The Press., 1917-01-25


 put on. There is no doubt but thi
 is one of the best plays the higl school has put on and the director
 are to be congratulated on thei success.
 The play Red Acre Farm" whiol
 was put on at Memorial hall in tn
 Hollow by the grange twice anc
 which is an excellent performance
 will be given at St. Edwards hall nex Wednesday night for the benefit O
 the Johnson hospital There vii b'
 solos in between the acts by Bernard
 Mullins and dancing after the enter
 tainment Lynoh's orchestra vii
 furnish the music. The admission
 will be D cents for general admission
 and 35 cents for reserved seats, anG
 will go on sale at J. F. Warrens s store
 tomorrow at 9 o'clock.
 THE STAFFORD SCHOOLS,
 The open meeting of the Current
 Events club Monday evening had
 the largest attendance of any in the
 history of the club The evening was
 wholly devoted to Stafford schools
 Young pupils of the lower grades sang two selections without accom-, paniment and under the supervision oi
 Miss Marjorie Morse, gave a demon. stration in "slip reading, " the new method recently introduced into the local schools The girls who sang were Mae McCrohan, Dorothy Fisk, Elsie Panciera. Pauline Panoiera, Julia Russeck, Beatrice Mason, Josephine Fraser. Julia Russeck. a talented little story teller, gave a recitation and Dorothy Fisk. Elsie Panoiera and Julia Rnsseck took part in a dialogue. William Meloher. who came in September to be Stafford $ first superintendentswa asked to speak on Stafford schools and their inn provement Refreshments were served by the hostesses, assisted by the younger mem bers of the club. The following is the address of MT. Melcher:
 The town of Stafford is one which is fortunate in several re- spects. It is a beautiful place for homes as we'll as a suitable place for factories. It affords pleasing variety of scenery with it's hills and valleys, it's wood and undulating meadow lands. One eau go only a short distance with out coming to a fresh bubbling spring, surrounded by old messy gray stones and partially concealed by ferns. The landscape is attractive at any season, from the spring time with its pro- fusion of tender green buds, summer with it's cool and restful forests, autumn with it's intoxicating splashes nf color, to winter with its snowy hill sides and olumps of evergreens cut with streaks of the graceful white birch Few places without the tropical climates can claim such variety and profusion of vegetation.
 The town is fortunate in it's beauti- ful Hyde park, its Memorial library, its hospital and other benefaotions These add not alone to the enjoyment and convenience, but promote the general welfare and prosperity of the 
 Good s,hools and active churches are a great asset to the town and make it a desirable place for homes; schools where young people can gain knowledge of life and prepare for its duties and responsibilities; churches where they may be led to ideas ot just and righteous living. Communities these things are doomed to become poor in the things that make them desirable places to live and rear B family. Sooner or later such com- become poor not only in the things that make for intellectual and spiritual welfare, but poor financially
 That a community which promotes sduoation becomes wealthy has been proved, says our Com missioner of Education, Philander P. 1laxon. He points to communities, states aud nations to prove this state- nent He gives examples of com states and nations that have been transformed through edu- cation. He uses Switzerland as one example of nation, with it's steep and barren hills, its people almost at the point of starvation, transformed to a and happy people through led by the inspiration of that great educator and reformer 
 What I shall say this evening will be concerned most directly with what 1ur schools are in need of. Speaking to an audience interested in the inn Drovement of tl e town community, and particularly desiring the advantage of the highest intellectual development of their children, shall feel free in making statements which to those less interested might appear as complaints.
 Stafford is not so fortunate in it's schools, in every respect as one might wish. The town is large, the population in remote sections is sparoe, inc schools of these sections are small md the wealth is deoadent. There is little encouraging and inspiring for inc advancement of these outlying schools The expense of maintenance n some of these districts far out balances the results secured Hence most of the buildings are poor, equip nent meager, and it is impossible to obtain trained teachers for the salaries LOW paid; however a few of these