The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1913-01-16

search in Chicago, and returned with
him to the North Bennett Street
Industrial school, where he taught
l2O boys and about so teachers every
week.
From his experience in Minneap-
oils. Erickson discovered that the
sloyd system from Mas was not suit
able for this country. For instance,
the system advocated starting with
knife work, the student making his
articles directly from models without
knowledge of drawing. Eriksson
changed this and gave instructions
in mechanical drawing first, and
taught the pupils to work from their
own drawings and not from the mod
els. His motto was, "What notes
are for music the drawing is for the
sloyd worker To work directly from
the model without a knowledge of
drawing is like playing the piano by
ear without knowing the notes.
He did not start his series with
small articles or knife work, as called
for in the Mas system. He declared
that the saw was the first tool called
for in woodworking, not the knife,
and that it was harder to plane
key stick three inches long and one
fourth inch thick than a board
twelve by six inches and one-half
inch thick. The big piece helped
the weak hands to hold the plane
steady.
His chronological method Of teach
ing manual training was as follows:
First, saving: second. planning, cross
cutting, ripping, slant work: third,
boring. mailing exercises, how to hold
the hammer: fourth chiseling:
fifth, carving and knifework. This
was a progressive system in it's
natural order.
Visitors from other schools, in
Guiding Mr.. McAllister, superintend-
ent of the Philadelphia schools.
praised his innovation. At that
time the Mas system was popular,
but not practical, and Erickson had
to overcome this difficulty in intro
ducing his methods.
After teaching in Boston over two
years Ericsson went to Toronto,
Can, where he delivered lectures
loo Zorro teael.o rs i-na aotinge--~-H re-
turned to Boston, but later broke
down in health from overwork, hav-
ing taught steadily every working
day for two and one-half years, from
9 a. m. until .. m. He resigned
and returned to Minnesota, glad that
at least part of his mission to this
country had been fulfilled.
In 1894. when Rev. A. Dallgren of
the Swedish Universalist church of
Minneapolis left for Alabama to
start a colony, Erickson took care of
the Universalist congregation for
three years, having been ordained in
the Church of the Redeemer in 1896
by Dr.. Marion D. Shutter. He was
also instructor at that time of man.
ual training at the Boys club of St.
Marks church,, between Nicollet
and Hennepin avenues on Sixth
street.
During the hard times that fol-
lowed Ericsson decided that it
would be better for laborers to spend
their time on farms rather than loaf
in the city, and went to Mile Laos
county and established colony,
the center of which was Ericsson
vile. He started small store,
trading with the Indians for wild rice
and cranberries. In 1898 a postotfice
was established there and Eriksson
was appointed postmaster After the
500 railroad came through his town
he replatted the hamlet. selling lots
and houses.
Recently he moved to Milaca and
is working on an invention of clock
which, he says, will show perfect
time at any point in the world at
glance. He has the invention prac-
tically completed.
lhere are no dials on this clock.
but two rings, one inside the other.
the inside ring containing a map of
the world. and revolving once in
twenty-four hours. All meridians
are also shown on the inside ring.
while on the outside ring are figures.
from one to twenty-four, and numer-
Gus lines, to show the time.
According to this clock there will
be no ''local time, ''division time. ,,
or central time, ''but it will show
local time all over the world, so that
at a glance person can tell the ex-
act time in Calcutta, India, or in
Minneapolis.
Mr.. Erickson is now IS years of age
but is hale, hearty and busy-tuning
pianos and working On inventions.