The Washington times., 1920-02-09

THE washington Times mas tOu1n'
ed the right spot-the schools-to got
the real idea OF Americanism-for tho
boys and girls OF America, as soon
as they begin to read and think,
realize better than grown folks wha.
advantages this country offers and
why they should always be loyal 10
it." ...-...-.. -.....
The foundation of the genuine last
ing kind OF Americanism must be
built in the schools-so The Washing
ton Times, to my way OF thinking.
has started something that will not
only arouse the pride and patriotism
OF the school children but will make
some of us grown-ups brush up IN
our history for fear that the young
folks will shame us by their knowl-
edge OF what Abraham Lincoln sto"d
for during the time he was President.
regarding our relations with foreign
countries, and how, what he said at
that time, applies to the present day
relations between America and Eu-
ropean countries.
The Wisdom Of Ckildren.
Young, keen minds-groping for
knowledge-are able very often 10
think OF and to say things that have
a sounder basis for serious thought
than many of the things thought OF
and said by mature minds.
Personally. l am great believer
in the wisdom of children. Many or
the best, cleanest and most intelligcrt
things / have done in my lifetime
were suggested to me by children.
I taught country schools for nine
years. / don't know how / was able
to teach because when i started i was
only a boy-but II was the best thing
that ever happened to me.
The children, many of them, knew
about as much as / did.
They Made Hin study.
The questions they asked me made
me study harder every day than II l
was going to school myself.
As a matter of fact. / did go to
school all the time I taught-and II
learned quite as much from my pupils
as they learned from me.
Ever since those days, I have had
the greatest respect for the things
that children think any cay.
Therefore, am glad that The
Washington Times !. is giving school
children a chance to say in their
essays what they think Abraham Lin
coin meant in the COS in his dealings
with foreign countries and what II
he were alive. he would do today.
based o nwhat he thought and said
then. r..,gt,,t -
Inspiration From Youngsters.
No doubt Mr.. Hearst, who has i've
boys of his own, appreciates rs much
as anybody does what wonderful ideas
children have aboue some of the most
important and vital things Of the day
so / am sure this Lincoln Birthday
idea of getting the children interested
in writing essays had its origin with
him. s..
A man must love children and they
must love him in order that mutual
understanding shall exist between
them.
Mr.. Hearst loves children and they
love him. He respects their knowl-
edge-even in it's budding stage-for
he as well as all of us, having an
ounce of common sense. realize that
out of the mouths of children we get
very often our greatest inspiration.
All School Children Eligible.
The school children of all classes
and all ages have. equal chance to
for the prizes offered by The
Washington Times. 1t is the thought
tile idea-that will weigh with the
judges more than the words used.
So you little folks ought to start
in right away and use your minds to
figure out the meaning of the simple
words always used by Abraham Lin
coin.
You don't have to write 1000 words,
but you may If you want to-but no
more. You may write as few as you