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2 Ideal Democracy in Education. HE present month marks the beginning of a new year in the work of many col leges throughout the country, and the increased enrollment of students in each institution would seem to indicate both a growing desire for educational advan tages and an increased determina tion on the part of students and their guardians to acquire all that is offered T by these seats of learning. Even the most casual glance at the field of South ern educational work must at once embrace that ac complished at Monroe College, Forsyth, Ga., which institution was formally opened on Sept. 12, for the term of 1906-07. For many reasons this institution has a history of peculiar interest and significance, and the work done within its walls is of a character so high and a purpose so pure that it seems almost impossible to adequately convey within this limited space much more than an outline of the most salient features of this remarkable institution, whose avowed object is to furnish “the highest possible education, under the best possible conditions, at the least possible cost,” and it may be added, “to the greatest pos sible number.” Certainly this latter interpretation is the one which seems to have been given to it by the vast army of earnest young women who have gathered within the spacious halls of Monroe Col lege in order to seek there the knowledge which is to fit each one for her special place in life and in the world. Student Characteristics. The writer, who has carefully observed the per sonnel of the student body at Monroe College, with a view to first of all gaining an impression, as it were, of the desires and objects and interests of these young women, was impressed primarily by two things—first of all by the earnestness and eager ness with which all assembled and with which the coming year’s work was anticipated, and then by the atmosphere of perfect democracy which prevailed among the students. In any assemblage of more than four hundred girls, there is almost invariably established what may be termed a sort of uncon scious aristocracy—a separating of one social class from another by just such subtle lines as are used in the world beyond the college walls. With col lege students, too, as in the citizens of a common wealth, the first distinguishing mark is wealth. In Wall Street it may be stocks and bonds, but in college it is merely “clothes.” Let the cynic de cry this as he may, yet it is an undeniable fact that it requires a certain loftiness of soul and purpose for college girls to ignore every possible difference of social cast and to stand together, shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand, with not the faintest varia tion of manner to the humblest or the highest, un less indeed there be an increased cordiality to the girl who “works her way through college,” and a certain respectful dignity in the bearing of others toward her rather than toward her more prosperous neighbor. To further illustrate this point a bit of conversation overheard on the campus may be quot ed. The group were discussing a student who had been graduated the year before: “Did yon know M— had a fortune in her own right?” said one. “Impossible!” exclaimed another girl. “Why we were close friends for two years and I never dream ed it—but, maybe,” and the speaker looked grave a minute—“it was because M.— knew my own condition,’’ and she turned from her companions with a little sigh, while each one recalled the hard struggle it had been for this girl to make her way through college. An Inspiring Sentiment, I have said these underlying principles or motives impressed me much—democratic equality in its truest sense, which even conceals the very existence of wealth for fear it would seem a reflection on an other’s poverty, and an overweening desire to “get Distinguishing Features of Monroe College For Women. The Golden Age for September 20, 1906. an education” despile all odds and in the face of all difficulties. Never, perhaps, did one sentiment contribute more toward the success of a college than does this. It has been for years the inspiration of those who have financially helped Monroe—it has served as a beacon light to encourage the found ers of the institution in the beginning and has guid ed them out of the darkness of struggle, uncertain ty and unrest into the brilliant daylight of the pres ent outlook, and it furnishes inspiration for future effort. Monroe’s Claims to Consideration. For many years the Editor of The Golden Age has been deeply and actively concerned for the proper education of the young people of the South —especially for the young women in humble homes who have craved just the chance to learn, and who have often been surrounded by the most adverse cir cumstances. The opportunity to aid such girls has come to him through his profound interest in and his connection with Monroe College with which his very name has become closely identified. For this reason he has hesitated to give to this institution the prominent place in the columns of his paper that the college itself demands. But there are conditions and circumstances which transcend all personal feel ing and when these have been more fully explained it will be seen that The Golden Age would be truant to its avowed purpose of exciting interest in South ern educational work if it did not give to Monroe College a most prominent place. The History of the College. There are few institutions anywhere whose history reads more like a fabled romance than does that of Monroe. First of all, it can substantiate its claim to being the “second oldest chartered college for women in the world,” and it has withstood the va rious vicissitudes of war, living through the grim period of Reconstruction in the South, surviving even the devastating hand of fire, and weathering times of financial stress which again and again would have daunted less consecrated hearts than those of the founders of Monroe. As early as 1849 the citizens of Forsyth, Monroe County, Ga., deemed it imperative to supply better educational advantages for their daughters than were offered at the time. They therefore met together for the purpose of estab lishing some such needed institution and as a result of this meeting a college seminary was incorporated during the same year and was called “Forsyth Col legiate Institute.” The first Board of Trustees were seven in number and were composed of three Methodists, three Baptists and one Presbyterian. The first principal of the Institute was Rev. E. C. J. B. Thomas. This scholarly gentleman was suc ceeded by the Rev. W. C. Wilkes, who was most ambitious for the success of the institute and dur ing two years time the attendance increased so great ly that in 1852 larger accommodations were needed. A catalogue published about this time announced that a new building was completed which was large enough “to accommodate the teachers and thirty young ladies’” Compared to the nearly half thous and now enrolled this seems small enough even as a beginning, but considering the conditions sur rounding female education at that time it was no small number. Certain it is that from this time on the school became an object of special interest and attention to the people of Forsyth and when in 1856 it was, through financial arrangements,conveyed to the direction and control of the Baptists the real life of the institute may be said to have begun. Its name was changed to Monroe Female College and for a brief time prosperity was the portion of the school. But with the beginning of the sixties and the coming of the Civil War the school was closed for a time, the building it had occupied being used for a hospital. Debts accumulated on the prop erty and the condition of the buildings at the close (Continued on page 3.) Items of General Interest. In Samoa nearly all babies are taught to swim before they are two years old. The British Museum in London has had as many as 954,551 visitors in one year. A* 7 The number of marriages in London last year was 39,586. The money value of the Vatican, the Pope’s pal ace in Rome, and its treasures, is estimated at $150,000,000. It is estimated that the city of New York spends about one million dollars on each baseball season. At a recent big game held at the Polo Grounds near New York City there were thirty-four thousand per sons present and the occasion was not considered in any way remarkable. In China there are no pins—the use of them is considered un-neat and the Chinaman assures you that the use of the pin encourages slovenly habits as the light way to fasten things is with buttons and loops! Foreign manufacturers have shipped millions of pins to China only to have them re turned by dealers almost invariably. King Edward has recently issued a command that a splendid Book of Common Prayer be printed. In this book there is included a prayer for the Presi dent of the United States. This is deemed a special mark of friendship on the part of the British mon arch. The prayer is printed around an illuminated picture of President Roosevelt, the face appearing within the circle of the “O” with which the prayer begins. A piece of engineering work which promises to excel almost anything of the kind in America is the road between Chili and Argentine, S. A., on which work has recently been begun. This road leads across the Andes Mountains and the highest part of the line through which tunnels are to be built is estimated at 10,000 feet. The largest of these tunnels will be 3,405 yards long. By the use of this hue the journey between Valparaiso and Buenos Ayres will be considerably shortened. It has long been maintained that music is both an inspiration to renewed effort and a stim ulus toward accomplishment, and the principle is now being put into active practice by the fact that several leaders of work gangs engaged in digging along the Panama Canal route lead the men in song, and so inspiring has the music proven that these gangs accomplish considerably more work per day than do those unenlivened by those “charms which soothe the savage breast.” Political conditions in Russia do not improve— the Terrorist outrages are on the increase rather than otherwise. On Aug. 25th, thirty-two persons were killed and as many were seriously hurt by a bomb which was exploded at the house of the Rus sian Premier during a public reception. The dead ly mstiument was concealed in a gilded vase carried b\ one of the “guests,” and although the premier himself was but slightly wounded, his daughter, his son and members of Ins staff and household were killed or seriously wounded. President Roosevelt seems to be heartily in earnest in regard to the Simplified Spelling, for he has di rected that all the annual messages issued by him as well as all other documents emanating from the AVhite House shall be written in the form of spell ing determined on by the Spelling Board which is working* under the leadership of Prof. Brander Mat thews and which was liberally financed by Andrew Carnegie. In the 300 words which the Board’s list contains the words are simplified by the dropping of letters which are not sounded, the substituting of t lor “ed” and many other similar reforms.