The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1914-03-29

The former was won by iaZel HaaS
OF the Warren, Penn, high school,
who defined thrift as follows:
Thrift is management of ones al
fairs in such manner that the value
of ones possessions is being con
stantly increased"
The prize for the best composition
was awarded Winnifred Wilson, sev'
enth grade pupil of the Lowell school,
Sioux Falls, S, d.
Some of the narratives of personal
thrift sent in were Photographic. One
girl sent in this:
johns Success.
John was fifteen years old and tha
son of a poor farmer His father own
ed a few acres of ground in New
Hampshire. John went to a country
school. When he had graduated he
said to his father
Father, | haven't much of an edu-
cation. You know, to earn thrifty
living. a person must have an educa-
ton. | want to know if you will let
me have an acre of your ground TINS
summer to raise some vegetables, sell
them and keep the money and go to
a city high school. OF course | know
il will not pay expenses for all terms,
but ! will work at odd Jobs and earn
some that way
THAT is a good idea, John. be-
lieve, | will let you try it, said his
father.
THAT summer he worked hard on
his plot of ground. He had a bank,
and every time he sold some vegeta'
bles he would drop in the money.
When he was ready to 90, he had two
hundred dollars. He earned money
other ways and went to the university
and became a doctor. He is now re-
tired, but always helping some one.
President Straus of the society for
Thrift raised the question 'Why
should the public's investment of a
billion or two dollars in grounds,
buildings and equipment be idle and
useless during a quarter of the year
Notwithstanding that for the employ
merit of children in wholesome, useful
ways during the summer months the
cieties supply little or nothing, and
that of necessity the boys and girls
are thrown into idleness in the moral
miasma OF the streets?"
Billion Dollar Plant Idle
In primitive days both teachers
and pupils were needed on the farm
during the three or four months in
the summer, but in our cities of today
it is preposterous to shut the schools
all summer and turn the children into
the Streets said President Straus
In the agricultural days of the
country, boys had chores to do anC
girls had household duties and thus
they learned useful habits and ways
of industry But in our cities, partic
ularly, we teach today from books
and provide little that replaces the
homely duties that taught the hand.
and head to work together.
For school gardening the equip
ment is a small item and the vacan
lots of the city which are now idl'
would be better for cultivation. More
over, if teachers were paid as in othe
countries, fer the entire year, includ
ing months vacation. more mel
teachers would be available"
"The reason that crime, divorce anC
suicide are on the increase in th'
United States and that the risins
generation is eXtravagant in the eX
penditure of money and destructive
of property, is due to the present fail
ure to drive home habits OF thrift an,
industry" said a speaker for the 50
ciety, Professor Wolfe Cwho startet
SdIutuluS ia llt SNuObiS VI -itllilll
and San Antonio) in addressing tn
National Brick Manufacturers Asso
citation. As the representative of tn
American Society 70 Thrift ne urge,
the return to ways of thrift and adop
ton of gardening as part of publ,
school instruction as a most impOrtan
step in correcting the prodigal ways
School Gardening Success
In scores of towns and citie'
throughout the United States this yea
hoes, rakes and trowels will be sub
stituted for pencils and paper, books
and chalk, as means for education
The children of many foreign parents
particularly those from rural parts o
Europe, grow up with a strange fals'
pride about the prosaic picks ant
shovels, hoes and rakes, Just as they
acquire habits OF extravaganza ant
prodieal ways. The lessons in the
public schools. which lend dignity and