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T THE ATLANTA SEMI-WEEKLY JOURNAL, ATLANTA, GA., FRIDAY, MAY 2, 1913. THE SEMI-WEEKLY JOURNAL ATLANTA, GA., 5 NORTH FORSYTH ST. «* Entered at the Atlanta Pogtoffice as Mail Matter of the Second Class. f JAMES R. GRAY, President and Editor. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE Twelve months 75o J Six months 40c ; Three months 25o Tfre Semi-Weekly Journal is published on Tuesday and Friday, and is mailed by/the shortest routes for early delivery. It contains news from all over the world, brought by special leased wires into our office. It has a staff ,of distinguished contributors, with strong- departments of special value to the home and the farm. Agents wanted nt every postoffice. Liberal com mission allowed. Outfit free. Write R. R. BRAD LEY, Circulation Manager. The only traveling representatives we have are J. A. Bryan, R. F. Bolton, C. C. Coyle. L. H. Kim- ' brough and C. T. Yates. We will be responsible only , for money paid to the above named traveling repre sentatives. d NOTICE TO SUBSCRIBERS. The label used for addressing your paper shows the time your subscription expires. By renewing at least two weeks before the date on ibis label, you insure regular service. ^ In ordering paper changed, be sure to mention your old, as well as your new address. If on a route please give the route number. We cannot enter subscriptions to begin with back numbers. Remittances should be sent by postal order or registered mall. Address all orders and notices for this de partment to THE SEMI-WEEKLY JOURNAL. Atlanta, Qa. * More Food, If Less Cotton. According to an estimate made by the New York Commercial, after a thoroughgoing inquiry, Georgia’s cotton acreage for the current year shows a reduc tion of about three per cent. Assuming this to be true, how are we to interpret it? What does it mean to the State’s agricultural and economic life? Its chief significance is undoubtedly this: that Georgia farmers are .realizing the disadvantage of the one-crop plan and are devoting more soil and more energy to the production of food supplies. They are responding to the appeals of science and of good business, which means, in the first place, that they are adopting intensive methods of cultivation and, furthermore, that they are managing their affairs with a view to home comfort and independence. The fact that fewer acres of cotton were planted in Georgia this year does not mean necessarily that' the State’s cotton crop will be smaller than hereto fore or that it will net the planters less money. On the contrary, it indicates a more progressive system of farming. One acre, carefully tended, will yield a richer harvest and a larger profit than two acres without up-to-date methods. A farmer who raises ten bales of cotton and also his own supplies is far better off than he who raises twenty and,.must then spend the entire proceeds of his money (drop for ne cessaries -which he could have produced at home. In this light, therefore, the reported reduction of Georgia’s cotton acreage is’distinctly chhering. a In other cotton-growing States a contrary tendency is manifest. Louisiana, for instance, is credited with a fifteen per cent increase in cotton acreage, Missis sippi with a ten por cent increase and Texas with a ten per cent increase. Yet, with the exception of tnb last named State, Georgia’s cotton acreage appears still to be the -largest in the South. It is estimated by the New York Commercial at four million, eight huncfred and ninety thousand acres. That of Missis sippi is set down at a little less than three and a half million, South Carolina at two million, seven hundred and thirty-four thousand, Alabama, nearly four million, Louisiana, about a million, three hun dred and fifty-five thousand; Texas, at eleven million, nine hundred and sixty-two thousand. Cotton will conimue to be a great source of Geor gia’s wealth, but it is encouraging to know that other fields of agricultural interest, which were once sorely neglected, are coming into their own and that our farmers are utlizing the wondrously varied op portunities that lie about them- If we produce more corn, more wheat, more livestock, more vegetables and other foodstuffs, instead of inporting them at high prices from distant markets, we shall be well compensated for the reduction in the cotton acreage; we shall be a richer and a more ^independent people. Where is the old-fashioned May music festival? Georgia’s Country Schools. It is a significant and cheering fact that the an nual convention of the county school officials of Georgia, which is now in progress in Atlanta, is the most largely attended meeting of its kind that has yet been held. Prom practically every county in the State, school superintendents and school trustees have assembled to counsel together over their com mon interests and to advance the cause in which they are co-workers for the public good. So large and representative a number of delegates attests the deep interest which our common school system, and particularly the rural schools, have in spired. There can be do doubt that Georgia, is now in the midst of a great awakening to the problems and the responsibilities of the country school. This must be ascribed, in large/measure, to the new edu cational law which the General Assembly enacted a few seasons ago and under which the county schools are being reorganized on a more efficient basis. The more thoroughgoing system which is now being ap plied serves to show’, as never before, both the needs and the opportunities of the rural schools. It is bringing about a more fruitful administration of school affairs and is opening new paths of progress and development. The upbuilding of our country schools is a task that vitally concerns the economic as well as the civic and social interests of Georgia. The men and women who are engaged in this work merit the pub lic’s continuous and cordial support. Their present convention, it is hoped, will be inspiriting and pro ductive. On the heel cf this meeting will come that of the Georgia Educational Association, in which the rank and file of teachers as well as officials will partici pate. Indeed, the two conventions are so closely re lated in sympathy and purpose that they are vir tually one. They will be attended not only by edu cators, professionally speaking, but also by many good citizens who ..re interested in educational en deavor. It is worth noting, in this connection, that one of the principal addresses of the week will be delivered by Judge Frank Park, of Albany. The United States Commissioner of Education, Dr. P. P. Claxton, of Washington, will be among the distin guished visitors at the convention. The Most Difficult of The Balkan Problems. The ambassadors of the European Powers, who meet in London today, face the most difficult e,id the most delicate problem to which the Balkan war has yet given rise. Montenegro persists in its refufeal to evacuate Scutari, though commanded to do so by the six great nations. Austria is equally determined to enforce this command with or without the co operation of the other Powers. The baffling task of diplomacy is to reconcile these differences, to per suade Montenegro to come to peaceful terms or to find means by which the desired end can be accom plished without independent action on Austria’s part. It is commonly suspected that should Austria once enter Albania on a coercive campaign she would never withdraw until her virtual ownership of that territory was established. Her ambitions for greater power in Southeastern Europe have long been known. Indeed, it is because of such ambi tions that she so hotly protests against little Monte negro gaining a foothold in Albania through the occupation of Scutari. It is at Austria’s insistence that the Powers have decided to make Albania an autonomous State, setting it apart from the terri torials spoils which the Balkan conquerors are to divide. • Russia has been acquiescent, outwardly so at Jeast, in this plan. But should it appear that Aus tria was about to seize Albania for her own uses, Russia would not be slow to protest, and as forcibly as circumstances might demand. It is at just this point that the peril of a serious clash between the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente arises; just here that Austria, Germany and Italy on the one hand and Russia, England and France on the other might came into conflict. If the six great Powers stand together, it seems inevitable that Montenegro will retire from its pres ent defiant stand. But should there come a break among the big nations, should Austria proceed upon an expedition of conquest contrary to the wishes of Russia, the outcome might be dangerous beyond prediction. . The conference- of the ambassadors in London today may lead to a safe and harmonious adjust ment of these real and potential difficulties. Cer tain it is that European diplomacy, realizing the vast interests at stake, will dp all within its power to settle the vexed question of Montenegro as speedily as possible. Silence is the college yell of the school of expe rience. The world likes a good loser, especially if it gets some of his money. Agricultural Instruction. The practical and humanistic trend of our school systems is strikingly# revealed in the progress of agricultural instruction. Quoting from a bulletin issueu by the United States Bureau of Education, the Louisville Courier- Journal declares that in the school year of 1906-07 fewer than half a dozen city or village high schools offered more than a one-year course in agriculture and that these were supported entirely by local funds. But in 1909-10, we are told, “more than thirty locally-supported high schools were giving two or more years in agricultural work, while some fifty others maintained agricultural departments through State aid.” During the last scholastic year more than one hundred and seventy-five public schools were maintaining thoroughly organized agricultural courses; and It appears furthermore that in twenty or more States elementary schools offer instruction in at least the rudiments of agriculture. Georgia’s progress in this constructive field is noteworthy. The quickening influence of the State College of Agriculture and of the various district ag ricultural schools has made itself felt for good in almost every sphere of our educational endeavor. Not only the rural schools but a number of town and city schools have introuuced courses in garden ing and related studies of the soil. It is highly appropriate and essential that in a State whose in terests are so largely agricultural as Georgia’s should stress this phase of common school education. Whether a child live in the country or in the city, a knowledge of the coil will be enriching to his mental growth and his material opportunities. Some men would do anything for a woman—ex cept go to work. A Nation of Savers. There could be no surer evidence of-American thrift and prosperity than the fact that the savings bank deposits in this country aniount to four and a half billion dollars. This record is unapproached by any o'ther nation. It is said to he four times as great as that of France, whose people have so long been famed for their industry and, acquisitive genius. It is a remarkable tribute to the energy and hardihood of the American character. We have been won’t to think of the United States as a land where vast fortunes are acquired by com paratively a few men; hut this is only one view o» the situation. There can be no doubt that for several decades past, and particularly during the last ten or fifteen years, the country’s wealth became abnormally centered at certain points and unduly controlled by special groups on financiers. Conditions have been such that practically all the people were permitted to share in the nation’s prosperity hut only a small proportion of them were permit’.ed to originate it. That is inevitably the case when industrial and com mercial enterprise and the sources of credit are dominated by trusts and monopolies. But there are bright omens that at length we are emerging into a freer era when individual worth and initiative will find itself unobstructed. If that be true, American thrift will establish even a finer record than ever before. Savings ac counts will increase in number and volume, as the individual opportunity to produce wealth is extended. In the meantime it is cheering to know that this country’s savings accounts exceed those of any other people and that the facilities and inducements to saving are being continually multiplied. OUR UP-SIDE DOWN PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM BY DR. FRANK CRANE. {Copyright, 1913. by Frnnlc Crane.) idea that the blacksmith, fnechanic, farmer, merchant or sailor needed an education was preposterous. That notion still subtly grips us. It is an aristo cratic. class theory carried over into a democracy. The only theory of a public school for which a democracy has any mortal use is that children are to be trained and equipped for life—that is to say, that they be taught so ,as to make them capable of self- support, to render them intelligent men and women and good citizens. Th e school teacher class unconsciously assume that all pupils are to be prepared to become school teachers. The popular supposition is that children are sent to school > learn to read, write and “figger.” This is wholly erroneous. They should go to school to de velop their whole character and faculties, to learn to use their hands, eyes and tongue, to strengthen their moral fiber, to learn how to do team-work with other human beings and thus become useful members of society. Information, knowledge and “book learn ing” they can easily pick up as they go along. The state has no more right to pay money for schools that specialize on “scholarship” than to sup port institutions that specialize on woodwork or elec trical engineering. Scholars lip has its place; but it is citizenship and manhood that should be the aim of state supported schools. n In education he things that should be in the main circus have been relegated to the side shows. For in stance, moral training is of the first importance, ab solutely essential. Honesty, integrity, industry, clean liness, skill and such matters outweigh all Euclid and Caesar. Our educational system is upside down, an inverted pyramid. It rests upon preconceived “standards.” It should rest upon the careful study of the individual child, and its purpose should be to train him for the fullest manual, mental and moral efficiency. John Haynes Holmes is not only a good preacher, but he has horse sense, which is possibly a greater compliment. In a speech the other day he declared that, though a graduate of Harvard college, he was forced to say that all he had learned in school had been almost worthless to him in the struggle for life. “The trou ble with the common school system,” he proceeded to say, “is that it is designed for the benefit of the few. Talk about special privilege! The whole machine is geared to the limited number who intend to go to college.” Mr. Holmes hr.s put his finger squarely upon the weak spot in modern education. ♦ Our public schools lie under the dead hand of the past. The fundamental spirit of them is wrong. Time was when schools were only mills to grind out “scholars.” The great mass of the people were not supposed to have any interest in them. Boys were sent to school to become preachers, physicians, lawyers or scriveners of one sort or another. The The cost of living high remains'about the same. Diaz might have suspected something when Hu erta double crossed the former president. May the flood in Louisiana, since it had to come, drown out the boll weevil- . The Mexican Triangle. With Felix Diaz massing artillery on his private estate, a short distance from the capital, and with, Provisional President Huerta surrounding the palace with troops, the Mexican situation seems far from reassuring- Weeks ago it was tinted that Diaz and Huerta were at enmity qnd, though they both asserted their mutual goodwill, signs of a sharp break have been steadily multiplying. Conditions have at length reached a stage where further pretense is impossible. It is manifest that each of these dictators is seeking the other’s undo ing; and since Huerta is nominally in the saddle, it would seem, according to Mexican custom, that it will be his turn to fall. Whether Diaz will succeed in mustering the dis- contened element to his own faction, however, is rather doubtful. His alliance with Huerta in the treacherous overthrow of Madero has served to blot the popularity and confidence in which he was once so widely held. A new and aggressive faction has riseh in Mex ican politics—the “Constitutionalists," as they call themselves. This party insists that Huerta with draw from the provisional presidency on the ground that that office should, according to law, be held by the minister of foreign affairs in the late Madero’s cabinet. “Regularity” and “order” are their watch words, though they would probably not hesitate to employ violent means to carry their theory into effect. The followers of this program are, perhaps, as ill disposed to Diaz as to Huerta, so that if another serious struggle should develop it would doubtless be waged under three standards. Every time a man loses money he loses a little more confidence in humanity. Anyway, an old bachelor doesn’t have to stand for a lot of relatives-in-law. Homes for Our Envoys. For the sake of the freedom and prestige of America’s diplomatic service, it is to be hoped that the bills by Senator Bacon and Congressman Henry providing suitable legation and embassy residences will pass. As conditions now are our representatives abroad are more th^n likely to te handicapped, un less they are men of extraordinary wealth. Their salaries are insufficient to pay the rental on accept able quarters and also meet the other responsibilities of their position. This state of affairs frequently has the effect ot closing the diplomatic service to Americans of high talent and distinctioi, men who would be of great honor and value to the nation, but whose energies have been directed into other channels than those of money-making. It is very shortsighted and very undemocratic for a republic like the United States to suffer such condi tions to continue. Our ambassadors and ministers should be provided with quarters that will be worthy or the nation’s name and with salaries that will en able them to uphold the dignity of their office. 'rJOME i v CoHwcra 5rjtrs.u:mrum TIMELY T0P1C5 MEMORIAE DAY AT WARRENTON. It gave me genuine pleasure to visit Warrenton, the prosperous county site of the county of Warren, and de liver the Memorial address on last Saturday, the 26th of April. I was delighted to see the euthsiasm of the citizens over their fine schools and those splendid pu pils added greatly to th e success of the day. More than one hundred years ago my father’s parents moved from the state of Maryland and settled in Warren county with their children and other near relatives. My father was a little boy of seven when they crossed the Potomac river from their old home in Charles coun ty, Md. My grandparents are buried in Warren coun ty, and• it was my father’s home in his young man hood. I had many delightful courtesies showered upon me last Saturday, but as I walked along the street leading to the auditorium I wondered if the feet of my forbears had not also left their impression where my aged feet were now also treading, and my memory was thrilled to know that I could claim citi zenship in Georgia because of these departed ones for one hundred and seven long years, and that they had still living* grandchildren to cherish their'memory and bear the names. As I stood before that large and en thusiastic audience I could see through the open door some of the old-time homes of Warrenton, and despite the music, the aplausj and th e gala exercises of the day, there was a thrilling memory of those who had been citizens of the county and who had lived in that community a hundred years ago. I thought of the dear grandmother, whose name I proudly bear, although sh e passed away before my baby eyes opened on the light of day. I wondered if it was permitted to her to look down and see her own aged grandchild when she* talked to the people of Warren county of the things that made vivid history in old Georgia only fifty years ago, and if sh e could know ^.nd understand the influence that her own fine life had impressed upon this white- haired granddaughter who had been taught to honor and revere this nobl© scion of the Marshall family in the days of the American Revolution when Maryland and Virginia were in the turmoil of battle and General Washington was leading the Continental troops to final victory. My mind was full, of course, of the events of the 60’s when I talked to those old veterans of the beau tiful character of General Robert E. Lee, but* there was also something in the air that filled me with lov ing memories of my Maryland grandmother who had been a citizen of Warren county during her later yeai-s and whose dust reposes in the soil of this fa vored county of Georgia. * I could fill a page with a story of how Warren coun ty is making good, but the shortness of my stay and the activities of this Memorial occasion must answer at this writing. * * * SOME OF THE WONDERS THAT I REMEMBER. I oftentimes ruminate when I read of Edison’s won derful discoveries and th e ever-growing demonstration^ of the powers of electricity and I can go back three- quarters of a century in those reminiscences. When I think about the aviators, or sky travelers, I recall th e fact that I rode on the first passenger train that ever pulled out of Atlanta, then known as Mar- thasville. The town had one structure in it, the prim eval W. and depot, the balance of he present me tropolis was a scrubby chinquapin ridge. (Per paren theses, what’s become of all th© chinquapin bushes ol my childhood?). Skyscraper^ cluster now around the old site of the old Western and Atlantic depot, but when the town had grown somewhat the most notable structure devoted to business was a horse sawmill, the firsU and only of my knowledge, and it assisted in the construction of the town very largely in the 40’s. I was nearly forty years old before I held my ear to a telephone and listened, and it was the first one installed in Washing ton City, and connected the capitol building with the government printing office. I had some acquaintance with th e very first pho nograph, the one that was brought to Congress to be seen and wondered over about the same time. I never saw a thimbleful of kerosene until after the surrender at Appomattox. We used c^idles and train oil and what was called “burning fluid” that I should be afraid to handle nowadays. I saw the first display of electric cooking at the Chicago exposition, and later on had glimpses of elec tric carriages so familiar to city people now. I recall the message that passed from the queen of ►England to the president of the United States on the wires of th e first submarine telegraph. “What won ders hath God wrought!” ‘ I read of the first telegraph in 1844. The manufacture of ice* is comparatively new, and the first sleeping car was a perfect wonder to railroad travelers, and they only came to us after the Civil war. My memory is full of wonders. • • • THE DOG PEST. For more than a dozen years I have been trying to get the dog pest abated, at least as much as I could abate it with pleadings and pen, but strange to say, the country is likely to remain pest-ridden of dogs because the voters who are in the majority like dogs better than the prosperity of th© farming classes or the com fort of farm women. A dear good woman, an invalid nearly fifty years old, who lives in a populous Georgia county, has writ ten me a letter telling of her grievous annoyances with neighbors’ dogs. These neighbors, black and white, have droves of them, and they annoy this dear invalid lady beyond the point of endurance. Everybody who has been annoyed with dogs understands that one bitch can draw a gang of dogs around the premises, and there is no limit to their ferocity or numbers at times in country places. A few weeks ago the lady’s husband had to defend himself violently when he rose early to go to the bam. But for a stout stick in his hand he would have been severely bitten on his own veranda by a ruthless pack of sorry dogs, not one of them worth its feed. There were hounds, fice, curs and all sorts gathered in this gentleman’s porch and back yard. The sorry bitch belonged to a negro neighbor, and was too worthless to think about, more more to endure. They destroy both chickens and eggs, and are a dis gusting nuisance in and about the yard. Now, is Lt suprising that men of means, o'f intelli gence, of common sense and claiming to be patriots, will allow this state of things to continue? Every body knows how easy it is to set a torch to a house oi barn, because of spiteful revenge, but it does lie in the power of our lawmakers to abate this dog nuisance b; voting to^lessen th e number of dogs. A Bryan Lunch (Montreal Star.; While political economists are advocating the solv ing of the problems of the high cost of living by putting more gold in the dollar or more bread crumbs in the sausage, Mr. Bryan, President Wilson’s secretary of state, has gone out and solved it without the aid of political economy or gold. He used silver, of course, and only a little of it, coupled with one or two of the fundamental principles of the simple life. The other day Mr. Bryan and his wife found themselves at the noon hour som e distance from home, but near a mar ket. He alco found 7 cents in his pocket. How many more were in hi ; pocket is not stated, but at least there were seven, because Mr. Bryan went into the market .and bought two buns for 1 cent each and 5 cents’ worth of cheese. On these purchases th e sec retary of state and his wife lunched satisfactorily if not sumptuously. A tiresome speech is a cheerless affair- The weather is putting a check on those persons who are given to rushing the season. * May Day and Modern Paly By Lrederic J. Haskin The revival of the old folk games so much enjoyed by the children of former generations is being demon strated today by the number of large outdoor play fes tivals held in so many parts of the country. In some of these the old-fashioned Maypole plays a prominent part. Usually 'the festival terminates with a graceful dance, during which the flower-decked pole is cov ered with a web of bright hued ribbons interlaced by the youth ful daheers in the way immor talized by Tennyson and other English poets. * • • In some of the festivals, how ever, the Maypole does not appear. The festival consists merely of outdoor games played by the childreq, usually with musical accompaniment. The most important of these play festivals and the one hav ing the greatest influence in the country will be the one held in W’ashington today as one of the events of the program of the annual con vention of the International Kindergarten union now in session in the capital city. This festival repre sents the only one of its kind conducted in any coun try. It is really a revival of the children’s games used by Froebel at the beginning of his work in Ger many, and Miss Catherine Watkins, the head of the kindergartens in the Washington public schools, is en titled to the credit of putting the idea into effect in this country. Over 1,600 children will take part in this play festival which will be held upon the grounds of the Smithsonian Institution. In this natural set ting the children will play their games to music fur nished by the United States Marine band. * • • Modern educators deplore the fact that the chil dren of'the present generation do not know how 1 ■> play.. The lack of space and the artificial conditions 'of modern life are largely to blame for this loss, and a strong effort to increase the attention given to chil dren’s play is^m important feature of the recreation movement so well under way. During the past dec ade the playground movement has added greatly to the amount of space giyen to the children for recrea tion purposes. But in every city the opening of a new playground serves only to demonstrate the fact that the children do not know how to use it. The play festivals which are being held will help the little folks to acquire the pleasure which should come to each of them from the simple bodily exercise devel oped by the old-fashioned outdoor games. When the kindergarten children learn it they ^will carry the blessing with them through the later grades. In most of the cities the play festivals include chil dren of all ages. In Kansas City over 2,000 children took part in the last one. In New York a number of play festivals are being held under the auspices of the park commission, which not only encourages outdoor play, but furnishes music to accompany it. This play has to be under supervision, of course, and the num ber of persons training as recreation or play directors is increasing, each year. The qualifications for such work are Varied and not easily acquired. It is not enough that one should really love children ‘ and pos sess sufficient education to instruct them in the or dinary branches. These two things are taken for granted. There must also be a keen perception of the | characteristics in the individual child in order that the especial needs of his nature may be met so far as pos sible by the play. The* stolid, phlegmatic child should be stimulated by some of the, games calling forth his imagination, such as those imitating the artimals or | birds in simple action. The child with the active im agination will be helped most by games which, tend to make him accurate and methodical. Each game or* I play must have a distinct purpose. This may be ‘ either in the development of the physical, mental or moral nature of the child and the wise supervisor knows how to present these in sugar-coated form as children naturally object to being continually kept at ! noticeable improving pursuits. In many towns the May day festival, whether it represent the old English features which are being So j much enjoyed in many cities, or the folk games gath ered from all nations, especially those of ^the German kindergartens, marks the beginning of the supervised play season for the children. Their interest is en gaged before the closing of school so that by the time vacation comes they iiave developed many new tastes and are better able to appreciate the advantages of j the public playground and the friendship of the man or woman in charge v h o helps them to the fullest | ei joyment of it. It is claimed that supervised play will also tend to develop the natural faculties of the child to a degree which will materially improve his school progress. The advantages of supervised play, of which these May day festivals demonstrate only one feature, are becoming recognized by school authorities in a num ber of cities. In order that the ordinary school re cess may be of the greatest physical benefit to the children a supervisor of games is now being employed. Instead of the entire school being dismissed for re cess at the same hour, the grades are given their re cess at different periods which gives more space for pjay in the school yards and also permits the super visor to give the play best suited to the size of the children. This could not be possible .1 all th* chil dren had recess at the same time. With all the vaunted advance of modern education, the games most used in the modern play festivals un der the supervision of a play director are those that | the children of former centuries played of their own volition. In having lost the power of natural play, some educators clair that the modern child has also lost the intellectual vigor of fotmer generations. While a century ago fewer children were educated than now, it remains undisputed that thes who^had educational advantages made greater progress at an early age. The average child does not now begin to study lan guages or higher mathematics until after he has com pleted his elementary work, which, according to mod ern standards requires him to be approximately four teen years old. A century ago it was not unusual to find a boy of ten reading Caesar o# working out the intricacies of a geometrical problem with the absorp tion a modern child would only be permitted to ex pend upon a play puzzle. ,The college graduate of to- i.ay completes his course at an age averaging three years older than did the graduate of fifty years ago. The enthusiasts for supervised play believe that every bit of play should have seme direct effect upon the children which jvill fit them for better future work. In th e towns where the play festivals have al ready been held it is claimed that those who take part in them represent ti j highest intelligence of the school children. The simplest play contains some sort of wisdom which the children absorb unconsciously but thoroughly. Few teachers or play directors will be able secure the results attained by Mrs. J. B. Stoner, of Pittsburg, who educated her own little daughter along lines distinctly original, but at least the exam ple she has set will be helpful to every one Interested in the education of children. Little Winifred Sackville Stoner is now ten years old and has just passed her college entrance examina tion. She speaks five languages fluently and has written several children’s books. She Is a graceful dancer and also a musician. Her mother has taugnt her entirely through play. Their study games last two hours each morning and most of the remainder of th© day, in pleasant weather, is spent in outdoor pray. Winifred is skillful In athletics and has unusually well developed senses of sound, touch and sight. From her babyhood her play has been directed by her watchful milter w ho devoted herself to the highest develop ment of every talent. When the child began to talk th e spelling of her words she used was taught to her as a nursery game. Her mother read aloud and re cited poetry to her before she could speak a word. Winifred has never been required to study beyond her natural inclination and her mother regards her aa an' example of what can be secured by education through play* = • v; v,Y=-v • - ... . ■ . a • . •: ■ *