Omaha daily bee., 1911-06-25
BANQUET GIVEN FOR DAVIDSON
Palimpsest Club Honors Departing
Head Of City Schools.
LAUDED AS IDEAL TEACHER
Chancellor Avery and Others Declare
q he Combines Qualities that Are
q Most 60 he Desired I'm Hial
Profession.

DR.. w NJ Davidson. superintendent Of
the public schools. who leaves soon to take
a similar position in Washington. was
r guest Of honor at banquet by the
{ Palimpsest club At the Country club Friday
nigAt on the eve of his departure for Wash
ington, for a short visit.
More than e hundred members OF the
Pslimpsest surrounded large flower
banked banquet table. John l.. Webster
introduced Chancellor Avery OF Nebraska
university; r. u. Graft. the new superin-
tendent Of Omaha schools. and william F.
Gurley, before presenting DR.. Davidson
Regrets over the resignation OF the
superintendent and Fluctuations on the
evident advancement in his profession
which Dr. Davidson makes by going to
! the capital we're expressed by each speaker
IN addresses teeming with sincerity.
mingled with a goodly sprinkle of after
dinner wit.
I'm the departure Of DR.. Davidson the
community feels that It is losing a valuable
and a prominent citizen. He has been
with US so long and has been SO closely
connected with our public and social af-
fairs. that we are loath to let him CO.
said Mr.. Webster. las scholar, as in
structor. as superintendent of schools, he
has risen to our ideals"
DR. Davidson was one Of the charter
members Of the Palimpsest club. which
!, was organized two years ago.
/, Avery Gives Praise.
Chancellor Avery discoUrrsed at length
. upon the trials of the teacher. There is
b excuse. he said. II a. man in q position
which tries his faculties as much as that
OF being head OF a great school system,
at times finds II easy to drift into
ambiguous compromise, and in the neces-
. .sity of facing the days problems. to find
his ideals becoming lowered.
II mention this" said the chancellor, ito
call attention to the fact that through it
all our guest of honor has worn
countsnance as lnflexible as that Of Michael
Angeles Moses. and as free from resent
ment or nervous impotence as Raphnels
: Cherubs.
THE seven years OF his service in
Omaha have been years of Cancellation,
years of good fellowship. years of uniting
all interests. In a word. the reign of
Davidson has been q reign Of peace"
Chancellor Avery declared that during
Mr.. Davidsons ineumbency educators of
the state and Of Omaha have worked In
closer unity than at any time In the his
tory Of Nebraska.
81 close with the prophecy that Washing
ton is not the last or the greatest name to
be written on this Palimpsest," the speaker
concluded.
" Tribute from Mr.. Graft.
Mr.. Graft spoke upon the retiring super
intendents capabilities as an educator.
The one great thing which the great
educator must have Is optimism. DR.. David
son possesses that in abundance, and with
It is good cheer" Mr.. Graft said. HE ex-
poets the best in every one and works for
associates he inspires that feeling that the
best is possible. His optimism Is not only
like that of the philosopher but of that
kind which radiates inspiration that every
thing is working out for the best. He is
: unselfish. and his example had pervaded
our school system until 1t has been carried
down even to the smallest, children. His
breadth Of view has fitted him to grasp
with the problems of public welfare in a
way not taken up with selfish interest. He
represents sincerity. interest. sympathy as
Z opposed to jealousy, selfishness and self
einterest- l know that l am better equipped
cas- school man for having been associated
with him, and personally have been bene-
fitted in a way that l could not express in
his presence"
+ Every teacher who earns his salt is the
one who has ideals" said Mr. Gurley. "A
man to be successful teacher must have
ideals, to which must be added an inspira-
Ntional faculty that fits him to confront
ithe complex questions which he must face
3 to be a leader. He has succeeded in the
work he has here and has been called 70
the national capital because he had those
faculties"
Importance of the Teacher.
DR.. Davidson declared that the future
of Omaha as we'll as the future of the
country rested upon the importance which
Y Representative men such as compose this
body place upon the teaching profession"
. He said;
IF have message to you tonight, II
Is magnifying the Importance of the
teacher. You cannot think OF science,
politics, or government without thinking
of the impulse toward the higher things
in life which the teachers Of this country
have stimulated.
i. II am proud to have been identified with
this group Of men, each OF whom In his
. respective way has been engaged In the
building OF the most virile city on the
western plains. / am proud to have been
Identified simply teacher in these
schools OF Omaha. cannot see the re-
suit OF our work. Immediately, in this
profession. but hope TO live to see II In
= after time. One generation soweth, and
the other reapeth. Men are exalting the
work Of the teacher. that the republic may
Hive. Not what we are today. but what
our ideals are today, determine what We
win be as a nation tomorrow. Through
the public schools OF today, your teachers
stand before the hearts OF the youth of
, this country, molding them into what
they will be tomorrow.
d, Il love the boys and girls of this city
TO whom l have dedicated many years OF
my life l love this city, / love its
svirllity love it's possibilities and my days
here have been the happiest OF my life." he
!, concluded.
CHANGES HIS PLEA AND