Evening star., 1916-10-22

ZONE

The dining room is a wide, spacious
room, furnished in old mission, not only
large enough to seat the regular resi-
dents, but also giving room for each
ton rooms and porches are filled with
comfortable wicker and willow chairs
and settees.
The teachers divide the management
of the house into allotted periods OF
their nine months. There are four serv-
ants-a cook, a Jamaican negress who
is SO skillful that complaints are never
heard: a laundress, who allows all the
ladies seven white linen gowns week
without a murmur; a tidy chambermaid
and general utility man. ALI this and
excellent food from the commissary at
cost of less than $18 per month for
each teacher.
I'VE enjoy so many of the good
things of life" said Miss Daniels. that
find myself feeling sorry for all
teachers less pleasantly placed. We
have no rival schools. for the govern
ment. holding all concessions. does not
grant any to those who wish to set up
private schools and get all varieties of
pupils dissatisfied. We have a strict
standard to maintain. and we take pride
in doing it, but without the irritating
schools bring to bear against govern
ment establishments.
Then, we are exiles ALL and bond of
fellowship makes for cordial inter
course. Social life is charming. We
have tea at o'clock on our porches,
and it is the custom to visit about
every afternoon There are dining and
card parties and receptions and the
school hours are little different
from those at home. because of the in
tense heat of midday.
my school comes to attention at $40
am. and remains in session until 11:4O.
There is then an interval of one hour
and twenty minutes During this time
there is luncheon and exercise in the
gym, or reading aloud. The session be-
gins again at i and continues until 3.
Our pupils in Panama are all of the
well-to-do class, since there are no poor
on the isthmus. This is natural. since
no one can reside there without being
employed or holding a paying conces-
sion. The children are all well dressed.
and all have the added advantages OF
travel and mingling with alien peo-
pies. We have the two languages
studied together in the graded schools,
Spanish and English, and four in the
high school, French and German being
added.
.-One of our high school activities OF
which we are very proud is the publi-
cation, the Zonian. which costs US more
than $500 a year. every penny of which
is provided by the pupils through ad-
vertising and subscriptions 1 find fnat
the compositions of our isthmus' little
folks compare favorab1y with those OF
children who have every advantage OF
library, theaters. concerts and fine lee
lures All of this sort Of intellectual
food which comes our way is provided
either by the pupils as I have described
or through the energy of the Y. M. c. A.
We publish the best productions in the
English class. and occasionally we al
low a sketch in Spanish or French"
Miss Daniels is young for her respon-
sible position, and has a prepossessing
personality as well as executive ability.
She came to Panama for the purpose of
visiting a sister married to one of the
Zone officials. and, feeling a desire to
teach. she took the examination and
with entire success. She taught only
short time in the graded schools at An
con before receiving her promotion TO
the Balboa high school.
She is the daughter of Andrew Dan
iels of Canton, Ohio, and was born in
the city made famous as the residence
of the latest martyred President, VII
liam Mckinney hAtSi hhAShiH5 ehS AAe
school course in Canton she went to
western Reserve University. Every
wear Miss Daniels takes a long and
profitabie trip. as do all the teachers
under her. She explains they live fru-
gally but happily during the winter.
and then they can we'll afford journey
which will combine pleasure and men
tai refreshment.
Last summer Miss Daniels went to
Washington and made a tour OF The
Government at Home" She returned
armed with books and cards. which she
Will use to good purpose during the
year. She has toured South America.
the Antilles, Europe and the far west.