Evening star., 1914-11-18

factor of every city. The patriotic peo-
pie of the country look upon the National
Capital as an integral whole. They
want it to be a model city in every
respect. They would be ashamed before
the world if it's public schools were con-
demned by impartial critics. Therefore.
public school estimates are rightly the
largest item in the municipal budget.
and the United States rightly pays one
half OF the appropriations.
The eight educational experts who
recently addressed the Washington
teachers said privately that they were
people they had ever addressed. This
Is typical Of the opinion generally held
by educators OF our teaching force,
chiefly graduates Of our normal schools.
In personnel we have the best, thanks
to the character of the homes from
which they come and to the training
given by our normal schools.
we are fortunate at this time, as
When Mr. Stuart was superintendent,
in having a Washington man at the
head Of the public schools, and in the
recognize
Pays Tribute to Mr.. Wilson.
Mr.. Stuart told of the personality Of
Mr. Wilson. He said, in part:
1t Is clear enough now. after the
lapse Of sixty-six eventful years, as We
pause to review this remarkable ca
reer, that it was in the providential
plan for this strong, cultivated man
to cast his lot among our people, to
grow with the city's growth and
the fullness Of time he should become
almost single-handed, the first builder
OF this great public school system,
whose representatives tonight assem-
pie to do him honor. 1t was so ordered.
a Ur O IN fh~
He no doubt found, too, in those
early days. much to incite new inter-
est IN his eager patriotism. Daniel
webster. an alumnus of his own COL
iege, was still in the Senate. and al
though he had passed the crest of his
most renowned activities, must have
seemed colossal figure to the ardent
gaze OF young New Englander, fresh
from the venerated shades of old Dart
mouth 1t was through the direct in
nuence OF this great man that Mr.. Will
son, in 1850, was appointed to a posi-
t1on in the government service, and
Webster's letter. to which he owed his
appointment, was among his most val
ued possessions"
Franklin School Built.
After telling Mr.. Wilson's early ca
reer, Mr.. Stuart said:
''The Franklin School building was
completed in 1859. Mr.. Wilson had a
personal pride in the Franklin School,
in its elevated and prominent loca-
tion,' as he described 1t, with grand
proportion and architectural charac-
teristics. Gen. Francis A. Walker
said that whenever he passed that
noble American public school he turned
to look and felt like lifting his hat in
token of respect
"Mr Wilson was appointed superin-
ha TlIih ccIN - yIy
ington in 1870. He writes: AN office
OF this kind is never sinecure. It's
occupant does not embark for a pleas
ure voyage on summer sea. Many
times he must be chart, compass, cap
tain, pilot and man of all work, and
will find himself in stormy weather
sailing between Scylla and Charybdis
He may not go too fast or too slow,
too far to the right or too far to the
left, lest he may fail to gain and hold
the confidence and loyalty of the corps
Of teachers whom he is to lead. or the
general appreciation and support of the
school board and the public, all of
which are essential to his highest sue
cess
Succumbed April 2, 1911.
'Mr. Wilson died at his home in this
city on the morning Of April 2. 1911, on
the eighty-sixth anniversary of his
birth. Numerous of his friends had ar
ranged for a great ovation on that day.
Beautiful flowers were sent, hundreds of
letters and postals bearing congratula-
tions and good wishes from his CO.
laborers in the schools and from his
fellow citizens generally were received.
One who had known him many. many
years, both as trustee and superin-
tendent, wrote:
God bless him. great of heart, mag
unanimous, courtly and courageous