1
TEHCHERS OF ST. PfIUL SCHOOLS Efforts of Those Who Instruct Our Children to Inprove Themselves THE LONG SUMMER VACATION Not n lMn.vtime tor Teacher* (lark University Popular for Sr.iu- im-r Study Dr. linker on the Work at That Institution Tho SchonlN of Germany The Trou- ble of Mnunul i'i-iiiiiiiiK Text nook tfu. -(ion in Chicago. That teaching is more and more held to be a profession is evident from the mimber of teachers who every summer avail themselves of the means of in.- provement to bs had in great educa- tional gatherings, in smaller local in- Btytntes end in the great colleges and universities which offer vacation courses for teachers. That the long summer vacation is a long playtime for teachers is a popular fallacy, as the teacher nowadays who doea not do something to improve her- self professionally during this time is almost an anomaly. St. Paul has heretofore sent a fairly respectable number of teachers away to these centers of inspiration and knowledge. That tho number is per- ceptibly falling off in these latter times is due naturally to the tact that teach- ers have less money to invest in such expensive luxuries as summer schools. Then the subjects given most promi- nence by the leaders in education whom one meets at such centers at Ohautau- «iua, Martha's Vineyard, Bay View and Chicago, Harvard and Clark universi- ties, are exactly the ones that local crades and authorities discourage and deride. It is not strange, then, that come of our most enthusiastic and pro- gressive teachers are beginning to feel that St. Paul should have what it asks for, and is willing to pay for, and no more. It takes courage to invest cap- Hal in a losing business— and the fact that a few teachers still possess the courage and faith and the professional zeal to spend time, strength and money to improve themselves, speaks volumes for the profession. Among educational centers for sum- mer study perhaps Clark university is nu.st popular, and deservedly so, from the fact that Dr. G. Stanley Hall is at its head. It has. since it began sum- mer courses for toachc-rs, always at- tracted a small coterie from Minnesota. Last summer St. Paul was represented by Miss Gertrude A. Stoker, special in- structor in drawing in our grade schools, and Henry G. Baker, principal of the Jefferson school. The latter completed his fourth summer course at t'kirk, and has earned by this and pre- vious work the degree of doctor of phi- losophy. He is a most ardent admirer of Dr. Kail, and was chairman of a committee which, at the end of last summer's work, drafted resolutions of appreciation of Clark summer courses and made an earnest plea for the con- tinuance of the work in future years. Both Dr. Baker and Miss Stoker have shown a zeal and an enthusiasm in their work during the lart year which the most depressing local " conditions could not quench, and which can alone be gained from such minds as one meets at a place like Clark university. Dr. Baker contributes the following simple, clear and interesting account of the work done at Clark, which will he read with pleasure by all interested in the upward trend of education in this country: DR. BAKER'S ACCOUNT. In October, ISB9, Ciark university, Wor- . cesier, Mass., was opened for the rec?ption \ of students. It was named from the founder, Jonas Clark. The presid&ftt fiom the first I has teen Dr. G. Stanley Hall. A col>. ge | diploma, or its equivalent, is tho require- meat for admission. It is not the plan of \ the university to do any undergraduate j work, but rather to prepare graduates who I have received the degrees of A. 8., H. S., etc., to leaoh in colleges and universiies. | The degree of Ph. D. is given to such as | ccraplete the course they n:ay choose, as psychology, mathematics, physics, anthropo- I logy, pedaeogy. etc. It is primarily a school ! of research. The student is required to I •write a graduation thesis which shell add j Fcnn-thing to the sum of human knowledge, j Clark university is a pioneer In the new j field. It is bettf-r known and more appre- ciated in Germany than in America. Men who have spent a year of ;wo in Germany j can now come to Clark, and complete their | education, a^ many have done with profit and : delight Tli" summer school at Clark gives to its i students the cream, the substance of the j year's research at the university, and in the ! \u25a0world. The term of schcol consits of twe've I days, with eight lectures per day. besides i in the various laboratories. The one th ng j the summer school does not aim to do is to Kive students the substance of what they can find in bojks and read for themselves. It does, however, to an extent which few would deem possible, inspire all with inrense z.al in the study cf pedagogy and psysohology. There have been four summer schools, viz.. in 1892, ISG4. 1805 and 1596. The writer has attended the last three. The lectures of Dr. G. Stanley Hal! upon the principles of psychology and pedagogy are pronounced by experts who have heard the best German philosophers to be far su- perior to what any univ.-r?ity in Germany can offer. He treats what psychologists have so long slighted, viz., the feelings, wh'ch i are the basis of character, in a ; manner which not on'.y delights, buc arouses intense interest, and furnishes to all hints of immense value in solving the many hard problems of life. These lec f ures are largely attended by the best minds in V.'orcester. Dr. W. H. Burnham, who lectures upon applied psychology or pedagogy, gives teachers the world's best thoughts and latest re- I search upon suoh topics as training the mem- ! ory, school programmes, fatigue in school, ! school hygiene, sequence of studies, etc. I For the school room teacher his are per- haps fully as practical as any of the courses. His knowledge is at once cyclopedic and critically exact, both of the principles and history of education. Dr. C. F. Hedge gives the best possible condensed course upon the brain and its parts, and their relations to mental work, ' supplementing what others have done with i the results of his own original researches. Dr. E. C. Sanford lectures upon expeil- j menial psychology. His recer.t boolt, the first of several to be published by him, is ' the best manual uron the subject. Dr. A. F. Chamberlain, whose new large •work upon anthropology, marks a new epoch in that science, lectures upon the child and folklore ami related topics, until hearers be- gin to think the child is the most wonder- ful thing in all creation. Perhaps he is right. Usually Dr. A. G. Webster has given COUTMB upon the matter and methods of physics, but he did not in 1596. The same is true of Dr. W. E. Storey, of the depart- I ment of mathematics. He has in prepara- I tion for publication some works embodying ! new depnriments of mathematics. Dr. Herman Lukens, who takes the chair of pedagogy at Bryn Mawr this year, gives a t-oursp upon the history of curricula, a | topic of unusual interest at this time. Spe- cial attention was given last year to the principles of kindergarten work, and many or, perhaps, most, of the leading kinder- partners of tho country were present on •Kindergarten day," when child students and kind^rgannors formally joined hands in token of perpetual alliance. Think of see- tag and hearing in oue day such personali- ties as \\ heelock. Brvan Putnam mow Chapin, Tefft, Dr. Harris' and Dr S Nearly all the men whose names are ever heard in connection with modern psvcho'osy have been stuoents at Clark, or of Dr H°ll at Johns Hopkins. Among fern I reaal! Donaldson, of Chicago: Scripture of Vale" I ryan. of Indiana University; Krohn i of Illinois; Bolton, late of Worcester Vormal now of California; Luckev, of N-braska nd Kirkpatrick, of Winona (Minn ) Normal' ?l 'n e J c:en< '. c °, f experimental psychology' and the Pedagogical Seminary are edited at tne umvcraity. They are both journals of £ search, not rehash. The University of Chic co had twenty-four Clark students in its facul r two or three years ago according to Dr Har ris in his report. These facts show the Inspiration which the summer school students must inibioe. Dr. Hall may justly be called the founder c I HH e ot experimental psychology and child study. If you like, change the letter "o genetic psychology, or the psychology of growth. Dr. E. C. Sanford was his colaborer i in his work upon the former, so those who rv hear Dr. Sanford, drink at the fountain || Dr. Hod/je, by Ills original work upon th« v. brain cell, has made, it may be said, a new science of fatigue. His researches upon the effect of alcohol upon the human systom will, when finished, make a firm foundation for scientific temperance. The resulu of his work already completed, are both s'artll :g and appalling. His discoveries in the science of fatigue are bound to do much good n all lines of humane activity, to none more than to teachers. Dr. Webster and Dr. Storey have also added much to the world's knowledge in their fte!ds. Who attends the summer Si-hool? Thirty states and some foreign countries are usually represented. The most remarkable thing about the attendance is to note the number of teachers of psychology in college and normal schools college presidents, normal school presidents, city superintendents, teachers of pedagogy in training schools, kindergarten trainers, graded school princip- als and teachers of physical culture. Graded school teachers are but a small factor. So helpful, so kind are these kindly men that the feelini», the "atmosphere" as it were, makes the students very friendly among them- selves, iind to a wonderful extent makes them friendly to the faculty. Their hearts are warmed. The last day is a sad one, for Dr. Hall and his beloved faculty are men whose large, warm hearts will fit them to teach tho philo- sophy of life, and develop the higher, nobler feelings, which are character. THE SCHOOLS OF GERMANY. An Interesting Paper by Miss Amulle Nix. In the spring of 1896 Miss Amalie Nix, at that time teacher of the eighth grade in the Madison school, and at present teacher of German in the Cen- tral high school, was attracted by the pedagogical fame of Jena to spend several months of study there. She entered the seminar at that institution in May, continued seminary work in pedagogy until the summer course be- gan; completed that, did some more work in the fall, and, after a two weeks' trip in observation of the German com- mon school system, reached home in November, an enthusiastic Herbartian. She met a hospitable reception for her new enthusiasm and advanced ideas from Gen. George S. Smith, principal of the Madison school, and was ac- corded perfect freedom to make use of all she had gained from her study and observation. She thus writes con amore of her experience in the Old World: Thousands of Americans have for the past twenty years entered German universities for the purpose of seeking knowledge which they cannot obtain in their own country. More recently, the public school system of Germany has been made a subject of study by American teachers. They all agree that the present high standard of morality and intelligence of. the German nation has its origin in the careful training of the child. Whether on American. English or German soil, child-nature displays a striking resem- blance everywhere. The duty of moulding the character, of developing and cultivating those qualities in children which will make them noble men and women — worthy citizens — is left to the mother, the father, and, lat- er, to the teacher. And the typical German homo Justly deserves being called the pre- paratory department of the primary school. The feeling of reverence shown here for parents, sisters and brothers — the sweet spirit of submission to all parental authority — is particularly impressive and noticeable to the observing stranger, while the sunny ex- pressions on the children's faces prove that they are happy to obey and to recognize law in their own home. From these relations necessarily follow the beautiful ties of af- fection that bind together the different mem- be tb of a family forever. Among the schools of Germany those of Thurlngia and Saxony most deserve our at- tention. The teacher who is favored with a permit to visit the public schools of Jena, Eisenbach, Altenburg, Weimar, Leipzig and Dresden finds that he hr.s been rewarded by gaining considerable knowledge through this observation trip. He realizes that he is benefited in his psychological researches; that he is inspired by the new educational thought. Weimar, the classical city of Germany, has a kindergarten where the little children are instructed in a large garden containing numerous flower beds, among which they study and play themselves the choicest of the flowers. This ideal kindergarten was, until a year ago, conducted by one of Froebel's former pupils, Fraulein Schellhorn. The elevating influence of an environment with which these little ones are blessed are quite perceptible, though their young minds have hardly passed the state of infancy. Al- though full of the vigor and enthusiasm characteristic to their age, they begin to show an intellectual ability which is, in- deed, surprising to the observer, who has an opportunity of studying both psychological and a sociological problem here. For the past twelve years the eyes of the educational world have been turned to Jena, the German center of pedagogical progress, where, a century ago, Schiller and Fichte were numbered among the professors of the university, where Goethe exerted his influ- ence, and where W. yon Humboidt wns clo=cly associated with his scientific friends. What an inspiration the monuments of learning which these great men have left in Jena, has been to later generations, Is proved by the fact that the university stands alone in Ger- many In having connected with it a pedagogi- cal seminary, and a practice school (Uebungs- schule) both of which are conducted by that noted pedagogical genius, Prof. Dr. Ilein. who holds the chair of pedagogy in the university as one of Herbart's and Ziller's most enthusi- astic followers. Prof, de Gnrmo, president of Swarthmore college, says of him: "Dr. Rein hns made the pedagogical seminary at Jena the most noted of its kind in Europe, to whl?h students resort from every civilized country. His specific contribution to the Herbartian cause lies not so much in the promulgation of new ideas, as in the practical application of the important one that remained mostly un- tried. Ziller's opponents were inclined to re- gard him as a pedagogical sentimentalist, who would sacrifice any number of rich educa- tional inheritances for a poor rcess of peda- gogical pottage. Few teachers thought that his plan of concentration, with its scheme of culture epochs, and its subordination of the greater part of the subjects of study to Bibli- cal and profane history would stand the test of actual practice. It was the unrivalled work of Dr. Rein, aided by two of his col- leagues, in the normal school, to show in the eight volumes, corresponding to the eight years in the common schools. Just how Ziller's plan for the selection and concentra- tion of studies could be carried out in prac- tice, revealing at the same time in the most elaborate detail the methodical treatment of each subject, according to five formal steps. These eight volumes are a monument of pa- tient labor, such as only Germans are capa- ble of executing." According to the historic genetic principle involved in the Herbartian system, his"ory forms the basis of the plan of instru.-tlon i the center from which the other studies di- verge like the branches of a tree from its | massive trunk. The results obtained in ths Herbartian schools are worthy cf admira- tion, the high degree of intelligence which characterizes the pupils is especially notcea- ble in their power of reasoning, which is in a great measure due to this system of thor- ough, mehtodical teaching. It is gratifying to the observing teacher to see that th n moral sentiments occupies a conspicuous plfice in the correlation of studies ethical instruction being brought into every recita- tion. The number of excursions by m=ana of which the child is brought Into \u25a0 lo=o j ecntart with the "Book of Nature" during ! ;he spring, summer and autumn months as science lessons, are also very helpful Since | almost every spot of Germany bears traces j of the history of rcast agea, the pupils find I sources of knowledge never to be exhaust* d i The advantages the children of Jena Wi- | rr.ar and Eisenach alone have for st'udynjr Mstory, geography and literature cannot b^ over estimated. Although the Hrrbartian system, wi-h is principle of correlation as the central j thought, is r.ot employed in all the schools of Germany, yet ( verywhere a high d<>T>e of efficiency is attained by the pupil-? a thorough knowledge of every subject includ- ed in their course of study. They arc a studious class of children, who carry witb them into the school rcom the feeling of rc-spect taucht ih-?m in their homes. The courses offered by tne univeisty and school of pedagogy at Jena to teachers vho have acquired a thorough knowledge of -.ha German language, can be Heartily recom- mended. Wonirn students are admitted to the school of pedagogy, while the unlvrr-'ity is open to them during the summer months when they can be greatly benefited by an excellent course of lecture?. Among the best of these are Prof. Reins in pedagogy Prof. Ziehens in physiological psychology' Prof. Erhardt's In philosophy and literature' and Dr. Scholz in special didacrics. The majority of teachers see-king higher instruction in Jena come from Germany, Aus- tria, England, America, Sweden, Norway Denmark, Flnnland and Russia. Many of these are sent by the government to study tho school system others by the public schools of progressive cities that strive to perfect their own school system. Indianapolis has repeatedly sent teachers to Jena in order to raise the standard of her school*, their salary while there being continued and all other expenses paid. Upon their return a promotion and of course a raise in salary awaits them. Many of the Eastern cities urge their teach- ers to go abroad for educational purposes, as c*n be testified by the class of American teachers who annually assemble at Jena. Ainoug the noted pedagogues of our coun- try who have been students at Jena, besides Prof, de Garmo, are Dr. W. T. Harris, Col. Parker. Dr. G. Stanley Hall, Dr. Frank Mc- Murry and Dr. Rice. The teacher who goes abrcad for intellec- tual development will soon realize that his foreign associates are a people who give merit where it is deserved, showing great respect for intelligence and education. They are pervaded by a spirit of honesty, which does not permit them to swerve from what is just and right. In accordance with this no position can be secured through influence. By the extension of moral and mental cul- ture Germany has grown into an educational center of which the German nation may well be proud. MANUAL TRAINING. The Hard Row It Has to Hole In the Public Schools. It Is reassuring to friends of the schools to be told by one who may be supposed to represent infallible author- ity in matters of finance, both general and local, that there is no problem in school management to be solved. The fact that such information may not be couched in strictly Chesterfieldlan phrases, and that it may more than imply a painful lack of mental equip- ment on the part of those who have voiced their fears, is no bar to their pleasure. May it be permitted these timid and unbusiness-like ones, however, to refer a few specific inquiries to this high authority. If there is not and never has been any "problem," why were manual training and domestic economy remov- ed from our school curriculum just when other cities were discovering their value in education and were put- ting them into their courses? Why has It been necessary, each re- curring spring, for the freinds of tho Mechanic* Arts and branch high schools to rally in force to save them from threatened destruction? Why must the school authorities, from time to time, be forced to con- sider seriously the question of cutting from our course drawing, music and physical training — branches which maintain their place unquestioned, now, in all cities of any educational standing? Why must teachers buy maps for the teaching of history or geography or beg them from railroad offices? Why has it devolved upon the teachers to furnish reading matter to the children of a city which distinctly disclaims hav- ing gone into bankruptcy, and whose individual citizens are more than will- ing to undertake that duty themselves? Why is it that a heating plant is put into a school In- the midst of a school year, and the education of 1,200 children almost broken up for several months, because the money could not be obtain- ed for such plant at the proper time? Why must Cheapness in school man- agement be present to a point where St. Paul can no longer command the services of men and women of the high- est professional attainments to carry on its schools? Why has the superintendent's office been reduced to the financial extremity of sending suoh presumably Important documents as teachers' contracts in un- sealed envelopes to save postage? Why is it no longer considered ex- pedient or safe to issue contracts to the teachers — a little business formality, by the way, which is respected In the most remote back-woods districts of the state? TEXT BOOK QUESTION. It Is Under Lively Discussion Now In Chicago. The text book question Is up for con- sideration in Chicago just now. Ella P. Young and Mr. Speer, two of the most able and progressive superintend- ents of that city, strongly urged the use of three text books in history in each room, a plan which fielps out the topical method of teaching history im- mensely, as every practical teacher can testify. Dr. Harper, president of the board of education, favored the open list, and said a book should never be adopted until it. had been tried in the class room. "It is a mistake," he said, "to lake any book that has not been long enough before the public for them to have examined it. The great gain in the open list is in the education of the teachers. There is a strong temptation on the part of pupils and teachers to memorize. The plan also requires a comparison of authorities. There is too much rote-work in the elementary schools. High school methods cannot be too soon introduced into them." The open list was practically in use in St. Paul schools until three years ago, when Barnes 1 was made the sole authority which could be purchased by the pupils. Many teachers have con- tinued to use any and all good school histories, however, buying them them- selves and lending them to pupils and getting them from the public library. What an ideal state of things it would be could pupils be permitted to buy in the open market, exactly as their fa-thers and mothers do for their own studies — such histories as Flake's, Higginson's, Gordy's, McMaster's and Mary Sheldon Barnes'. All such complications as arose In Boston a few years ago over an ob- jectionable line or two in Swinton's "School History of the United States" would be impossible. The teachers clubs, of Chicago, are dissatisfied with the representation ac- corded them in the council plan evolved for co-operation with the municipal educational commission. They have therefore voted to withdraw their ap- proval of the plan, though they could not legally withdraw, as they desired to do, since they are an integral part of the council. The club has lately considered the subject of the so-called "fads" in the public schools and passed the follow- ing resolution: Resolved, That it is the sense of the Chi- cago Teachers' club that we heartily indorse the teaching of music, drawing and physical culture in the Chicago putoMc schools for the purpose of the symmetrical educational de- velopment of the children, but that we depre- cpte any comparison between schools on these subjects. At a meeting of the educational com- mission lately held Dr. John Dewey and Dr. Edmund J. James, of Chicago uni- versity, were present as guests. A longer term for the superintend- ent and greater responsibility for that officer were favored by the commissione- rs. Supervisors for the common branches, as well as for the "fads," were recommended, and it was sug- gested that teachers who keep up on current topics and who try to make themselves better fitted to teach snould be promoted. EQUALIZATION OF SALARIES. Appeal for the Grade Teachers. There is no subject connected with the management of city affairs in which we mothers and grandmothers take so deep a.n interest as in the schools, and, incidentally, of course, in the young women who are teachers in those schools. Most of us come more direct- ly into relations with those who teach the grade school, from the fact that of all the scholars enrolled in the schools 93 per cert pass through the gradi's, and go no farther. And so our sympa- thies are with the women who really have the training of our children in their hands, in all their trials as well as successes. So we have been watching with a grreat deal of sympathy the course of the board of education, as they have seemed to be trying big financial pat- terns onto small financial cloth, for the last few years, because these are the very kind of problems that wpm»n most often have to encounter. Of late a little whisper of fear is going about among these watching mothers that we shall be obliged to conclude that this board ere not what women would call "good cutters," because they seem in- clined to bring the most important part of their pattern onto the poorest part of their cloth every time. In other words, it looks to us as if they were trying to get the most of the reduction of salaries that they claim is the only way to make the big pattern fit their cloth, by cutting the salaries pf the teachers who are the most important part of school work. The most important, we think, simply because they have the training of the largest percentage of our chil- dren. Many of us have followed "the star of empire along it* sway" and thus have been aljje to compare the schools in the different cities in which we temporarily resided, beginning with New York, Washington, Chicago, Far- go amd Omttha, doj-nfrng at last to St. Paul to find that her schools compared very favorably with ajvy we had known before. We foundi jthiat a wise course had for many years 'been pursued by the school board, "a liberal course such as one might extpect to find in this progressive Northwest, and one suited also to the spirit of those times. But the truth Is that tha,t course was al- most too ambitious foF-ithe real founda- tion on w-hich our city institutions had finally to rest. Tha.t. board has pro- vided some things not-really necessary for a good common school course such as the largest per cent of the pupils should be able to accomplish. But now that tjmes are hard and money scarce, and debts must be paid, could we not leave off some of these extras without doing our public school system very material injury? To go back to the woman* simile of the pattern and the cloth. Being in doubt as to how her material might hold out, the wise cutter would see that the waist and sleeves and skirt were made sure of before she tried to plan for the ruffles and flounces, the extras not positively necessary for a complete and comfortable garment. These are all right, and a pleasure, if fashion de- mands, and your purse will allow. But suppose that hard times made it nec- essary for you to remodel your once fashionable garment, would not reason dictate that the flounces be used to reinforce the sleeves or to piece down the skirt, instead of cutting piece after piece from the already not any too wide skirt, so as to keep the furbelows intact; and yet, that is just what our school officials are doing. Wthin the last four years, they have cut a strip from the not too big salaries of the grade teachers. You see it is not as if these faithful ones were to have the $40 to $53 that is mentioned as their pay, every month in the year; for in truth they get pay for only ten months, while what some people are pleased to call their vacations, must really be spent in preparation for the next year's work. They must attend some sort of a summer school or university, or enter classes where special lines of work in which they are interested are taught; all these things cost money at a time when no money is coming in. We mothers think that we want, and have got the very best teachers in what we might call the preparatory schools, for so small a per cent of the enrolled scholars ever reach the high school. At first thought we say all the chil- dren in St. Paul go to the high schools, because, you see, they may if they choose; but, if you look into the mat- ter, you find that only 7 per cent ever reach that desired haven. And, alas, considerably less than one per cent, get through the Mechanic Arts, or what we common people call the manual training school. Now, as to the class of pupils r who depend upon the grades for an educa- tion. They are a as rule the children of the poor. True, the children of our more fortunate neighbors are there, too, and they, as a rule, go on through the high schools, but the child of the average wage-earner, when he is through the grammar grade, and often before, is compelled by the exegencies of life, as his parents see them, to con- tribute to the family exchecquer by his personal earnings. So he is put at work. But, by reason of greater wis- dom, some parents pinch in other places not so vital, just as we want the school board to do, and send their children through the high school to help make up that 7 per cent of the entire enrollment that enjoy the bene- fits of the high schools. Now we feel that there is need for economy in the management of city affairs, but let us beg of you, don't be- gin on the real working body of the poor num's part of the school. If you don't believe that this is the most im- portant part, just figure for yourselves the cost of the schools. It ccsts the city about $17.45 to put a child through the grade schools each year, while to put him through the higher f-chcols, in- cluding the M. T., costs $89.49. It would be lovely if every one of the children in St. Paul could be com- pelled to take the whole course, and we had money in the treasury to pay for it, but since the caae Is not so, and retrenchment must be made some where, why not begin .at the point where fewest children would be injured, not at that where the largest average of all enrolled would feel it. Another point that mothers have been talking over is the suggestion of equalizing salaries. This might not be as bad if you began with the very top and made the scale equal all the way down the line. "But that would never do," the particular member of the board to whom you made this suggestion would say: "Why, these teachers who are making the big salaries, have others dependent upon them, they could"' not live on less salaries than they are now receiving; but what about these grade teachers, who are having a slice taken off their salaries every year? Have they no one dependent upon them? My dear- sir, if you were to look into the matter you would; find things about as I found them in the one school in which I am interested. In this schooi there are sixteen teachers, fourteen of them are helping somebody else to live, usually a mother, 'who wore herself out working that, these girls might be able to fit themselves to teach your children and mine. . Many of these teachers have spent years in prepara- tion for their work, just as the lawyer, do«tor, or newspaper man, you see, with frost-freckled head, has at his. Do you think it would b? easy for him to pull up stakes, if he is not content in St. Paul, and go= to a new place and make another start. That is what a member of the board told a little wom- an who had been teaching in this town fcr ten years, to "do if she did not like thp way salaries were being cut. But it was equalization of salaries, I began to talk about. If principals are willing to go into this sort of a shake- up business and come out of the bag on an equality with everybody else, all well and good, but don't go to leav- ing out all the big salaries, when you shake, because you see that would not be fair. You willsay that these higher salaries are given because of greater duties in these departments, then, if you make that claim, are you not com- pelled to acknowledge that these teach- ers in the grades have heavy dutie3 too. Is it fair for one teaoher in a building to have under her charge, forty-three pupils, with a salary of less than $50, while In the room just above her, and the same size, is a teacher who has twenty-seven pupils, and twice the salary. I have never had a daughter teaching in any of the schools, thank heaven, but I like young people, and being a lcne old woman they come to talk things over with me. So I find out about it; and know that they are re- quired to make a great many bricks, with but little straw, and that even the Jews of old could not do. So I beg of you, Mr. Editor,^ to t^y to touch the hearts of the bo^rd. 'at education, so that they may be; a Jtttle more Just to our friends, the \u25a0rfade teachers. g/ — jA Grandmother. mrs. Window's Seothing Syrup Bae been used for oser %fty years by trillions of mothers for their cfflldrdi wnlle teething, with perfect success. Itsoothes the child, sof tana the k'tmiß, allays all pain : , cnrea wind colic, and Is the best remedy for Diarrhoea. Sold by Dniotftta In every part of the world. Be sure and nafc for " Mr*. Wluslow's Soothing Syrup." and t*k» no other kind. Twenty-fli i cents a fcottle. THE ST. PAUI, GLOBE— SUNDAY— JUNE 5, 189& WAGES SOMEWHAT LOW. MAKING OF FIRECRACKERS CONSUL GOODNOW TELLS US ALL ABOUT IT The Twice-Sounding Cracker One That I* Not Heard of Much in Thin Country An Expert 'Workman Can Make na Much aa Tent Centa a Day Fa»hionlner Fireworka In China. John Goodnow, consul general of the United States at Shanghai, has sent to the department of state at Washington an interesting' report on the method used in the manufacture of firecrackers and the extent of this industry in China. During the year ended June 30, 1597, there were exported from China 2C.,705 t733 pounds of firecrackers, valued there at $1,584,151 in gx>ld. The largest part of the total shipment was sent to New York, to be in turn shipped throughout the United States, to give the pairiotic American boy the means by which he can show his appreciation of the Fourth of July. The exports represent only a small fraction of the quantity of these small explosives manufactured in China, for the use of firecrackers, says Mr. Good- now, "is universal in China, and has been as far back as history records. It is most probable that in the beginning they were used to frighten away evil spirits. Now they are moat frequently an expression of good feeling or of cere- monious compliment. They are used at weddings, births, and funerals; at festivals; religious, civil, and military ceremonies; at New Year; to salute persons about to make a journey, and, in fact, on all occasions out of the ordi- nary routine." According to Mr. Goodnow, there are no large manufactories; the crackers are made in small houses and in the shops where they are sold. In the lat- ter places the proprietor of the shop, his wife (or wives), and children do the work. No record is kept of the number made and sold, and no estimate of their cost is possible. HOW CRACKERS ARE MADE. "In making crackers," says Mr. Goodnow, "only the cheapest kind of straw paper which can be produced in the immediate locality Where the crackers are made is used for the body of the cracker. A little finer paper is used for the wrapper. "The powder is also of the cheapest grade, and is made In the locality Vv'he'e used. It cosits 6 ito 7 oents gold per pound. For the fuse, a paper call- ed "leather" (in Shanghai) Is used, which is imported from Japan, and is made from the inner liningof the bam- boo. In other places a fine rice paper is used, generally stiffened slightly with buckwheat flour paste, which, the Chinese say, adds to its inflammabil- ity. A strip of this paper one-third of an inch wide by fourteen inches (a Chinese foot) long is laid on a table, and a very little powder put down the middle of it with a hollow bamboo stick. A quick twist of the paper makes the fuse ready for use." Mr. Goodnow says that it is not easy to persuade the Chinese to exhibit their modes of manufacture to a for- eigner, but Vice Consul Williams saw the work going on, and thus describes it: "The straw paper is first rolled by hand around an iron rod, which varies in size, according to the size of cracker to be made. To complete the rolling, a rude machine is used. This consists of two uprights supporting an axis, from which is suspended by two arms a heavy piece of wood, slightly convex on the lower side. There is just room be- tween this swinging block and the top of the table to place the cracker. As each layer of paper is put on by hand, the cracker is placed on the table and the suspended weight is drawn over the roll, thus tightening it until no more can be passed under the weigiit. For the smallest "whip" crackers the workman uses for compression, instead of this machine, a heavy piece of wood fitted with a handle like that of a car- penter's plane. In filling crackers 200 to 300 are tied together tightly In a bunoh. Red clay is spread over the end of the bunoh, and forced into the end of each cracker with a punch. While the clay is being tamped in, a little water is sprayed on it, which makes it pack closer. The powder is poured in at the other end of the cracker. With the aid of an awl the edge of the paper is turned in at the upper end of the cracker and the fuse is inserted through this. The long ends of the fuses are braid- ed together in such a way that the crackers lie in two parallel rows. The braid is doubled on itself, and a large, quick-firing fuse inserted, and the whole is bound with a fine thread. The bundle is wrapped in paper, and in this shape sent to the seacoast." THE TWICE-SOUNDING CRACKER. "A variety of cracker I do not re- member to have seen in the United States," continues Mr. Goodnow, "but which is popular here, is the 'twice- sounding.' It has two chambers, sep- arated by a plug of clay, through which runs a connecting fuse. There is also a fuse extending from the powder in the lower chamber through the side of the cracker. When the cracker is to be fired, it is set on end and fire set to "the fuse. The powder exploding in the chamber throws the cracker high In the air, where the second charge is exploded by fire from the fuse ex- tending through the plug between the two chambers. In the manufacture of these the clay is first tamped in with a punch, to form the separate plug. The lower chamber is then loaded with powder and closed by turning over the paper at the end. The upper cham- ber is loaded and closed with clay. A hole is punched in the side of the lower chamber with an awl, .and the fuse inserted through this opening. "At Canton the ordinary size cracker (lynches long by M of an inch in di- ameter) costs 1 tael (62 cents) for 10,- --000 for export. At Hankow the best quality of this size costs 1 tael for 5,000; while of the second quality 20,000 can be bought for 1 tael. At Chunk-king 15,000 of the ordinary crackers can be bought for 1 tael. At Shanghai 1 tael will purchase 5,000 of the ordinary size, while the largest sell for $5 per 1,000! These prices are probably only a shade above the actual cost of manufacture. The small manufacturers sell to Chi- nese compradores, who buy as agents of foreign firms and ship the crackers in bundles to the seacoast, where they are packed in boxes which cost .about 4 taels ($2.50) per 100, and hold 25,000 firecrackers. NOVEL SPAMING MACHINE "Aside from the fact that all the ma- terial used is native and produced where the crackers are manufactured, and that transportation does not enter into the cost, the wonderful cheapness of manufacture is accounted for by the kind of labor u?ed and the wages paid. The items of cost of plant and interest on It are eliminated by the fact that the crackers are made in the homes of the workmen and in the shops where they are sold. The hours of labor are from 6 a. m. to 11 p. m., and there are seven working days in each week. Four-fifths of the crackers consumed in China are made by the families of those who sell them, these people, of course, receiving: no wagies. Of the paid work a very large proportion is done by women and children w<ho are paid by the piece. It is estimated that thirty women and ten men make 100.000 crackers per day, for which work the women will receive 5 cents each and the men about 7 cents eaoh. An ap- prentice is bound for four years, and during that time receives only his board. At the end of that period he will receive, if he is a fairly good workman, 150 cash per day, or 7 cents in United States money. An ex- pert at ttie trade revives 200 cash per day, or 10 cents gold." THE INVENTION OF A COLOE- ADO WAEDEN Used on Botli Male and Female Prisoners With Startling Effect —It Gives About Forty Slaps a Minute The Warden and State Treasurer "Will Incorporate a Company for Its Manufacture. Warden Hoyt, of the state reforma.- tory, has about completed his idea of the "spanking machine," which prom- ises to be universally used all over the country, and shortly the "Hoyt Con- solidated Spanking Machine and Ju- venile Corrector company, limited," will be incorporated, of which he and State Treasurer Kephart will be the main promotors. The warden of the reformatory vis- ited the state house, and after a con- ference with State Treasurer Kephart it was decided to get Mr. Hoyt's idea patented at once and to then incorpo- rate a company for the purpose of manufacturing the machines and put- ting them into general use throughout the country. A rapid improvement in the morals and general behavior of the inhabitants of the United States may be expected as soon as the ma- chine is put into general circulation. From the Denver Times. For years the reformatory institu- tions of the country have been at at a loss to discover an efficacious as well as humane method of punishment, and in spite of meetings of state boards of charities and corrections, mothers and other disciplinarians, the proper meth- od has never been discovered, as all appeared to be open to certain objec- tions. When Warden Hoyt was ap- pointed in charge of the state reforma- tory it was not thought for a moment that he would hit upon the idea which promises to revolutionize modern methods of punishment and to make the name of Hoyt a household word from the Klondike to Cuba, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Mr. Hoyt is a man of resources, and when he found that the situation at the reformatory was about the same as it had been since the establishment of the institution, he made up his mind that it was all because the proper methods of inflicting punishment had not been discovered. He made up his mind that the usual methods of con- finement in a dungeon on a diet of bread and water, chaining: to the cell and attaching a convict to the ball and chain did no particular good and generally caused the victim to be re- garded as a hero by his fellow con- victs. He then took a bold step and abolished them all. The first convict who overstepped the rules did not know what was coming-, and was con- siderably surprised when the warden ordered him conducted to a room where he was stretched over a chair, and a lusty guard applied a paddle with great energy to his anatomy. When the convict emerged from the place of punishment and was asked by his fellow convicts what had hap- pened, he reluctantly explained, as there was no particular romance con- nected with this mode of punishment. Warden Hoyt, after a few examples had been made, so^jpi found that there was but little need' .' such punishment. Consequently at ti e state reformatory j there has not been such a punishment inflicted for three months. However, when it became noised about that Warden Hoyt had taken this radical step there came calls upon him from all over the country to in- vent a method that could be used on women as well as men. The trouble at the State Industrial School for Girls gave the general public an id*a of the wonders that could be accom- plished if Mr. Hoyt could invent some way Whereby incorrigible girls could be corrected, and so he set about in- venting the spanking chair. A picture of it is printed herewith. It consists of an ordinary chair with no bottom, and in it the culprit can he placed so that he or she can be so bound that there is no escape. Then a button is touched, and a cylinder be- neath the chair to which is attached a number of paddles commences to re- j volve, something like the paddles on a water wheel, and each, as it passes by, inflicts a smart slap upon the per- son of the victim. Warden Hoyt in- tends to arrange it so that about forty 17 TREMENDOUS REDUCTIONS On All of PIAMnC Duri "g Our immense stock must be reduced before the dull trade of the summer months is upon us. $50:™;$100 Can Be Saved Buying a Piano Here. When this fact is considered, in connection with the fact that ours is the representative music house of the Northwest, and that our Pianos are among fhe oldest and best makes in the world, you can readily see the advantage of dealing here. Chickerinq Fischer, Franklin, Schaeffor, and other Pianos. NEW PIANOS, $165.00 Upwards. SI O.OO Monthly, USED PIANOS, $20.00 Upwards. $3.00, $5.00 and 87.00 Monthly. HOWARD, FARWELL & CO., The Reliable Music Dealers. 20, 22, 24 WEST FIFTH STREET. Catalogues, Terms, etc., mailed free on application. blows a minute can be inflicted, and it is believed that half a minute's ex- perience will be enough for any one not totally depraved. For offenders like the average at the State Industrial School for Girls it is thought that about a minute will suf- fice. For habitual disorganizers like Irene Gross, Cora Johnson and Theresa Savers there is no stated limit recom- mended by Mr. Hoyt, but if the guard in charge should happen to forget about his duty and leave one of them m the chair for half a day or so, it is probable that they would be perma- nently cured of their pranks at the state school. H i°J vever ' for ordinary use the chair will have a gauge so that if an attend- ant should happen to forget and leave the victim in the chair it will stop after a five-minute performance. It will also be arranged so that the force of the blows can be regulated accord- ing to the age of the offender. Mr. Hoyt and Treasurer Kephart have not as yet agreed upon the details of the new company or the kind of goods they will manufacture, but a plant will probably be erected so that all kinds of articles can be turned out, from the mahogany chair for use in families like the Vanderbilts, Cleve- lands, Rockafellers, etc., to the pine and spruce affairs that will be sold to the Murphys, Keegans and O'Briens. The chairs will also be of assorted sizes, intended for domestic use. and when a child is made acquainted with it from his earliest days," an immense wear and tear on slippers, etc., will be saved to his devoted mother. Mr. Hoyt believes that after his motives are thoroughly understood the chair will be used in not only reformatory and penal institutions, but in families, schools, boys' and girls' homes, soldiers' and sailors' homes, insane asylums, the United States army, on board ships and. in fact, in every place where dis- cipline is enforced. Mr. Hoyt believes that his idea is not only sensible, but practical, and when the first chair is made a code of regu- lations and instructions will be used so that the use of the spanking chair shall not descend into abuse. MRS. ATKINSON FEES. Wife of the Governor Rxi-iipon :in WHEELING. W. Va., June 4.—lt is now known that the grand jury will not present a new indictment against Mrs. Atkinson, the wife of Gov. Atkin- son, the first indictment of which was dismissed on a technicality las; Thurs- day. The indictment was for forgery. This removes Mrs. Atkinson directly fiom the ca?e, but leaves her in indi- rectly. Owens, who was charged with forgery with Mrs. Atkinson, is now on trial and should he be found guilty it Bright be pcssib!e to re-indict Mrs. At- kir.son. as she had made no denial of being the writer of the papers Owens is alleged to have uttered. MARIETTA AT KEY WEST, Wan I.eit Behind By the Fast Orcfion. KEY WEST, Fla., June 4.—The Unit- ed States gunboat Marietta, Command- er F. M. Simmons, arrived here at 7.30 o'clock this morning from San Jose, Cal., which port she left on March 6. Much of the voyage was made in com- pany of the battieship Oregon, and the first question of the Marietta's officers was as to the Oregon's whereabouts. Measured Telephone Service will be introduced in St. Paul on and after June Ist, by the NORTHWESTERN TELEPHONE EXCHANGE COMPANY which willenable Evermodf to toe o Mejn« At Their Resilience. Tha Long Distance Telephone will be furnished Residence subscribers on four party, se- lective signal, metallic lines within one mile of the Main or Branch Offices of the Company at $30.00 per annum for 400 calls, and $4.00 for each addi- tional 100 calls. $30 per annum permits the subscriber to talk from his residence 400 times an- nually, and to talk to his resi- dence an unlimited number of times. Telephone to No. 5, and a rep- resentative of the Company will call and explain the new system. This same class of service is also offered to Business Sub- scribers at rates varying- from 539.00 per aunura for 600 calls, to $63.00 per annum for 1,200 calls.
![The Saint Paul globe (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1904-06-05 [p ]chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn90059523/1904-06-05/ed...s, 12, 16 and 20 button j ~', '\u25a0-~~ 'V. •'\\.. ".*.'"\u25a0](https://static.documents.pub/doc/80x56/5aea6ea77f8b9a45568bc691/the-saint-paul-globe-saint-paul-minn-1904-06-05-p-12-16-and-20-button-j.jpg)
![The Saint Paul globe (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1899-04-04 [p 4]chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn90059523/1899-04-04/ed-1/seq-4.pdf · hikl elevation. Highest temperature *! ... and suggested](https://static.documents.pub/doc/80x56/5abd252e7f8b9a76038ec169/the-saint-paul-globe-saint-paul-minn-1899-04-04-p-4-elevation-highest-temperature.jpg)
