The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-25
Department Of Superintendent
Officially. Opened When
Mayor Ainslie Welcomes
Visitors to City.
Snow to Make
It Like Home
National Education Association
With More Than 1000 Pres
emit Finds City Gives Warm
Welcome" Many to Peters
burg to See Crater.

With the initial meeting of the De-
partment OF Superintencence In the
City auditorium last evening. the con-
vention of the National Education as
ISOLATION was officially opened and the
continuous round of executive ses-
sions and meetings. snterspersed with
little pleasure outings, will continue
throughout the week. More than two
thousand delegates 10 the convention
were In the auditorium when Ben
jarnin Blewett, president of the de-
partment and superintendent OF the
public schools of St. Louis. rose TO In
troduce the mayor. The crowd con-
tinued to grow, in spite of a number
of exits caused by the rather chilly at
mosphere, until 1t Is estimated mat
fully three thousand delegates and
residents of Richmond attended.
This meeting at the auditorium Of
ficialIy opened the convention, but
earlier in the day there had been
number OF meetings held at various
places throughout the city and a great
many OF the more important questions
which were to come up for discussion
by the convention had been consider
ed. These sessions were all well at
tended and the greatest interest was
manifested in the discussions and the
addresses which were made by some
Of the most prominent educators in the
United States
Even grim schaolmasters and
EchoofmarmE are said to display
trace Of pleasure-loye at time. and to
be curious regarding the places of In
,erest particularly II these places are
Of historical importance. The fact was
clearly demonstrated yesterday. and
judging from the many arrangements
for Journeys 10 historical places on to-
day and the days during the remain
der OF the week, there should be no
doubt as to the professors desires to
get the full value of their trip TO this
city
While hundreds attended the meet
inGs held yesterday, there were also
hundreds who showed their determin-
alton not to allow business to inter-
fere with their pleasure and who paid
visits to most of the places OF his
torical and educational interest in the
city and in the near vicinity.
Two large delegations made the trip
to Petersburg to see the Crater ana
the remains OF the sattfsfields in that
section. Half dozen parties. none
of which numbered less than twenty.
journeyed down TO Seven Pines and. in
spite of the snow and cold, tramped
about the country apparently Ihor-
oughly enjoying themselves. These
were the trips which took the parties
out OF the city. but n score or more
OF large parties and numberless in
dividuals took occasion to see the leg
islature in action, the Battle Abbey,
the museums, Monument avenue. and
even the penitentiary.
AS In nearly all other portions OF
the work of caring for the delegates
of aiding them the guides from the
senior class OF the John Marshall High
school proved OF invaluable service in
this work Each group was taken in
charge by one or more or the boys
familiar with the localities which they
were to visit, who conducted the par
ties and explained the various inter-
esting facts with all of the gusto OF
the professional speeicr OF the rubber
r-ck wagons They enjoyed 1t, too.
ana they remained at their work from
: carly morning until late at night
Reports at the Jefferson hotel. which
is the headquarters of the convention.
last night were to the effect that the
largest number Of delegates had regis
tered here during the last two days
In the history of any such convention
In this city. The representatives from
far distant cities continue to arrive on
each train, and the hotels. already
crowded. are now taxed to their limits
The boarding houses in the vicinity of
the centers OF operations are overflow
Ing and even those in the more distant
sections Of the town are rapidly NIL
ing. Many private homes were opened
TO the delegates last night. The con
yention liz undoubtedly one OF the lars-
VI est to visit Richmond in several months
and has brought to this city some OF
the most prominent men now before
the public.
Today will bring its vast amount of
work to be accomplished by the con-
ference and It's many and important
4 meetings. Operations viii be begun
early in the morning. and during the
day will be held without interruption.
The nrst meeting at $3.50 o'clock in
the High school auditorium. viii be
s. followed, by six sessions to be held In
'sliffercnt places at o'clock. while the
days work viii be concluded with
dinner MT 6 o'clock In Murphy's hotel.
4 wits dinner giYen by the Educational
Press Association OF America. will be
followed by a round-tahle discussion
OF questions relating to educational
journalism and business meeting at
s.,hich officers will be elected for the
coming year.
Governor stuart will address the
4 meeting at the John Marshall High
school at 10 O'Clock. Another special
feature 81 the program for today will
- the luncheon rendered the ladies
az the convention by tho Sauer Extract
company Mt s o'clock. The meeting IN
q the City auditorium In the evening Will
s "a preceded by q jubilee at which thir-
s1ty-nye negro slngeru FROM the local
tobacco factories will make merry.
\ Their pAxt of the pro9ram viii ne
Ss 1Ccntihue1 a 5econd pA9Ss