Evening star., 1937-12-27

Of the North Americans, he liked the
United States. in spite OF its lack OF
discipline and money-grinding COM
mercialism On his first visit he trav-
eled as far as Pittsburgh; on his
second, as envoy, he went to Ann
Arbor to receive an honorary LII. D.
degree from the University of Michi-
gan. New York City he found Gin
l84D "the least American city in the
Union, In appearance and customs
Whole quarters. filled with European
immigrants, have very narrow and
dirty streets burdened with houses OF
miserable EXPERIMENTATION by
beautiful wooded hills anc inlets OF
the sea-"
But Of the United States generally
he wrote: Here was country where
schools are the basis OF prosperity
where people have something to eat,
good clothes, and where they journey
In pleasant seats with a book before
them, reading what every one can un-
derstand, keeping themselves informed
OF public events throughout the world
by a free and interesting press, con-
quering the deserts, cultivating new
nelds. and bowling to no sovereign but
their own laws In Boston, public
schools are converted into temples by
the magnificence of their architecture.
Each living being pays a dollar a year
to educate the children of his fellow
men: and every poor child annually
consumes 81 Of public income in his
education. Here is the home Of Uni
tarianism, which raises belief to the
plane OF religious and moral philoso-
ply, and seeks to unite the sects."
Spent Three Years Here.
In Washington, where he was widely
honored during the three "happiest
years Of his life" he gathered ma
terials for his life of Lincoln. shipped
books and agricultural machinery to
his native Argentina and cultivated
the acquaintance of famous Ameri-
cans. notably Horace Mann and Long
fellow. He predicted that the Capital
City would become the national shrine
Of art, the greatest center of museums
and OF American culture.
Having participated in the over
throw of the last of the tyrants' of
Argentina, whose long reign had, per-
haps, been necessary in order to
awaken in the people an appreciation
of the blessings of peace and of free
government. and in the making of the
Argentine constitution of May /, 1858.
on the American model, Sarmiento
and his friend Gen. Mitre succeeded
to the presidency by the first orderly
and peacable elections. His term of
ONCE of six years. without right of re-
election u868-1s74). was distinguished
by the promotion of railroad building.
by trebling the number of children
in the public schools and by the up-
building of the country and the con-
solldation Of its republican liberties.
"A superb old man, of Spartan habits.
crazy Sarmiento' as his adversaries
called him, he wonderfully moulded
the thinking of his contemporaries
and stamped with the vigorous seal
OF his personality an historic moment
in Argentine social and political evolu-
tion.' Those interested to read more
about him will find Ricardo Leven's
History Of Argentina" TRANSLATED by
William S. Robertson Of the University
OF North Carolina) the most authori-
tative reference. and Cecil James Lib
erty and DeSDotism in Snanish Amor.
ica' the most interesting.
Sarmiento died peacefully. despite
one or two attempts at assassination.
at Asuncion, capital Of Paraguay.
whittier he had journeyed for rest and
health. on September IL. 1888.
MY feet are turning to bronze" he
said. Put me in my chair and let
me see the dawn rising over South
America"
Next week: Don Pedro, Emperor of
Brazil.