New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-25
GIVE MAXWELL SILVER
City School Superintendent
Honored on Anniversary.
BIG PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION
Seth Low and Other Speakers
Praise His Work at Meet
ing in Carnegie Hall.

40 WV AANSotS A&"AA'
DR. william H. Maxwell, superintend-
ent Of the schools OF the City Of New
York, was the recipient or public dem
onstration OF regard in the form of a
mass meeting held in Carnegie Hall last
night. The occasion was the twenty-ffth
anniversary Of DR.. MaXwelrs service as
superintendent Of schools in New York
and Brooklyn, and was made further
memorable by the presentation Of an Old
English silver tea service, gift of some
hundred honorary members OF the citi-
zens' testimonial committee having the
occasion in charge.
Seth Low was chairman Of the evening
and introduced as speakers DR.. Maxwell,
DR.. Nicholas Murray Butler DR.. Charles
p. Gorton, superintendent II the Yonkers
schools, and DR.. William e. Felter, prin-
cipal of the Girls High School, Brooklyn.
The programme of the evening also in
cluded orchestral numbers by a student
orchestra from the De Witt Clinton and
Commercial high schools, under the d.
rection OF Edward ]. A. Zeiner and Jo-
seph p Donnelly. with George II. Gartlen
at the organ, and choral numbers by .nve
hundred students from eight Manhattan
and Brooklyn high schools. DR.. Frank
r. Xix directed the chorus.
DR.. Low paid high tribute in his in
troductory remarks to the guest Of honor
declaring that his example as an educator
had been "a source Of inspiration and
teaching to every city in the land"
Gaynor Sent Letter.
Following his address. the chairman
read letters from prominent citizens and
educators who were unable TO attend the
meeting These included expressions OF
praise OF DR.. Maxwell from Mayor Gay
nor, Whitelaw Reid. A. S. Draper, DR..
Charles w. Eliot, NJ. G.. Brumbaugh, Su-
perintendent OF Schools In Philadelphia,
and F. b. Dyer, president Of the depart
ment OF superintendency OF the National
Educational Association.
The foremost schoolmaster Of the
country" was the characterization OF DR..
Maxwell given by Dr. Gorton and DR..
Felter said that the twenty-five years IN
office OF the guest OF honor had been
years Of solid achievement, not of empty
promise"
Il come here tonight TO praise Cesar
not 10 bury him" Or. Butler said. And
in praislng him / concur with his other
commentators in laying particular stress
on three dominant traits Of his character
serenity. courage and rectitude. These
qualities have given us at least one pub
lie servant who cannot be frightened
And whatever criticism may have been
made Of DR.. Maxwell, there Is one thlhs
of which he can be sure, that the pubic
OF New York unites I'm saying: Well done
thou good and faithful servant
At this point the large brass-oound
oaken chest which contained the SILVER
service was brought upon. the PLATFORM
and presented 10 Dr. Maxwell by MI
Low. The service includes eleven pieces
copled after the period OF George H.
while the chest bears Latin lnscrlp-
ton. which. translated, reads:
william Henry Maxwell for twenty-five
years city Superintendent OF Schools III
brookIyn and New York, given on &C
count OF his unique service, MS loydANS'
his zeal and his courage.
DR.. Maxwell, in beginning his address
deprecated the part played by himself IN
tho development Of the New York puoHc
schools during the last quarter century.
He declared that the power of the super
intendent OF schools was limited and the
success OF his administration should be
shared with the teachers and other asso-
ciates OF the school system.
whatever OF good has been accom-
pllshed, however" he declared, whatever
Of weakness continues. l should like the
world TO believe that my aims have been
high. and that they are justified by rea-
son and by experience He added:
I have wished to see our city public
schools realize the ideal expressed IN
Huxley's fine saying that system OF
schools should form a ladder leading IRON
the gutter 10 the university. The highest
Interests Of the commonwealth demand
the rights Of the individual require, thdt
natural talent should be trained 10 us
highest possible development;
In our Industrial era, In which the VIC
tories are those Of peace, II Is on educa-
tion, not on the clash OF arms, that we
must depend 10 discover talent ana 70
train II for leadership. Hence, the peoples
girl the opportunity for the best training
human ingenuity has devised.
The speaker outlined the work done to
give varied training, speaking especially
OF industrial education. Commenting on
the lack OF suitable shops for work n
manual labor, DR.. Maxwell suggested a
new remedy in the following words
since manufacturers have almost aban-
doned the training OF apprentices and
since they are demanding an increased
supply of skilled labor, II is surely not
too much TO ask that. II the city pays the
teachers and supervses the teaching tho
manufacturer and the merchant, who will
benefit financially through the training
given to their apprentices, should permit
US TO use parts of their buildings and
their machinery when not otherwise en-
Moved for teaching purposes. The state
owes II 10 its own protection and well
fare. in order TO reduce poverty and pre-
vent crime, to keep every child under
training, even when he Is employed, until
he is eighteen years Of age To reduce
noyerty and prevent crime is vastly
cheaDer and safer than TO support chart
ties or to punish criminals.
The speaker said, in conclusion. that
his ambition had been "to have our school
buildings used at all OF the waking hours,
outside OF the regular school hours. for
tho instruction, entertainment and recre-
alton OF the people, to whom they be-
long -