they get together and make an
honest effort to enact the right kind OF
legislation, the Democrats may hope to
retain their popularity and elect their
candidate for President in 1877 II they
do not attend TO business, negiecting
their duties and merely playing politics.
they will simply throw away the oppor-
tunity which is now In their hands"
Mr.. Hammond said that HArmon, Gay
/ nor. and Wilson are most talked Of
as available for Presidential timber, but
that in his estimation Gaynor Is the
strongest man, though he admitted that
Gaynor the strongest man because Bryan
Is still power in the Democratic party,
and there are many Democrats who be-
hieve that Bryan. II he decides not to be
/ q candidate h,mself. would favor Gaynor.
At any rate. Gaynor must be taken into
| consideration at the next convention. He
i has accomplished wonders In New York"
Tar.as In New EnglsnA.
/ That the decline Of New England az