TEHCHERS OF ST. PfIUL SCHOOLSEfforts 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 Textnook tfu. -(ion in Chicago.

That teaching is more and more heldto be a profession is evident from themimber of teachers who every summeravail 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 anduniversities which offer vacationcourses for teachers.

That the long summer vacation is along playtime for teachers is a popularfallacy, as the teacher nowadays whodoea not do something to improve her-self professionally during this time isalmost an anomaly.

St. Paul has heretofore sent a fairlyrespectable number of teachers awayto these centers of inspiration andknowledge. That tho number is per-ceptibly falling off in these latter timesis due naturally to the tact that teach-ers have less money to invest in suchexpensive luxuries as summer schools.

Then the subjects given most promi-nence by the leaders in education whomone meets at such centers at Ohautau-«iua, Martha's Vineyard, Bay View andChicago, Harvard and Clark universi-ties, are exactly the ones that localcrades and authorities discourage andderide. It is not strange, then, thatcome of our most enthusiastic and pro-gressive teachers are beginning to feelthat St. Paul should have what it asksfor, and is willingto pay for, and nomore. It takes courage to invest cap-Hal in a losing business— and the factthat a few teachers still possess thecourage and faith and the professionalzeal to spend time, strength and moneyto improve themselves, speaks volumesfor the profession.

Among educational centers for sum-mer study perhaps Clark university isnu.st popular, and deservedly so, fromthe fact that Dr. G. Stanley Hall isat its head. Ithas. since it began sum-mer courses for toachc-rs, always at-tracted a small coterie from Minnesota.Last summer St. Paul was representedby Miss Gertrude A. Stoker, special in-structor in drawing in our gradeschools, and Henry G. Baker, principalof the Jefferson school. The lattercompleted his fourth summer course att'kirk, and has earned by this and pre-vious work the degree of doctor of phi-losophy. He is a most ardent admirerof Dr. Kail, and was chairman of acommittee which, at the end of lastsummer's work, drafted resolutions ofappreciation of Clark summer coursesand made an earnest plea for the con-tinuance of the work in future years.

Both Dr.Baker and Miss Stoker haveshown a zeal and an enthusiasm intheir work during the lart year whichthe most depressing local

"conditions

could not quench, and which can alonebe gained from such minds as onemeets at a place like Clark university.

Dr. Baker contributes the followingsimple, clear and interesting account ofthe work done at Clark, which will heread with pleasure by all interested inthe upward trend of education in thiscountry:

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 Ihas 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 jwork, but rather to prepare graduates who Ihave 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, aspsychology, mathematics, physics, anthropo- Ilogy, pedaeogy. etc. It is primarily a school !of research. The student is required to I•write a graduation thesis which shell add jFcnn-thing to the sum of human knowledge, jClark university is a pioneer In the new jfield. It is bettf-r known and more appre-ciated in Germany than in America. Menwho have spent a year of ;wo in Germany jcan now come to Clark, and complete their |education, a^ many have done with profit and :delight

Tli" summer school at Clark gives to its istudents the cream, the substance of the jyear's research at the university, and in the !\u25a0world. The term of schcol consits of twe've Idays, with eight lectures per day. besides iin the various laboratories. The one th ng jthe summer school does not aim to do is toKive students the substance of what they canfind in bojks and read for themselves. Itdoes, however, to an extent which few woulddeem possible, inspire all with inrense z.alin the study cf pedagogy and psysohology.There have been four summer schools, viz..in 1892, ISG4. 1805 and 1596. The writer hasattended the last three.

The lectures of Dr. G. Stanley Hal! uponthe principles of psychology and pedagogyare pronounced by experts who have heardthe best German philosophers to be far su-perior to what any univ.-r?ity in Germanycan offer. He treats what psychologistshave so long slighted, viz., the feelings, wh'ch iare the basis of character, in a ;manner which not on'.y delights, bucarouses intense interest, and furnishesto all hints of immense value in solving themany hard problems of life. These lec furesare largely attended by the best minds inV.'orcester.

Dr. W. H. Burnham, who lectures uponapplied psychology or pedagogy, gives teachersthe world's best thoughts and latest re- Isearch upon suoh topics as training the mem- !ory, school programmes, fatigue in school, !school hygiene, sequence of studies, etc. IFor the school room teacher his are per-haps fully as practical as any of the courses.His knowledge is at once cyclopedic andcritically exact, both of the principles andhistory of education.

Dr. C. F. Hedge gives the best possiblecondensed course upon the brain and itsparts, and their relations to mental work,

'supplementing what others have done with ithe results of his own original researches.

Dr. E. C. Sanford lectures upon expeil- jmenial psychology. His recer.t boolt, thefirst 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 epochin that science, lectures upon the child andfolklore ami related topics, until hearers be-gin to think the child is the most wonder-ful thing in all creation. Perhaps he isright.

Usually Dr. A. G. Webster has givenCOUTMB upon the matter and methods ofphysics, but he did not in 1596. The same istrue of Dr. W. E. Storey, of the depart- Iment of mathematics. He has in prepara- Ition for publication some works embodying !new depnriments of mathematics.

Dr. Herman Lukens, who takes the chairof pedagogy at Bryn Mawr this year, givesa t-oursp upon the history of curricula, a|topic of unusual interest at this time. Spe-cial attention was given last year to theprinciples of kindergarten work, and manyor, perhaps, most, of the leading kinder-partners of tho country were present on•Kindergarten day," when child students andkind^rgannors formally joined hands intoken of perpetual alliance. Think of see-tag and hearing in oue day such personali-ties as \\ heelock. Brvan Putnam mowChapin, Tefft, Dr. Harris' and Dr SNearly all the men whose names are everheard in connection with modern psvcho'osyhave been stuoents at Clark, or of Dr H°llat Johns Hopkins. Among fern Ireaal!Donaldson, of Chicago: Scripture of Vale"Iryan. of Indiana University; Krohni ofIllinois; Bolton, late of Worcester Vormalnow of California; Luckev, of N-braska ndKirkpatrick, of Winona (Minn) Normal'?l 'ne Jc:en<'.c °,fexperimental psychology' andthe Pedagogical Seminary are edited at tneumvcraity. They are both journals of £search, not rehash. The University of Chiccohad twenty-four Clark students in its facul rtwo or three years ago according to Dr Harris in his report. These facts show theInspiration which the summer school studentsmust inibioe.

Dr. Hall may justly be called the foundercIHHe ot experimental psychology andchild study. Ifyou like, change the letter "ogenetic psychology, or the psychology ofgrowth. Dr. E. C. Sanford was his colaboreri in his work upon the former, so those whorv 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 newscience of fatigue. His researches upon theeffect of alcohol upon the human systom will,when finished, make a firm foundation forscientific temperance. The resulu of hiswork already completed, are both s'artll :g andappalling. His discoveries in the science offatigue are bound to do much good n alllines of humane activity, to none more thanto teachers. Dr. Webster and Dr. Storey havealso added much to the world's knowledge intheir fte!ds.

Who attends the summer Si-hool? Thirtystates and some foreign countries are usuallyrepresented. The most remarkable thingabout the attendance is to note the numberof teachers of psychology in college andnormal schools college presidents, normalschool presidents, city superintendents,teachers of pedagogy in training schools,kindergarten trainers, graded school princip-als and teachers of physical culture. Gradedschool teachers are but a small factor.

So helpful, so kind are these kindly menthat the feelini», the "atmosphere" as it were,makes the students very friendly among them-selves, iind to a wonderful extent makes themfriendly to the faculty. Their hearts arewarmed.

The last day is a sad one, for Dr. Halland his beloved faculty are men whose large,warm hearts will fit them to teach tho philo-sophy of life, and develop the higher, noblerfeelings, which are character.

THE SCHOOLS OF GERMANY.

An Interesting Paper by Miss AmulleNix.

In the spring of 1896 Miss AmalieNix,at that time teacher of the eighthgrade in the Madison school, and atpresent teacher of German in the Cen-tral high school, was attracted by thepedagogical fame of Jena to spendseveral months of study there. Sheentered the seminar at that institutionin May, continued seminary work inpedagogy until the summer course be-gan; completed that, did some morework in the fall, and, after a two weeks'trip in observation of the German com-mon school system, reached home inNovember, an enthusiastic Herbartian.

She met a hospitable reception for hernew enthusiasm and advanced ideasfrom Gen. George S. Smith, principalof the Madison school, and was ac-corded perfect freedom to make use ofall she had gained from her study andobservation.

She thus writes con amore of herexperience in the Old World:

Thousands of Americans have for the pasttwenty years entered German universitiesfor the purpose of seeking knowledge whichthey cannot obtain in their own country.More recently, the public school system ofGermany has been made a subject of studyby American teachers. They all agree thatthe present high standard of morality andintelligence of. the German nation has itsorigin in the careful training of the child.Whether on American. English or Germansoil, child-nature displays a striking resem-blance everywhere. The duty of mouldingthe character, of developing and cultivatingthose qualities in children which willmakethem noble men and women

—worthy citizens—

is left to the mother, the father, and, lat-er, to the teacher. And the typical Germanhomo Justly deserves being called the pre-paratory department of the primary school.The feeling of reverence shown here forparents, sisters and brothers

—the sweet spirit

of submission to all parental authority—

isparticularly impressive and noticeable to theobserving stranger, while the sunny ex-pressions on the children's faces prove thatthey are happy to obey and to recognize lawin their own home. From these relationsnecessarily 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 ofThurlngia and Saxony most deserve our at-tention. The teacher who is favored witha permit to visit the public schools of Jena,Eisenbach, Altenburg, Weimar, Leipzig andDresden finds that he hr.s been rewardedby gaining considerable knowledge throughthis observation trip. He realizes that he isbenefited in his psychological researches;that he is inspired by the new educationalthought.

Weimar, the classical city of Germany,has a kindergarten where the little childrenare instructed in a large garden containingnumerous flower beds, among which theystudy and play themselves the choicest ofthe flowers. This ideal kindergarten was,until a year ago, conducted by one ofFroebel's former pupils, Fraulein Schellhorn.The elevating influence of an environmentwith which these little ones are blessed arequite perceptible, though their young mindshave hardly passed the state of infancy. Al-though full of the vigor and enthusiasmcharacteristic to their age, they begin toshow an intellectual ability which is, in-deed, surprising to the observer, who hasan opportunity of studying both psychologicaland a sociological problem here.

For the past twelve years the eyes of theeducational world have been turned to Jena,the German center of pedagogical progress,where, a century ago, Schiller and Fichtewere numbered among the professors of theuniversity, where Goethe exerted his influ-ence, and where W. yon Humboidt wns clo=clyassociated with his scientific friends. Whatan inspiration the monuments of learningwhich these great men have left in Jena, hasbeen to later generations, Is proved by thefact 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 thatnoted pedagogical genius, Prof. Dr. Ilein. whoholds the chair of pedagogy in the universityas one of Herbart's and Ziller's most enthusi-astic followers. Prof, de Gnrmo, president ofSwarthmore college, says of him: "Dr. Reinhns made the pedagogical seminary at Jenathe most noted of its kind in Europe, to whl?hstudents resort from every civilized country.His specific contribution to the Herbartiancause lies not so much in the promulgationof new ideas, as in the practical application ofthe important one that remained mostly un-tried. Ziller's opponents were inclined to re-gard him as a pedagogical sentimentalist, whowould sacrifice any number of rich educa-tional inheritances for a poor rcess of peda-gogical pottage. Few teachers thought thathis plan of concentration, with its scheme ofculture epochs, and its subordination of thegreater part of the subjects of study to Bibli-cal and profane history would stand the testof actual practice. It was the unrivalledwork of Dr. Rein, aided by two of his col-leagues, in the normal school, to show in theeight volumes, corresponding to the eightyears in the common schools. Just howZiller's plan for the selection and concentra-tion of studies could be carried out in prac-tice, revealing at the same time in the mostelaborate detail the methodical treatment ofeach 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 principleinvolved in the Herbartian system, his"oryforms the basis of the plan of instru.-tlonithe center from which the other studies di-verge like the branches of a tree from its|massive trunk. The results obtained in thsHerbartian schools are worthy cf admira-tion, the high degree of intelligence whichcharacterizes the pupils is especially notcea-ble in their power of reasoning, which is ina great measure due to this system of thor-ough, mehtodical teaching. It is gratifyingto the observing teacher to see that thnmoral sentiments occupies a conspicuousplfice in the correlation of studies ethicalinstruction being brought into every recita-tion. The number of excursions by m=anaof which the child is brought Into \u25a0 lo=o

jecntart 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 tracesjof the history of rcast agea, the pupils findIsources of knowledge never to be exhaust* diThe advantages the children of Jena Wi-|rr.ar and Eisenach alone have for st'udynjrMstory, geography and literature cannot b^over estimated.

Although the Hrrbartian system, wi-h isprinciple of correlation as the centraljthought, is r.ot employed in all the schoolsof Germany, yet ( verywhere a high d<>T>eof efficiency is attained by the pupil-? athorough knowledge of every subject includ-ed in their course of study. They arc astudious class of children, who carry witbthem into the school rcom the feeling ofrc-spect taucht ih-?m in their homes.

The courses offered by tne univeisty andschool of pedagogy at Jena to teachers vhohave acquired a thorough knowledge of -.haGerman language, can be Heartily recom-mended. Wonirn students are admitted tothe school of pedagogy, while the unlvrr-'ityis open to them during the summer monthswhen they can be greatly benefited by anexcellent course of lecture?. Among thebest of these are Prof. Reins in pedagogyProf. Ziehens in physiological psychology'Prof. Erhardt's In philosophy and literature'and Dr. Scholz in special didacrics.

The majority of teachers see-king higherinstruction in Jena come from Germany, Aus-tria, England, America, Sweden, NorwayDenmark, Flnnland and Russia. Many ofthese are sent by the government to studytho school system others by the publicschools of progressive cities that strive toperfect their own school system.

Indianapolis has repeatedly sent teachersto Jena in order to raise the standard ofher school*, their salary while there being

continued and all other expenses paid. Upontheir return a promotion and of course araise 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 Americanteachers who annually assemble at Jena.

Ainoug the noted pedagogues of our coun-try who have been students at Jena, besidesProf, 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 hisforeign associates are a people who give meritwhere it is deserved, showing great respectfor intelligence and education. They arepervaded by a spirit of honesty, which doesnot permit them to swerve from what isjust and right. In accordance with this noposition can be secured through influence.By the extension of moral and mental cul-ture Germany has grown into an educationalcenter of which the German nation may wellbe proud.

MANUAL TRAINING.

The Hard Row It Has to Hole In thePublic Schools.

It Is reassuring to friends of theschools to be told by one who may besupposed to represent infallible author-ity in matters of finance, both generaland local, that there is no problem inschool management to be solved. Thefact that such information may not becouched in strictly Chesterfieldlanphrases, and that it may more thanimply a painful lack of mental equip-ment on the part of those who havevoiced their fears, is no bar to theirpleasure.

May it be permitted these timid andunbusiness-like ones, however, to refera few specific inquiries to this highauthority.Ifthere is not and never has been

any "problem," why were manualtraining and domestic economy remov-ed from our school curriculum justwhen other cities were discoveringtheir value in education and were put-ting them into their courses?

Why has It been necessary, each re-curring spring, for the freinds of thoMechanic* Arts and branch high schoolsto rally in force to save them fromthreatened destruction?

Why must the school authorities,from time to time, be forced to con-sider seriously the question of cuttingfrom our course drawing, music andphysical training

—branches which

maintain their place unquestioned,now, in all cities of any educationalstanding?

Why must teachers buy maps for theteaching of history or geography orbeg them from railroad offices? Whyhas it devolved upon the teachers tofurnish reading matter to the childrenof a city which distinctly disclaims hav-ing gone into bankruptcy, and whoseindividual citizens are more than will-ing to undertake that duty themselves?Why is it that a heating plant is putinto a school In- the midst of a schoolyear, and the education of 1,200 childrenalmost 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 whereSt. Paul can no longer command theservices of men and women of the high-est professional attainments to carryon its schools?

Why has the superintendent's officebeen reduced to the financial extremityof sending suoh presumably Importantdocuments as teachers' contracts in un-sealed envelopes to save postage?

Why is it no longer considered ex-pedient or safe to issue contracts to theteachers

—a little business formality, by

the way, which is respected In the mostremote back-woods districts of thestate?

TEXT BOOK QUESTION.

ItIs Under LivelyDiscussion Now InChicago.

The text book question Is up for con-sideration in Chicago just now. EllaP. Young and Mr. Speer, two of themost able and progressive superintend-ents of that city, strongly urged theuse of three text books in history ineach room, a plan which fielps out thetopical method of teaching history im-mensely, as every practical teacher cantestify.

Dr.Harper, president of the board ofeducation, favored the open list, andsaid a book should never be adopteduntil it. had been tried in the classroom. "It is a mistake," he said, "tolake any book that has not been longenough before the public for them tohave examined it. The great gain inthe open list is in the education of theteachers. There is a strong temptationon the part of pupils and teachers tomemorize. The plan also requires acomparison of authorities. There is toomuch rote-work in the elementaryschools. High school methods cannotbe too soon introduced into them."

The open list was practically in usein St. Paul schools until three yearsago, when Barnes 1 was made the soleauthority which could be purchased bythe pupils. Many teachers have con-tinued to use any and all good schoolhistories, however, buying them them-selves and lending them to pupils andgetting them from the public library.

What an ideal state of things itwould be could pupils be permitted tobuy in the open market, exactly astheir fa-thers and mothers do for theirown studies

—such histories as Flake's,

Higginson's, Gordy's, McMaster's andMary Sheldon Barnes'.

All such complications as arose InBoston 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, aredissatisfied with the representation ac-corded them in the council plan evolvedfor co-operation with the municipaleducational commission. They havetherefore voted to withdraw their ap-proval of the plan, though they couldnot legally withdraw, as they desiredto do, since they are an integral partof the council.

The club has lately considered thesubject of the so-called "fads" in thepublic schools and passed the follow-ing resolution:

Resolved, That it is the sense of the Chi-cago Teachers' club that we heartily indorsethe teaching of music, drawing and physicalculture in the Chicago putoMc schools for thepurpose of the symmetrical educational de-velopment of the children, but that we depre-cpte any comparison between schools on thesesubjects.

At a meeting of the educational com-mission lately held Dr.John Dewey andDr. Edmund J. James, of Chicago uni-versity, were present as guests.

A longer term for the superintend-ent and greater responsibility for thatofficer were favored by the commissione-rs. Supervisors for the commonbranches, as well as for the "fads,"were recommended, and it was sug-gested that teachers who keep up oncurrent topics and who try to makethemselves better fitted to teach snouldbe promoted.

EQUALIZATION OF SALARIES.

Appeal for theGrade Teachers.

There is no subject connected withthe management of city affairs in whichwe mothers and grandmothers take sodeep a.n interest as in the schools, and,incidentally, of course, in the youngwomen who are teachers in thoseschools. Most of us come more direct-ly into relations with those who teachthe grade school, from the fact that ofall the scholars enrolled in the schools93 per cert pass through the gradi's,and go no farther. And so our sympa-thies are with the women who reallyhave the training of our children intheir hands, in all their trials as wellas successes.

So we have been watching with agrreat deal of sympathy the course ofthe board of education, as they haveseemed to be trying big financial pat-terns onto small financial cloth, for thelast few years, because these are thevery kind of problems that wpm»nmost often have to encounter. Of latea little whisper of fear is going aboutamong these watching mothers that weshall 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 partof their pattern onto the poorest part oftheir cloth every time. In other words,it looks to us as if they were trying toget the most of the reduction of salariesthat they claim is the only way tomake the bigpattern fit their cloth, bycutting the salaries pf the teachers whoare the most important part of schoolwork. The most important, we think,simply because they have the trainingof the largest percentage of our chil-dren.

Many of us have followed "the starof empire along it* sway"and thus have been aljje to compare theschools in the different cities in whichwe temporarily resided, beginning withNew York, Washington, Chicago, Far-go amd Omttha, doj-nfrng at last to St.Paul to find that her schools comparedvery favorably withajvy we had knownbefore. We foundi jthiat a wise coursehad for many years 'been pursued bythe school board, "a liberal course suchas one might extpect to find in thisprogressive Northwest, and one suitedalso to the spirit of those times. Butthe truth Is that tha,t course was al-most too ambitious foF-ithe real founda-tion on w-hich our city institutions hadfinally to rest. Tha.t. board has pro-vided some things not-really necessaryfor a good common school course suchas the largest per cent of the pupilsshould be able to accomplish. But nowthat tjmes are hard and money scarce,and debts must be paid, could we notleave off some of these extras withoutdoing our public school system verymaterial injury?

To go back to the woman* simile ofthe pattern and the cloth. Being indoubt as to how her material mighthold out, the wise cutter would see thatthe waist and sleeves and skirt weremade sure of before she tried to planfor the ruffles and flounces, the extrasnot positively necessary for a completeand comfortable garment. These areall right, and a pleasure, if fashion de-mands, and your purse willallow. Butsuppose that hard times made it nec-essary for you to remodel your oncefashionable garment, would not reasondictate that the flounces be used toreinforce the sleeves or to piece downthe skirt, instead of cutting piece afterpiece from the already not any toowide skirt, so as to keep the furbelowsintact; and yet, that is just what ourschool officials are doing. Wthin thelast four years, they have cut a stripfrom the not too big salaries of thegrade teachers. You see it is not asif these faithful ones were to havethe $40 to $53 that is mentioned as theirpay, every month in the year; for intruth they get pay for only ten months,while what some people are pleased tocall their vacations, must really bespent inpreparation for the next year'swork. They must attend some sortof a summer school or university, orenter classes where special lines ofwork in which they are interested aretaught; all these things cost moneyat a time when no money is coming in.

We mothers think that we want, andhave got the very best teachers in whatwe might call the preparatory schools,for so small a per cent of the enrolledscholars 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 theychoose; but, if you look into the mat-ter, you find that only 7 per cent everreach that desired haven. And, alas,considerably less than one per cent, getthrough the Mechanic Arts, or whatwe common people call the manualtraining school.

Now, as to the class of pupilsrwhodepend upon the grades for an educa-tion. They are a as rule the childrenof the poor. True, the children of ourmore fortunate neighbors are there,too, and they, as a rule, go on throughthe high schools, but the child of theaverage wage-earner, when he isthrough the grammar grade, and oftenbefore, is compelled by the exegenciesof life, as his parents see them, to con-tribute to the family exchecquer by hispersonal earnings. So he is put atwork. But, by reason of greater wis-dom, some parents pinch in otherplaces not so vital, just as we wantthe school board to do, and send theirchildren through the high school tohelp make up that 7 per cent of theentire enrollment that enjoy the bene-fits of the high schools.

Now we feel that there is need foreconomy in the management of cityaffairs, but let us beg of you, don't be-gin on the real working body of thepoor num's part of the school. If youdon't believe that this is the most im-portant part, just figure for yourselvesthe cost of the schools. It ccsts thecity about $17.45 to put a child throughthe grade schools each year, while toput him through the higher f-chcols, in-cluding the M. T., costs $89.49.It would be lovely ifevery one of the

children in St. Paul could be com-pelled to take the whole course, and wehad money in the treasury to pay forit, but since the caae Is not so, andretrenchment must be made somewhere, why not begin .at the pointwhere fewest children would be injured,not at that where the largest average ofall enrolled would feel it. Anotherpoint that mothers have been talkingover is the suggestion of equalizingsalaries. This might not be as bad ifyou began with the very top and madethe scale equal all the way down theline. "But that would never do," theparticular member of the board towhom you made this suggestion wouldsay: "Why, these teachers who aremaking the big salaries, have othersdependent upon them, they could"' notlive on less salaries than they are nowreceiving; but what about these gradeteachers, who are having a slice takenoff their salaries every year? Havethey no one dependent upon them? Mydear- sir, if you were to look into thematter you would; find things about asIfound them in the one school inwhich Iam interested. In this schooithere are sixteen teachers, fourteen ofthem are helping somebody else to live,usually a mother, 'who wore herselfout working that, these girls mightbe able to fit themselves to teach yourchildren and mine. . Many of theseteachers 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. Doyou think it would b? easy for him topullup stakes, ifhe is not content inSt. Paul, and go= to a new place andmake another start. That is what amember of the board told a little wom-an who had been teaching in this townfcr ten years, to "do ifshe did not likethp way salaries were being cut.

But it was equalization of salaries, Ibegan to talk about. Ifprincipals arewillingto go into this sort of a shake-up business and come out of the bagon an equality with everybody else,all well and good, but don't go to leav-ing out all the big salaries, when youshake, because you see that would notbe fair. You willsay that these highersalaries are given because of greaterduties in these departments, then, ifyou make that claim, are you not com-pelled to acknowledge that these teach-ers in the grades have heavy dutie3too. Is it fair for one teaoher in abuilding to have under her charge,forty-three pupils, with a salary ofless than $50, while In the room justabove her, and the same size, is ateacher who has twenty-seven pupils,and twice the salary.Ihave never had a daughter teaching

in any of the schools, thank heaven,but Ilike young people, and being alcne old woman they come to talkthings over with me. So Ifind outabout it;and know that they are re-quired to make a great many bricks,with but little straw, and that even theJews of old could not do. So Ibeg ofyou, Mr. Editor,^ to t^y to touch thehearts of the bo^rd.'at education, sothat they may be; a Jtttle more Just toour friends, the \u25a0rfade teachers.

g/

—jA Grandmother.

mrs. Window's Seothing SyrupBae been used for oser %fty years by trillionsof mothers for their cfflldrdi wnlle teething, withperfect success. Itsoothes the child, sof tana thek'tmiß, allays all pain :, cnrea wind colic, and Isthe best remedy for Diarrhoea. Sold by DniotfttaIn every part of the world. Be sure and nafc for"Mr*. Wluslow's Soothing Syrup." and t*k»noother kind. Twenty-fliicents 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 OneThat I*Not Heard of Muchin ThinCountry An Expert 'WorkmanCan Make na Much aa Tent Centaa Day Fa»hionlner Fireworka InChina.

John Goodnow, consul general of theUnited States at Shanghai, has sent tothe department of state at Washingtonan interesting' report on the methodused in the manufacture of firecrackersand the extent of this industry inChina. During the year ended June 30,1597, there were exported from China2C.,705

t733 pounds of firecrackers, valuedthere at $1,584,151 in gx>ld. The largestpart of the total shipment was sentto New York, to be in turn shippedthroughout the United States, to givethe pairiotic American boy the meansby which he can show his appreciationof the Fourth of July.

The exports represent only a smallfraction of the quantity of these smallexplosives manufactured in China, forthe use of firecrackers, says Mr. Good-now, "is universal in China, and hasbeen as far back as history records. Itis most probable that in the beginningthey were used to frighten away evilspirits. Now they are moat frequentlyan expression of good feeling or of cere-monious compliment. They are usedat weddings, births, and funerals; atfestivals; religious, civil, and militaryceremonies; at New Year; to salutepersons about to make a journey, and,in fact, on all occasions out of the ordi-nary routine."

According to Mr. Goodnow, there areno large manufactories; the crackersare made in small houses and in theshops where they are sold. In the lat-ter places the proprietor of the shop,his wife (or wives), and children dothe work. No record is kept of thenumber made and sold, and no estimateof their cost is possible.

HOW CRACKERS ARE MADE."In making crackers," says Mr.

Goodnow, "only the cheapest kind ofstraw paper which can be produced inthe immediate locality Where thecrackers are made is used for the bodyof the cracker. A little finer paper isused for the wrapper.

"The powder is also of the cheapestgrade, and is made In the localityVv'he'e used. It cosits 6 ito 7 oents goldper pound. For the fuse, a paper call-ed "leather" (in Shanghai) Is used,which is imported from Japan, and ismade from the inner liningof the bam-boo. In other places a fine rice paperis used, generally stiffened slightlywith buckwheat flour paste, which, theChinese say, adds to its inflammabil-ity. A strip of this paper one-third ofan inch wide by fourteen inches (aChinese foot) long is laid on a table,and a very little powder put down themiddle of it with a hollow bamboostick. A quick twist of the papermakes the fuse ready for use."

Mr. Goodnow says that it is not easyto persuade the Chinese to exhibittheir modes of manufacture to a for-eigner, but Vice Consul Williams sawthe work going on, and thus describesit:

"The straw paper is first rolled byhand around an iron rod, which variesin size, according to the size of crackerto be made. To complete the rolling,arude machine is used. This consists oftwo uprights supporting an axis, fromwhich is suspended by two arms aheavy piece of wood, slightly convex onthe lower side. There is just room be-tween this swinging block and the topof the table to place the cracker. Aseach layer of paper is put on by hand,the cracker is placed on the table andthe suspended weight is drawn overthe roll, thus tightening it until nomore can be passed under the weigiit.For the smallest "whip" crackers theworkman uses for compression, insteadof this machine, a heavy piece of woodfitted with a handle like that of a car-penter's plane. In fillingcrackers 200to 300 are tied together tightly In abunoh. Red clay is spread over the endof the bunoh, and forced into the endof each cracker with a punch. Whilethe clay is being tamped in, a littlewater is sprayed on it, which makes itpack closer. The powder is poured inat the other end of the cracker. Withthe aid of an awl the edge of the paperis turned in at the upper end of thecracker and the fuse is inserted throughthis.

The long ends of the fuses are braid-ed together in such a way that thecrackers lie in two parallel rows. Thebraid is doubled on itself, and a large,quick-firing fuse inserted, and thewhole is bound with a fine thread.The bundle is wrapped in paper, and inthis shape sent to the seacoast."THE TWICE-SOUNDING CRACKER.

"A variety of cracker Ido not re-member to have seen in the UnitedStates," continues Mr. Goodnow, "butwhich is popular here, is the 'twice-sounding.' It has two chambers, sep-arated by a plugof clay, through whichruns a connecting fuse. There is alsoa fuse extending from the powder inthe lower chamber through the sideof the cracker. When the cracker isto be fired, it is set on end and fireset to"the fuse. The powder explodinginthe chamber throws the cracker highIn the air, where the second chargeis exploded by fire from the fuse ex-tending through the plug between thetwo chambers. In the manufacture ofthese the clay is first tamped in witha punch, to form the separate plug.The lower chamber is then loaded withpowder and closed by turning overthe paper at the end. The upper cham-ber is loaded and closed with clay.A hole is punched in the side of thelower chamber with an awl, .and thefuse 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 bestquality of this size costs 1 tael for 5,000;while of the second quality 20,000 canbe bought for 1 tael. At Chunk-king15,000 of the ordinary crackers can bebought for 1 tael. At Shanghai 1 taelwill purchase 5,000 of the ordinary size,while the largest sell for $5 per 1,000!These prices are probably only a shadeabove the actual cost of manufacture.The small manufacturers sell to Chi-nese compradores, who buy as agentsof foreign firms and ship the crackersin bundles to the seacoast, where theyare packed in boxes which cost .about4 taels ($2.50) per 100, and hold 25,000firecrackers.

NOVEL SPAMING MACHINE

"Aside from the fact that all the ma-terial used is native and producedwhere the crackers are manufactured,and that transportation does not enterinto the cost, the wonderful cheapnessof manufacture is accounted for by thekind of labor u?ed and the wages paid.The items of cost of plant and intereston Itare eliminated by the fact thatthe crackers are made in the homesof the workmen and in the shops wherethey are sold. The hours of labor arefrom 6 a. m. to 11 p. m., and there areseven working days in each week.Four-fifths of the crackers consumedin China are made by the families ofthose who sell them, these people, ofcourse, receiving: no wagies. Of thepaid work a very large proportion isdone by women and children w<ho arepaid by the piece. It is estimated thatthirty women and ten men make 100.000crackers per day, for which work thewomen will receive 5 cents each andthe men about 7 cents eaoh. An ap-prentice is bound for four years, andduring that time receives only hisboard. At the end of that period hewill receive, if he is a fairly goodworkman, 150 cash per day, or 7cents inUnited States money. An ex-pert at ttie trade revives 200 cash perday, or 10 cents gold."

THE INVENTION OF A COLOE-

ADO WAEDEN

Used on Botli Male and FemalePrisoners With Startling Effect—It Gives About Forty Slaps aMinute The Warden and State

Treasurer "Will Incorporate aCompany for Its Manufacture.

Warden Hoyt, of the state reforma.-tory, has about completed his idea ofthe "spanking machine," which prom-ises to be universally used all over thecountry, and shortly the "Hoyt Con-solidated Spanking Machine and Ju-venile Corrector company, limited,"

will be incorporated, of which he andState Treasurer Kephart will be themain 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 ideapatented at once and to then incorpo-rate a company for the purpose ofmanufacturing the machines and put-ting them into general use throughout

the country. A rapid improvement inthe morals and general behavior ofthe inhabitants of the United Statesmay 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 ata loss to discover an efficacious as wellas humane method of punishment, andin spite of meetings of state boards ofcharities and corrections, mothers andother disciplinarians, the proper meth-od has never been discovered, as allappeared 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 momentthat he would hit upon the idea whichpromises to revolutionize modernmethods of punishment and to makethe name of Hoyt a household wordfrom the Klondike to Cuba, and fromthe Atlantic to the Pacific.

Mr. Hoyt is a man of resources, andwhen he found that the situation atthe reformatory was about the sameas it had been since the establishmentof the institution, he made up his mindthat it was all because the propermethods of inflicting punishment hadnot been discovered. He made up hismind that the usual methods of con-finement in a dungeon on a diet ofbread and water, chaining: to the celland attaching a convict to the balland chain did no particular good andgenerally caused the victim to be re-garded as a hero by his fellow con-victs. He then took a bold step andabolished them all. The first convictwho overstepped the rules did notknow what was coming-, and was con-siderably surprised when the wardenordered him conducted to a room wherehe was stretched over a chair, and alusty guard applied a paddle withgreat energy to his anatomy.

When the convict emerged from theplace of punishment and was askedby his fellow convicts what had hap-pened, he reluctantly explained, asthere was no particular romance con-nected with this mode of punishment.Warden Hoyt, after a few exampleshad been made, so^jpi found that therewas but littleneed' .' such punishment.Consequently at ti e state reformatory

j there has not been such a punishmentinflicted for three months.

However, when it became noisedabout that Warden Hoyt had takenthis radical step there came calls uponhim from all over the country to in-vent a method that could be used onwomen as well as men. The troubleat the State Industrial School forGirls gave the general public an id*aof the wonders that could be accom-plished if Mr. Hoyt could invent someway Whereby incorrigible girls couldbe corrected, and so he set about in-venting the spanking chair.

A picture of it is printed herewith. Itconsists of an ordinary chair with nobottom, and in it the culprit can heplaced so that he or she can be sobound that there is no escape. Thena button is touched, and a cylinder be-neath the chair to which is attacheda number of paddles commences to re- jvolve, something like the paddles on awater wheel, and each, as it passesby, inflicts a smart slap upon the per-son of the victim. Warden Hoyt in-tends to arrange itso that about forty

17

TREMENDOUS REDUCTIONS

On All of PIAMnC Duri"g

Our immense stock must be reduced before the dull trade of the summermonths is upon us.

$50:™;$100Can Be Saved Buying a Piano Here.

When this fact is considered, in connection with the fact that ours isthe representative music house of the Northwest, and thatour Pianos are among fhe oldest and best makes in the world,you can readily see the advantage of dealing here. ChickerinqFischer, Franklin, Schaeffor, and other Pianos.

NEW PIANOS,$165.00 Upwards. SIO.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, andit is believed that half a minute's ex-perience will be enough for any onenot totally depraved.

For offenders like the average at theState Industrial School for Girls it isthought that about a minute will suf-fice. For habitual disorganizers likeIrene Gross, Cora Johnson and TheresaSavers there is no stated limit recom-mended by Mr. Hoyt, but if the guardin charge should happen to forgetabout his duty and leave one of themm the chair for half a day or so, it isprobable that they would be perma-nently cured of their pranks at thestate school.

Hi°Jvever 'for ordinary use the chairwillhave a gauge so that if an attend-ant should happen to forget and leavethe victim in the chair it will stopafter a five-minute performance. Itwill also be arranged so that the forceof the blows can be regulated accord-ing to the age of the offender.

Mr. Hoyt and Treasurer Kepharthave not as yet agreed upon the detailsof the new company or the kind ofgoods they will manufacture, but aplant will probably be erected so thatall kinds of articles can be turned out,from the mahogany chair for use infamilies like the Vanderbilts, Cleve-lands, Rockafellers, etc., to the pineand spruce affairs that willbe sold tothe Murphys, Keegans and O'Briens.

The chairs will also be of assortedsizes, intended for domestic use. andwhen a child is made acquainted withit from his earliest days," an immensewear and tear on slippers, etc., will besaved to his devoted mother. Mr.Hoytbelieves that after his motives arethoroughly understood the chair willbe used in not only reformatory andpenal institutions, but in families,schools, boys' and girls' homes, soldiers'and sailors' homes, insane asylums, theUnited States army, on board shipsand. in fact, in every place where dis-cipline is enforced.

Mr.Hoyt believes that his idea is notonly sensible, but practical, and whenthe first chair is made a code of regu-lations and instructions will be used sothat the use of the spanking chair shallnot descend into abuse.

MRS. ATKINSON FEES.Wife of the Governor Rxi-iipon :in

WHEELING. W. Va., June 4.—lt isnow known that the grand jury willnot present a new indictment againstMrs. Atkinson, the wife of Gov. Atkin-son, the first indictment of which wasdismissed on a technicality las; Thurs-day. The indictment was for forgery.This removes Mrs. Atkinson directlyfiom the ca?e, but leaves her in indi-rectly. Owens, who was charged withforgery with Mrs. Atkinson, is now ontrial and should he be found guilty itBright be pcssib!e to re-indict Mrs. At-kir.son. as she had made no denial ofbeing the writer of the papers Owensis alleged to have uttered.

MARIETTA AT KEY WEST,

Wan I.eit Behind By the FastOrcfion.

KEY WEST, Fla., June 4.—The Unit-ed States gunboat Marietta, Command-er F. M. Simmons, arrived here at 7.30o'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 thefirst question of the Marietta's officerswas as to the Oregon's whereabouts.

Measured Telephone Servicewill be introduced in St. Paulon and after June Ist, bythe

NORTHWESTERNTELEPHONEEXCHANGECOMPANY

which willenable

Evermodf to toe o Mejn«At Their Resilience.

Tha Long Distance Telephonewill be furnished Residencesubscribers on four party, se-lective signal, metallic lineswithin one mile of the Main orBranch Offices of the Companyat $30.00 per annum for 400calls, and $4.00 for each addi-tional 100 calls. $30 per annumpermits the subscriber to talkfrom his residence 400 times an-nually, and to talk to his resi-dence an unlimited number oftimes.

Telephone to No. 5, and a rep-resentative of the Company willcall and explain the new system.

This same class of service isalso offered to Business Sub-scribers at rates varying- from539.00 per aunura for600 calls,to $63.00 per annum for1,200calls.