,,other ,,atlantic ,,texts ,,include ,,atlantic ,,classics1 ,first ,series #a4be ,,atlantic ,,classics1 ,second ,series ,essays from the ,atlantic ,monthly #a4be ,,the ,,atlantic ,,monthly ,,and ,,its ,,makers ,for the class in ,american literature #a4jj ,,essays ,,and ,,essay ,,writing ,for the composition class #a4jj ,,atlantic ,,narratives1 ,first ,series ,for college use #a4jj ,,atlantic ,,narratives1 ,second ,series ,for secondary schools #a4jj ,,atlantic ,,prose ,,and ,,poetry ,for junior high schools and upper grammar grades #a4jj ,,atlantic ,,reading ,,series1 each #j4ae ,,the ,,atlantic ,,monthly ,,press ,,boston ,,the ,,light ,an ,educational ,pageant ,by ,catherine ,t4 ,bryce ,assistant ,superintendent of ,schools ,cleveland1 ,ohio ,illustration3 7,colophon7 ,boston ,the ,atlantic ,monthly ,press #aibj ,copyright1 #aibj1 by ,,the ,,atlantic ,,monthly ,,press1 ,inc4 ,this pageant was prepared for presentation at the ,cleveland ,convention of the ,national ,education ,association1 ,february1 #aibj4 ,,prologue3 ,,the ,,vision #a ,,the ,,first ,,glimmer3 ,,experience #e ,,the ,,second ,,glimmer3 ,,tradition #h ,,the ,,third ,,glimmer3 ,,invention #aa ,,the ,,fourth ,,glimmer3 ,,training #ae ,,the ,,fifth ,,glimmer3 ,,discipline #af ,,the ,,sixth ,,glimmer3 ,a ,,first ,,lesson ,,in ,,democracy #ah ,,the ,,seventh ,,glimmer3 ,,the ,,book #bg ,,the ,,eighth ,,glimmer3 ,,force #bi ,,the ,,ninth ,,glimmer3 ,,training ,,for ,,democracy #cf ,,the ,,tenth ,,glimmer3 ,a ,,warning #de ,,the ,,eleventh ,,glimmer3 ,,education',s ,,dream #eb ,,epilogue3 ,,the ,,gleam #ef ,,music ,incidental music may be introduced at appropriate places throughout the pageant4 ,the following suggestions may prove helpful3-- ,glimmer ,i4 ,during a moment's tableau just before curtain falls3 strain of a dirge4 ,glimmer ,,ii4 ,to accompany girl's humming4 ,glimmer ,,iii4 ,indian music for curtain4 ,glimmer ,,iv4 ,music throughout4 ,glimmer ,v4 ,martial music4 ,glimmer ,,vi4 ,accompaniment for minstrel4 ,glimmer ,,vii4 ,solemn1 followed by patriotic1 music during time curtain is raised4 ,glimmer ,,ix4 ,patriotic music as curtain falls4 ,glimmer ,,xi4 ,as indicated in the text4 ,final--,star-,spangled ,banner4 ,,prologue ,,the ,,vision ,characters ,,any ,,city3 a boy4 ,,education3 a girl1 taller than the boy4 ,,any ,,city is dressed like a modern business man4 ,,education is dressed in classic robes1 hair in loose ,grecian knot with gold fillet4 ,she carries a lamp shaped like the old-fashioned one so frequently used to illustrate ,education4 ,,any ,,city is studying the proposed tax levy for the year4 ,he is seated in an easy chair4 ,,any ,,city 7impatiently74 ,h'm4 ,it just can't be done6 ,it is out of the question to raise so much money by taxation this year4 ,this list of appropriations must be cut4 ,but where8 ,what can be cut without raising a row8 7,looks over the list47 ,half a million dollars for a new bridge over the canal at #gth ,st4 ,there's a perfectly good bridge at #ith ,st41 and another at #crd ,st4 ,but the railroad and marketmen will strike if we don't build this new bridge4 ,to keep peace1 ,i'll have to stand by that appropriation4 7,pointing to different items on the paper47 ,that must not be cut2 nor that2 nor that2 nor that6 ,h'm6 ,three million dollars for the extension of ,grand ,view ,avenue4 ,really1 that's not necessary4 ,that road is being opened only for the accommodation of some rich men who take advantage of my city opportunities1 but live in the suburbs and evade paying any taxes to me4 ,but their financial influence is so great1 ,i dare not cut this appropriation4 7,continues study of list47 ,no1 not that2 nor that2 nor that6 ,ha6 here is the school appropriation3 three and a half million dollars4 ,i hate to do it1 but ,i'll have to cut here4 ,of course1 it means curtailing the kindergarten1 deferring the building of the much needed new elementary school in the #crd ,ward1 the abolition of summer schools1 the serious handicapping of junior and senior high school work1 the overcrowding of classes1 and no hope of increase in teachers' salaries4 ,oh6 ,i hate to do it6 ,but ,i must6 ,it's positively the only place ,i can cut without bringing about a strike or at least a kick4 ,but--oh--,taxation is ,vexation6 ,with the paper still in his hand1 he leans back in his chair1 relaxes as one who has solved a weighty question satisfactorily1 and is soon as fast asleep as his neighbors1 the other cities of the land4 ,enter ,,education1 holding her lamp aloft4 ,she glides slowly across the stage to the sleeper and holds her lamp above him4 ,he awakes slowly1 stretching his arms1 and in so doing drops the paper to the floor4 ,,any ,,city 7sleepily74 ,a light6 7,suddenly perceiving ,,education1 he sits forward in his chair47 ,and you6 ,who are you8 ,,education4 ,the bearer of the light4 ,,any ,,city4 ,what is your name8 ,,education4 ,since the beginning of time ,i have borne many names4 ,men have called me ,experience1 ,tradition1 ,discipline1 ,invention1 ,culture1 ,ambition1 ,knowledge1 ,training1 ,learning1 ,teaching1 ,instruction1 ,development1 ,information1 and many other names1 and ,i answer to all4 ,but ,i am more commonly called ,education4 ,,any ,,city starts up1 snatches up the tax budget1 and holds it behind his back4 ,,any ,,city4 ,why are you here8 ,,education4 ,because ,i have need of you2 and because you have need of me4 ,here1 hold my light for a moment4 ,,any ,,city holds the light carefully in both hands1 dropping his paper in order to do so4 ,the light grows somewhat dim4 ,,education4 ,the light still burns4 ,it does not go out in your keeping4 ,by that symbol1 ,i know that by my light you may still choose the right path1 that you may follow the path in confidence1 that you may arrive in safety at the journey's end4 ,come with me for a while into the shadows1 and watch my light glimmering through the ages4 ,me you shall not always see in person1 but wherever my light burns1 know that ,i am surely there4 ,come4 ,as ,,education speaks the first 8,come10 she takes the lamp from ,,any ,,city and holds it aloft4 ,at the second word 8,come10 she takes his hand and leads him behind the curtain4 ,before leaving1 ,any ,city picks up his paper1 which he carries as far from ,,education as he can4 ,curtain is raised4 ,,first ,,glimmer3 ,,experience ,the light of ,,education is hanging above4 ,the background for this and the next two pictures may be the same--a forest scene4 ,characters ,,strong ,,arm1 the ,father ,,fleet ,,foot1 the ,daughter ,,rash ,,daring1 the ,son ,costumes3 ,flesh-colored tights and skins of animals4 ,,rash ,,daring is writhing on the ground in agony4 ,,fleet ,,foot runs toward him with water in her cupped hands4 ,on the ground lies some brightly colored fruit4 ,,fleet ,,foot4 ,here1 my brother1 drink the pure water4 ,it may allay your suffering4 ,oh1 that ye had heeded my words1 my brother6 ,she kneels beside ,,rash ,,daring1 and tries to force him to drink4 ,then smooths his brow with her moistened fingers4 ,suddenly ,,rash ,,daring',s body jerks spasmodically2 then is still4 ,,fleet ,,foot 7seizing his hands in terror74 ,look at me6 ,speak to me1 my brother6 7,cries aloud47 ,o father6 father6 ,,strong ,,arm rushes in1 takes in picture at a glance1 and kneeling beside ,,fleet ,,foot1 examines the body of the boy4 ,,fleet ,,foot4 ,what shall ,i do1 father8 ,shall ,i fetch more water8 ,,strong ,,arm4 ,nay1 little daughter4 ,there is nothing to be done4 ,your brother is dead4 ,,fleet ,,foot throws herself down1 weeping bitterly4 ,,strong ,,arm touches her head gently with his hand4 ,,strong ,,arm4 ,tears are but idle4 ,sit up1 my daughter1 and tell me what caused the death of my son4 ,,fleet ,,foot 7controlling herself by a great effort74 ,far away in the forest we found a small tree covered with beautiful fruit4 ,see1 father1 there is some of it at your feet4 7,,strong ,,arm picks up a fruit and examines it1 while ,,fleet ,,foot continues her story47 ,rash ,daring wanted to eat some of the fruit as soon as we found it2 but ,i persuaded him to gather it and carry it home for you to see1 for ,i feared it was poisonous because1 with many monkeys in the neighboring trees1 not one fruit on the small tree had been bitten or plucked4 ,on our way home ,i ran ahead of my brother4 ,suddenly he cried aloud4 ,i hastened back and found him lying on the ground in great pain4 ,he told me that he had eaten some of the fruit and suffered greatly4 ,i ran to the brook for water1 but he could not drink it4 ,then ,i called you4 ,,strong ,,arm4 ,yes1 the fruit is poison4 ,would that we could purchase our experience at a smaller cost6 ,o my son6 my son6 ,as ,,strong ,,arm speaks the sentence1 8,would that we could purchase10 etc41 the light burns brightly4 ,,curtain ,as the curtain falls1 ,,education1 bearing her lamp and leading ,,any ,,city1 steps before it4 ,,any ,,city4 ,but1 ,education1 ,i do not understand6 ,your light burned aloft2 but there was no school6 ,,education4 ,no school8 ,you have visited the hardest school in the world1 the school ruled by the sternest teacher in the world--the ,school of ,experience4 ,fortunate are they who learn from the experience of the past and the experience of others4 ,as ,,education speaks1 her light is cast for a moment on the tax paper4 ,,any ,,city glances at the paper and tries to conceal it4 ,with a beckoning gesture ,,education leads him again behind the curtain4 ,,second ,,glimmer3 ,,tradition ,characters ,,old ,,woman1 and several maidens ,they are seated in an almost closed circle1 each grinding grain between two flat stones4 ,above them hangs the light4 ,they are dressed in ,oriental costume1 the bright colors of which serve as a background to the gray stones4 ,they grind with a rhythmic movement1 humming a monotonous tune4 ,gradually one of the maidens stops and gazes dreamily toward the light4 ,,old ,,woman4 ,get thee to thy work1 maiden4 ,thinkst thou idle fingers and dreaming eyes will grind the corn8 ,,maiden 7with hand on upper stone as if ready to resume work1 but with eyes toward the light1 which glows brighter as she speaks74 ,i was but wondering if there be not some better way to grind the corn4 ,,old ,,woman4 ,better way to grind the corn1 she says6 ,she means easier way--an easier way for her own idle self6 ,shame upon thee1 thou lazy maiden6 ,shame upon thee1 thou presumptuous maiden6 ,thinkst thou that in thy foolish mind lies the wisdom of the earth8 ,had there been a better way1 would not our fathers1 the wise men of the land1 have discovered that way and handed it down to us8 ,have not the women of our country from generation to generation ground their corn in this way8 ,if this way were good enough for them1 it is good enough for us6 ,thinkst thou that thou art better or wiser than they8 ,i have no patience with thy dreams1 born of thine own laziness6 ,get to work1 maiden1 and let me hear no more of thy better ways6 ,better ways1 forsooth6 ,while the ,,old ,,woman speaks1 the light burns dimmer4 ,the other maidens stop their work to listen1 all showing their approval of her words1 and their condemnation of her who dared to dream of better things4 ,as the ,,old ,,woman finishes1 they resume their task and their monotonous tune4 ,,curtain ,,education and ,,any ,,city appear before the curtain4 ,,any ,,city4 ,good for the ,old ,woman6 ,i believe in sticking to old well-tried things4 ,so many people believe that just because a thing is new1 it is the only good thing in the world4 ,,education4 ,but a greater number believe that just because a thing is old1 it is sacredly all sufficient4 ,if everybody had thought with you and the ,old ,woman1 how would the world be fed to-day8 ,think you those primitive stone-grinders rival the great flour mills of the present day8 ,how many hand-mills think you would be necessary to grind the wheat of our vast plains8 ,,any ,,city4 ,of course1 ,i don't mean that ,i want things as they were long ago4 ,but there are some people who are never satisfied4 ,they are continually wanting things different4 ,,education4 ,no1 you don't want things to remain as they were4 ,you want them to stay as they are4 ,that is all the ,old ,woman wanted in her time4 ,she didn't want to go back to the earliest days when the grain was ground only by the teeth of the consumer4 ,had everyone followed blindly the tradition of his own time1 we should still be at the very beginning4 ,look you to the justly dissatisfied man for all that has made for progress in the world4 ,saw you not how my light brightened at the words of the maiden8 ,remember that1 far as we have journeyed in the past1 so far and perhaps still farther lies the way of the future along the ,highway of ,progress4 ,be not you bound too tightly by the bonds of old tradition4 ,as ,,education speaks the last sentence1 her light plays for a moment on ,,any ,,city',s paper4 ,with a guilty air he tries to conceal it1 as he follows ,,education behind the curtain4 ,,third ,,glimmer3 ,,invention ,characters ,,hiawatha and a group of ,indians ,a deerskin with picture-writing on it 7see text below7 is in the centre of the background4 ,over the writing burns the light4 ,,hiawatha stands before the deerskin instructing his people1 who are grouped about him4 ,during his lesson they show signs of eager approval4#a ,,hiawatha4 ,lo1 how all things fade and perish6 ,from the memory of the old men ,pass away the great traditions1 ,the achievements of the warriors1 ,the adventures of the hunters1 ,all the wisdom of the ,medas1 ,all the craft of the ,wabenos1 ,all the marvelous dreams and visions ,of the ,jossakeeds1 the ,prophets4 ,great men die and are forgotten1 ,wise men speak2 their words of wisdom ,perish in the ears that hear them1 ,do not reach the generations ,that1 as yet unborn1 are waiting ,in the great1 mysterious darkness ,of the speechless days that shall be4 ,on the grave-posts of our fathers ,are no signs1 no figures painted2 ,who are in these graves we know not1 ,only know they are our fathers4 ,face to face we speak together1 ,but we cannot speak when absent1 ,cannot send our voices from us ,to the friends that dwell afar off4 ,turns to deerskin1 and points with an arrow to different symbols1 as he names them4 ,on the white skin of the reindeer ,i have painted shapes and figures1 ,wonderful and mystic figures1 ,and each figure has a meaning1 ,each some word or thought suggesteth4 ,gitche ,manito1 the ,mighty1 ,he1 the ,master of ,life1 ,i've painted ,as an egg1 with points projecting ,to the four winds of the heavens4 ,everywhere is the ,great ,spirit1 ,is the meaning of this symbol4 ,mitche ,manito1 the ,mighty1 ,he1 the dreadful ,spirit of ,evil1 ,as a serpent ,i've depicted4 ,very crafty1 very cunning1 ,is the creeping ,spirit of ,evil1 ,is the meaning of this symbol4 ,life and ,death ,i draw as circles2 ,life is white1 but ,death is darkened4 ,for the earth ,i draw a straight line1 ,for the sky a bow above it2 ,white the space between for daytime1 ,filled with little stars for night-time2 ,on the left a point for sunrise1 ,on the top a point for noontide1 ,and for rain and cloudy weather ,waving lines descending from it4 ,footprints pointing toward a wigwam ,are a sign of invitation1 ,are a sign of guests assembling4 ,thus1 my people1 ,i would teach you ,all the mysteries of painting1 ,all the art of ,picture-,writing4 ,go ye then and mark your grave-posts ,each one with its household symbol4 ,and the ,jossakeeds1 the ,prophets1 ,the ,wabenos1 the ,magicians1 ,and the ,medicine-,men1 the ,medas1 ,paint upon the bark and deerskin ,figures for the songs ye chant us ,for each song a separate symbol1 ,figures mystical and awful1 ,figures strange and brightly colored2 ,let each figure have its meaning4 ,thus shall live the great traditions1 ,the achievements of the warriors1 ,the adventures of the hunters1 ,all the wisdom of the wise men1 ,all the craft of the magicians1 ,all the visions of the prophets4 ,,curtain ,as ,,education and ,,any ,,city appear before the curtain1 ,any ,city is protesting in sputtering confusion4 ,,any ,,city4 ,but--but--,i--,i can't for the life of me understand why your light burned so brightly over those crude drawings6 ,,education4 ,crude they were1 ,i grant1 but they meant much to me4 ,through them was passed on the results of my work for ages--all that ,i had taught the people through experience and tradition1 all that they had achieved1 their strivings1 their conquests1 their beliefs1 and their dreams4 ,invention1 originality1 self-expression1 call it what you will1 is the gateway to ,progress4 ,honor to the man who is not bound by old precedent1 who is not swayed by might or favor1 who establishes a new procedure based on right and justice4 7,light directed to paper47 ,,any ,,city 7in confusion1 as he conceals paper74 ,i thought that ,education is training and discipline6 ,,education4 ,those are two of my attributes4 ,come with me and you shall see some early lessons in training and discipline4 ,,education and ,,any ,,city withdraw from before the curtain4 ,footnotes3 #a ,the following has been adapted slightly from ,hiawatha4 ,,fourth ,,glimmer3 ,,training ,young men and maidens in ancient ,greek costume at exercises for the training of the body4 ,the lamp hangs above4 ,i4 ,maidens playing with a golden ball 7to music74 ,,ii4 ,young men throwing discus4 ,,iii4 ,dance4 ,curtain lowered for one minute4 ,,fifth ,,glimmer3 ,,discipline ,as the curtain is raised1 boys representing ,roman soldiers march in4 ,under the command of their leader1 they go through some military evolutions4 ,at last the order corresponding to our 8,attention60 is given4 ,every man stands like a statue4 ,a ,,messenger1 wildly excited1 rushes in from right of stage4 ,,messenger4 ,fire6 ,the whole city burns6 ,your homes and all that you hold dear are in danger6 ,rushes off at left4 ,during the alarm not one man moves4 ,not a quiver betrays their feelings4 ,officer gives command and leads them off at double-quick toward fire at right4 ,,curtain ,,education and ,,any ,,city appear before the curtain4 ,,any ,,city4 ,magnificent6 ,now ,i know the source of that 8,glory that was ,greece10 and that 8,grandeur that was ,rome60 ,surely never since those olden days have you seen such grace of body1 such discipline of mind6 ,,education4 ,yes1 ,i have seen little children at play who were as graceful as any trained dancer of old ,greece2 and have you forgotten our ,american lads that went down on the ,tuscania8 ,surely the discipline and courage of those untried boys1 who met death with a song on their lips1 were equal even to that of the trained and tried legions of ,imperial ,rome4 ,,any ,,city4 ,but surely you do not deprecate such training and such discipline8 ,,education4 ,nay1 far from it6 ,it is only when such training and discipline are given but to certain classes that ,i tremble4 ,come with me and ,i will show you how the trained1 the selected classes had power over their brother men until--,but wait2 you shall see for yourself4 ,come4 ,exit ,,education and ,,any ,,city4 ,,sixth ,,glimmer3 ,a ,,first ,,lesson ,,in ,,democracy ,a room in a feudal castle in ,england4 ,a ,,man and a ,,maiden dressed as servants of the time 7#abae7 are standing near an open casket4 ,the ,,man holds an illuminated book in his hand4 ,the ,,maiden is peering over his shoulder at the beautiful decorations4 ,at her feet lies her distaff4 ,the light burns dimly above4 ,some humble stools1 and two high-backed chairs covered with gorgeous tapestry are the only furnishings4 ,,maiden4 ,oh1 how lovely6 ,i could look at the gay colors for years and never tire6 ,,man4 ,and ,i would give years of my life if ,i could but read the writing in the book4 ,,maiden 7clutching his arm in terror74 ,oh1 say not so6 ,the very walls have ears6 ,if it were known that thou didst entertain an ambition so high above thy station1 it would mean1 at least1 the stocks4 ,,man4 ,i care not4 ,why should this book and all the learning of the sages be closed to me because ,i was born in a hovel1 and opened to my master just because he chanced to be born in a castle8 ,i tell thee it is not fair6 ,i-- ,enter the ,,lady ,,edyth4 ,the ,,maiden1 who first sees her1 covers the ,,man',s mouth with her hand1 so staying him and preventing the ,,lady ,,edyth',s hearing his words4 ,she1 however1 sees the open casket1 and the precious book in the hands of the servant1 and sweeps angrily forward4 ,,lady ,,edyth4 ,how now1 sirrah2 what dost thou with the precious book8 ,,man 7humbly74 ,i but looked at it1 my lady4 ,,lady ,,edyth 7snatching it from his hand74 ,thou 8but looked at it06 ,thinkst thou such a book was made for a boor like thee to look at1 let alone to handle with thy great rude hands8 ,how durst thou even open the casket8 ,i have a mind to have thee flogged4 ,,maiden 7falling on her knees74 ,nay1 my lady1 spare him1 ,i pray thee6 ,the fault is wholly mine4 ,i opened the casket4 ,i placed the book in his hands4 ,i-- ,,man 7stepping forward74 ,say not another word4 ,thou shalt not sacrifice thyself for me4 ,heed her not1 my lady4 ,i alone am to blame4 ,,lady ,,edyth looks from one to the other and her face softens4 ,she replaces the book in the casket4 ,then turns again to the servants4 ,,lady ,,edyth4 ,methinks ye are both to blame2 an' ye transgress again1 ,i shall see that proper punishment is meted out to both4 ,pick up thy distaff1 wench1 and get thee to thy spinning4 7,a knock at the door is heard47 ,and thou1 sirrah1 open the door4 ,the ,,maiden picks up her distaff and1 seating herself on one of the stools1 begins to spin4 ,,lady ,,edyth1 with one hand on the casket1 stands looking toward the door as the ,,man opens it and admits ,,baron ,,olditch1 a gentleman of the times1 splendidly attired4 ,following the ,,baron comes a ,,minstrel1 dressed in the garb of his profession4 ,in his belt is thrust a scroll4 ,across his shoulder is slung his instrument--a mandolin1 harp1 or any stringed instrument common to the times4 ,,lady ,,edyth 7extending her hand74 ,thou art doubly welcome1 baron3 ,i looked for no guest this stormy morning1 and ,i am weary of mine own company4 ,,baron 7bending over ,,lady ,,edyth',s hand74 ,in thy gentle presence1 ,i heed not the rude blasts of the storm2 in the light of thine eyes1 ,i know not1 nor care1 whether the sun be shining in full glory or hidden behind a cloud4 ,as for thy weariness1 ,i can speedily dispel it4 ,i have brought with me a minstrel1 with a new ballad that has set the whole town of ,london agog4 ,if thou wilt be seated1 he will begin his lay without further ado4 ,,lady ,,edyth graciously bows1 and the ,,baron leads her with great ceremony to her chair4 ,the ,,maiden steps quickly forward to place a footstool under her mistress's feet4 ,the smiling ,,baron bends again over ,,lady ,,edyth',s hand and takes a step backward4 ,in doing so he treads on the ,,maiden',s distaff1 which she has dropped1 and nearly loses his balance4 ,the smile leaves his face4 ,in a rage he kicks the distaff away toward the ,,minstrel4 ,,baron4 ,out of my way1 clumsy stupid wench6 ,he raises his hand1 and the kneeling ,,maiden at her mistress's feet cowers as if expecting a blow4 ,the ,,minstrel and the ,,man each take a step forward1 the ,,man with clenched hands2 but the ,,baron carries his hand to his head and strokes his hair4 ,,lady ,,edyth4 ,forgive the maid1 baron4 ,she is a good wench and truly skillful4 ,,baron4 ,there is nothing1 there is nobody ,i would not forgive an' thou asked it1 my fair lady4 7,turning to ,,maiden47 ,and now1 stupid one1 up and fetch a stool for the minstrel4 ,the ,,maiden obeys1 while the ,,baron seats himself beside ,,lady ,,edyth4 ,,baron 7turning to the ,,minstrel74 ,and now1 sir1 we are ready to hear thy ballad4 ,the ,,minstrel advances to the seat the ,,maiden has placed for him4 ,as he passes her1 with a low bow1 he hands her the distaff which he has picked from the floor4 ,,lady ,,edyth 7aside to the ,,baron74 ,marry1 but thy minstrel has right courtly manners6 ,,baron 7aside to ,,lady ,,edyth74 ,he comes here direct from the court4 ,,minstrel 7standing before ,,lady ,,edyth1 bowing very low74 ,i am at thy service1 my lady4 ,,lady ,,edyth4 ,talk not of service1 ,o minstrel2 it is pleasure thou bringest1 ,i know4 ,most welcome art thou1 for dearly love ,i all ballads4 ,pray be seated and favor us with thy rhymes4 ,with another low bow the ,,minstrel seats himself on the stool placed before ,,lady ,,edyth',s and the ,,baron',s chairs4 ,while he unslings his instrument and makes ready1 the ,,maiden seals herself and resumes her spinning4 ,the ,,man watches the ,,minstrel with eager1 longing eyes4 ,as the lay is chanted1 he is visibly affected4 ,he forgets his work1 he forgets his station1 and1 as if lured by the rhyme1 creeps nearer and nearer4 ,,lady ,,edyth and the ,,baron are unconscious of the effect of the minstrelsy on the ,,man as the backs of their chairs are toward his position4 ,,minstrel4 ,i will recite for you1 my lord and lady1 the lay of ,thomas ,rhymer4 8,true ,thomas lay on grassy bank1 ,and he beheld a lady gay1 ,a lady that was brisk and bold1 ,came riding o'er the fernie brae4 8,her skirt was o' the grass-green silk1 ,her mantle o' the velvet fine2 ,and on the locks o' her horse's mane ,hung fifty silver bells and nine4 8,true ,thomas he took off his cap1 ,and bowd low down on his knee3 #8,all hail thou1 mighty ,queen of ,heaven ,for thy peer on earth could never be4' 8#8,oh no1 oh no1 ,true ,thomas1' she said1 #8,that name does not belong to me2 ,i am but the queen of fair ,elfland1 ,that am hither come to visit thee4 8#8,now1 ye must go with me1' she said2 #8,true ,thomas1 ye must go with me2 ,and ye must serve me seven years1 ,through weal or woe as chance may be4' 8,she turned about her milk-white steed2 ,she took ,true ,thomas up behind1 ,and aye1 whene'er her bridle rang1 ,the steed flew swifter than the wind4 8,o they rode on1 and farther on1 ,the steed flew swifter than the wind2 ,until they reached a desert wide1 ,and living land was left behind4 8#8,now light ye down1 ,true ,thomas1' she said1 #8,and lean your head upon my knee1 ,abide ye there a little space1 ,and ,i will show you wonders three4 8#8,o see ye not yon narrow road1 ,so thick beset with thorns and briers8 ,that is the ,path of ,righteousness1 ,though after it but few inquires4 8#8,and see ye not you braid1 braid road1 ,that lies across the lily leven8 ,that is the path of wickedness1 ,though some call it the 8,road to ,heaven40 8#8,and see ye not yon bonny road1 ,that winds about the fernie brae8 ,that is the ,road to fair ,elfland1 ,where thou and ,i must go this day4 8#8,but1 ,thomas1 ye must hold your tongue1 ,whatever ye may hear or see2 ,for speak ye word in ,elfin ,land1 ,ye'll ne'er get back to your ain countrie4' 8,o they rode on1 and farther on1 ,and they waded rivers above the knee2 ,and they saw neither sun nor moon1 ,but they heard the roaring of the sea4 8,syne they came to a garden green1 ,and she pulled an apple from a tree3 #8,take this for thy wages1 ,true ,thomas2 ,it will give thee tongue that can never lee4' 8,he has gotten a coat of the even cloth1 ,and a pair of shoes of velvet green1 ,and till seven years were past and gone ,true ,thomas on earth was never seen40 ,by the time the ,,minstrel has reached the last stanza of the ballad1 the ,,man has advanced until he now stands directly back of ,,lady ,,edyth',s chair4 ,,man4 ,bravo6 ,bravo6 ,oh1 what would not ,i be willing to give if only ,i might write--or even read--such lays as that6 ,the ,,baron and ,,lady ,,edyth are startled at hearing a voice so close4 ,,baron4 7,starting to his feet in a rage1 he makes a mad rush for the servant1 belabors him1 and throws him to the floor47 ,how darest thou comport thyself thus in the presence of thy betters6 ,write lays6 read lays6 ,what is the world coming to1 forsooth1 when every lazy churl aspires to lift himself from the station in which he was born6 ,he advances threateningly toward the ,,man1 but the ,,maiden rushes between and1 falling on her knees1 raises her hands in pleading4 ,the ,,baron stops4 ,,lady ,,edyth leaves her chair and advances toward the ,,baron1 as if to intercede1 but he does not see her4 ,,baron4 ,out of my way1 wench6 ,i will have him flayed alive for his insolence6 ,i will have him thrown into prison6 ,i will-- ,,minstrel 7interrupting74 ,thou shalt do him no ill4 ,,lady ,,edyth and the ,,maiden1 still on her knees1 and the ,,man1 who has raised himself until he reclines on an elbow1 look to the ,,minstrel with various expressions on their faces3 ,,lady ,,edyth',s look is one of wonder1 and fear for the consequence of his words2 the servants' faces express fear and a glimmer of hope4 ,,baron 7astounded74 ,what8 ,what8 ,by what right darest thou thus address me8 ,,minstrel4 ,by the right granted by the ,king4 ,thou art far from ,london1 and so methinks have not heard the news4 ,over a fortnight ago ,king ,john signed the ,magna ,charta4 ,,baron 7forgetting his rage in a desire to hear all74 ,tell on4 ,,minstrel4 ,the barons compelled him to sign the charter granting civil liberty4 ,,baron4 ,yes1 granting greater liberty to us--the barons4 ,now more firmly may we deal with such upstarts as this varlet4 ,i will-- ,,minstrel 7again interrupting74 ,hold6 ,the rights and the privileges granted to the barons are extended to their vassals4 ,listen to these lines4 ,as the ,,minstrel speaks1 he draws the scroll from his belt and unrolls it4 ,while he reads1 the light burns brighter4 ,,minstrel 7reading74 8,no freeman shall be taken1 or imprisoned1 or dispossessed1 or outlawed1 or banished1 or in any way destroyed2 nor will we pass upon him1 nor commit him1 but by the lawful judgment of his peers1 or by the law of the land4 8,to no man will we sell1 to none will we delay1 to none will we deny1 right or justice40 ,thou seest1 baron1 it is for all men6 ,,man 7rising slowly to his feet74 8,for all men40 ,and ,i am a man6 ,,curtain ,,education and ,,any ,,city appear before the curtain4 ,,any ,,city4 ,i am wondering if the book--the learning for which he hungered--was placed in the hand of the serf even after a more democratic government was established4 ,,education4 ,no1 not put into his hands2 but he might reach forth his hands and take1 and no man deny him4 ,come1 ,i will show you two pictures3 the first1 the book in feudal times1 the second1 the book in a democracy4 ,exit ,,education and ,,any ,,city4 ,,seventh ,,glimmer3 ,,the ,,book ,,first ,,picture3 ,a high reading-desk to which a book is chained4 ,the light feebly burns above4 ,,second ,,picture3 ,,abraham ,,lincoln1 the boy1 reading close to the light of the fire4 ,the light of education burns brightly above his head4 ,the curtain is dropped for a moment between the two tableaux4 ,when the curtain is lowered after the pictures1 ,,education and ,,any ,,city again appear before it4 ,,any ,,city 7speaking as if continuing a conversation begun behind the curtain74 ,but the chained book is but a symbol6 ,,education4 ,no1 it is a pictured fact4 ,the book was so chained during the ,dark ,ages4 ,,any ,,city 7with satisfied manner74 ,well1 thank fortune that we live in a democracy1 where anyone who wants it may have learning4 ,,education4 ,congratulate yourself not on that fact4 ,how many ,abraham ,lincolns1 think you1 are in this land to-day--boys who will travel miles of rough road in stormy weather and work at hard labor for weeks1 for the privilege of reading a book8 ,the few such give us no care4 ,they mould their own future4 ,but can we allow the millions of less ambitious young citizens1 the lawmakers of the future1 to go without the education they so sorely need1 but never would secure through their own efforts8 ,no6 ,no6 ,no6 8,the ,spirit of ,democracy is the fruit of ,education40 ,and he who in any way curtails the opportunities for the education of ,american boys and girls is working directly against the ,spirit of ,democracy4 ,as ,,education speaks the last sentence1 her light plays on the paper4 ,,any ,,city raises it as if to toss it away1 but reconsiders his action and places it out of sight4 ,,any ,,city4 ,but ,i still maintain that things are made too easy for the children of the present day4 ,they should be forced to learn as they were in the past4 ,,education4 ,have you ever seen 8forced learning0 in operation8 ,,any ,,city4 ,no1 but ,i know it is good for children to be forced into right ways at times4 ,,education4 ,come with me into the past and see ,force at work4 ,,any ,,city4 ,no1 ,i really don't care to4 ,,education4 ,to paraphrase your own words1 8,it is good for a city to be forced into right ways at times40 ,now is such a time for you4 ,come6 ,,education leads the reluctant ,,any ,,city behind the curtain4 ,,eighth ,,glimmer3 ,,force ,a ,,dame ,,school ,,the ,,dame 7teacher7 is a sour-looking old woman4 ,she wears side curls and a high comb1 a kerchief and hoop-skirt4 ,her voice is loud and rasping4 ,the pupils in old-fashioned costume--boys in long trousers and short jackets1 girls in full long skirts and plain bodices and aprons--are seated on benches made by placing boards on two wooden horses or other supports4 ,there is no rest for the pupils' backs2 the feet of the shorter children swing above the floor4 ,the boys are seated on one side1 the girls on the other4 ,a boy with a high peaked cap1 on which the word 8,dunce0 is printed1 stands on a stool at one side of the room4 ,a little girl stands on a stool on the other side4 ,about her neck is hung a placard on which is written1 8,i brought my puppet to school40 ,her puppet1 a rag doll1 lies at her feet4 ,,the ,,dame carries a switch in her left hand4 ,a bundle of switches lies on her table4 ,on the middle finger of her right hand she wears a great brass thimble4 ,whenever a child is reprimanded or punished1 the other pupils laugh as if enjoying the discomfiture of a class-mate1 thus showing the worst influence of the teacher in the lives of her pupils4 ,as the curtain goes up1 the ,,dame is speaking to the girl who brought her puppet to school4 ,,dame4 ,thou hast stood on the stool now for thirty minutes--time enough for thee to repent4 ,sit thou now on the stool for another thirty minutes as an example to others4 ,child obeys1 crying4 ,she lifts her apron to wipe her eyes4 ,,dame4 ,put down thine apron at once4 7,sarcastically47 ,wouldst cover thy beautiful placard8 ,let us all see thy shamed face and thy repentant tears4 ,they are a sign of grace4 ,while she is talking1 a little girl whispers behind her book to another4 ,,dame spies her4 ,,dame4 ,so1 thou canst not keep thy mouth closed without help1 ,susie ,gray8 ,well1 ,i'll help thee6 ,she takes a large handkerchief from table and ties it over child's mouth4 ,,dame4 ,now go back to thy place6 ,next time1 ,i will paste thy mouth shut4 ,she raps child over the head with her thimble1 and ,,susie goes weeping to her seat4 ,while the ,,dame is disciplining ,,susie1 a boy reaches out his foot and draws the rag doll toward him4 ,he has all but secured it when the ,,dame discovers him4 ,,dame4 ,so1 ,johnny ,green1 thou likest the puppet1 too4 ,well1 ,i think we will let thee play with it for a while4 ,bring it to me4 7,boy comes sheepishly forward1 carrying the doll by a leg47 ,nay1 that's not the way to hold thy dear puppet4 ,take it in thine arms1 so6 7,to girl on stool47 ,bring thy placard here4 ,here is one who needs it more than thou4 7,she removes the placard from about the girl's neck and hangs it about the boy's47 ,now take thy place on the stool1 that we may all see how well thou canst hold thy baby4 ,as the boy takes his place1 the other children snicker4 ,the owner of the doll giggles with them1 until she sees the boy slyly tear a leg from the doll4 ,then she begins to weep1 but is afraid to tell the ,,dame of the boy's act4 ,,dame 7to boy in dunce-cap74 ,come here1 little dunce1 and see if thou knowest thy lesson now4 ,boy climbs from stool and takes position before ,,dame1 with hands folded behind him4 ,,dame4 ,spell joy4 ,,boy4 ,g-o-y1 joy4 ,,dame4 ,back to thy stool1 and stay there until thou hast learned thy words4 ,,boy 7retreats toward stool1 then turns at bay74 ,an thou keepst me on the stool for a week1 ,i cannot learn my lesson without a book6 ,,dame4 ,insolence6 ,come to me and ,i will teach thee respect to thine elders4 ,as the boy comes slowly toward her and her upraised switch1 she detects another boy holding his slate so that a girl may see a picture he has drawn of the ,,dame4 ,she pounces upon him1 while she waves the dunce to one side4 ,the dunce takes advantage of her preoccupation with the second boy1 to seize a book and study half-aloud1 8joy1 j-o-y10 before resuming his place on the stool4 ,,dame 7ignoring picture of herself1 speaking sarcastically to young artist74 ,oho1 so he wants the girls to see how clever he is6 ,he would like to amuse the girls6 ,go1 then1 and sit with the girls4 ,,second ,,boy4 ,i don't want to4 ,i'd rather take a whipping4 ,,dame4 ,oh1 be not so modest as to ask but one punishment4 ,thou shalt have it after your pleasant visit to the girls' bench4 ,take thy place in the middle1 little girl-boy4 ,the girls crowd together1 to make as much room for the boy as possible as he takes his place in the middle of their bench4 ,,dame 7to boy on stool74 ,now1 dunce1 come here4 7,boy advances and stands before her47 ,spell joy4 ,,boy4 ,j-o-y1 joy4 ,,dame4 ,take thy seat4 ,have thy lesson to-morrow or--7,holds up switch and shakes it47 ,as the boy goes to his seat1 he 8makes a face0 at the ,,dame1 which she cannot see1 but which is enjoyed by his classmates4 ,,dame4 ,the first class in reading will now come forward4 ,the rest will sit with folded arms as a punishment for the disorder in this school to-day4 ,and let me see no one talking or swinging his feet1 or it will go ill with him4 ,i have a fine new bundle of switches itching to be used4 ,,curtain ,,education and ,,any ,,city appear before the curtain4 ,,any ,,city4 ,a very much exaggerated picture4 ,i am sure that children never were so tortured in school4 ,,education4 ,an exact picture of ,dame ,weary's school in ,colonial days4 ,and you have not seen half the tortures inflicted on her hapless pupils as recorded in authentic records4 ,when force rules1 a despot reigns1 and a despot can beget naught but despotism4 ,the strong bullies2 the sly escapes2 the unscrupulous gathers the spoils4 ,there is no foundation laid for a true brotherhood of man4 ,in short1 there is nothing in the teaching or in the discipline in a school of force that fitly trains pupils as present and future citizens of a democracy4 ,,any ,,city4 ,no1 not in the school you have just shown me4 ,but what of the little red schoolhouses8 ,there we had true training4 ,the pupils were not helped over-much4 ,they had to solve their own problems4 ,those pupils could spell4 ,think of the good old-time spelling-matches6 ,they could recite the orations of ,america's great men4 ,those little red schoolhouses turned out scholars and patriots4 ,,education4 ,all honor to the splendid men and women1 teachers in the little red schoolhouses of the past6 ,far be it from me to decry in any way their work4 ,but1 methinks1 the ruddy glow of the exterior and the mellowing influence of time have thrown a warm glow over the cold hard facts concerning the work that was carried on in the interior of these buildings4 ,and1 even if the little red schoolhouse was all that fancy has painted it1 it has served its time2 it is as inadequate to the work of training the boys and girls of to-day as are the primitive stones to the task of grinding wheat for the people of ,america in the twentieth century4 ,you say that the little red schoolhouse turned out patriots4 ,the first of these schools were built by ,english-speaking people who sought civil1 religious1 and educational freedom4 ,they built their fort1 their meeting-house1 and their school at the same time4 ,i tell you1 the little red schoolhouse received patriots1 patriots bred in democratic principles4 ,our schools to-day receive people speaking many languages1 bred in ideals far removed from those of a republic4 ,when you speak of the schools of the past1 you think of the best2 when you speak of the schools of to-day1 you speak as if you knew only the worst4 ,how long is it since you actually visited a real ,american public school8 ,,any ,,city 7embarrassed74 ,why1 ,i--really--,i must confess that ,i have not visited a school since ,i was a pupil4 ,i left when ,i was in the sixth-grade4 ,,education 7with light shining on tax paper74 ,and you presume to pass on present day educational needs with a hazy idea of what education has wrought in the past1 and absolutely no knowledge of what she is accomplishing to-day8 ,,any ,,city shows signs of embarrassment and discomfiture1 but does not answer4 ,,education4 ,come with me4 ,we will visit a sixth-year grade of to-day4 ,,education leads ,,any ,,city behind curtain4 ,,ninth ,,glimmer3 ,,training ,,for ,,democracy ,the light bums brightly over a modern schoolroom4 ,the pupils are seated in chairs or at movable desks1 well grouped4 ,,miss ,,white1 the teacher1 is seated near her desk1 or table1 which is neatly arranged and is brightened by some flowers4 ,she is dressed in a pretty1 serviceable frock1 with white collar and cuffs4 ,she wears well-fitted1 medium-heeled shoes4 ,her hair is neatly and becomingly coiled4 ,all her movements are graceful but thoroughly alive4 ,her voice is pleasing and her articulation is perfect4 ,in dress1 voice1 and movements1 the pupils reflect the teacher's influence4 ,an elderly gentleman is visiting the school4 ,when the curtain is raised1 he is standing beside a chair near the teacher and is speaking to seven boys and girls standing in line4 ,he holds a paper containing a list of words in his hand4 ,,visitor4 ,i congratulate you1 young people4 ,the list of words ,i gave you in the spelling-match just ended1 is the very list that was given over a hundred years ago in a spelling-match held in the town hall of a ,new ,england village4 ,pupils from two district schools took part in the contest1 and the hall was crowded with their friends and relatives4 ,at the close of the match everybody was spelled down but one boy1 ,hiram ,edwards1 afterwards a famous preacher4 ,at the end of our match to-day1 we have seven girls and boys still standing4 ,i congratulate you more once4 ,the pupils bow and return to their seats4 ,,visitor4 ,miss ,white1 this is my first visit to a schoolroom in ten years4 ,i am interested in the modern methods of education4 ,may ,i ask you a few questions8 ,,miss ,,white 7who has risen to her feet on being addressed by her elderly visitor74 ,certainly4 ,my pupils and ,i will gladly answer all the questions we can4 ,a questioning smile of the teacher's is answered by assenting smiles from the pupils4 ,,visitor4 ,what are the pupils doing in geography8 ,,miss ,,white4 ,will someone answer our visitor8 ,several pupils rise4 ,,miss ,,white 7choosing74 ,mary4 ,,mary 7looking straight at ,,visitor74 ,to-day we are to show whether or not ,argentina is a progressive country4 ,,visitor4 ,aren't you going to take just what your geography says8 ,that's what we did when ,i went to school4 ,,mary4 ,yes1 but we want to know more than our geography tells before we can decide4 ,,visitor4 ,bless me6 ,i don't see how you're going to get anywhere4 ,suppose half of you say ,argentina isn't a progressive country1 and the other half say it is1 and the geography says nothing--who is going to decide8 ,,mary4 ,oh1 we must all prove our statements1 show our authority4 7,taking up a book and looking around47 ,see1 we all have reference books4 7,other pupils produce books which they hold up47 ,they are all different4 ,,visitor 7walking over and peering at titles through glasses74 ,different6 ,so they are--as different as our way of studying geography from one book in the past4 ,well6 ,well6 ,what are you doing in arithmetic8 ,again several pupils stand4 ,,visitor 7choosing one74 ,you tell me1 young man4 ,,pupil4 ,we are working problems in percentage4 ,i am on page #bja4 ,,visitor4 ,and where are the others1 pray8 ,pupils stand and answer in turn at nod from visitor4 ,,first ,,pupil4 ,i am working on page #aii4 ,,second ,,pupil4 ,i am working on page #bjd4 ,,third ,,pupil4 ,i am working on page #bjj4 ,,visitor4 ,my6 ,this is as bad as a district school6 ,all working on different pages6 ,,miss ,,white 7to ,,first ,,pupil74 ,tom1 will you please tell our visitor how we study arithmetic8 ,,tom4 ,miss ,white explained what percentage is1 that it is a sort of other name for decimal fractions1 and the problems can be worked just like common or decimal fractions4 ,then we work them4 ,that's all4 ,i'd have been farther1 only ,i got stuck on the eighth problem on page #aig4 ,but ,i finally worked it all right4 ,and now ,i am just sailing along4 ,,visitor4 ,good for you6 ,good for every one of you6 ,i like the child or the man who solves his problems independently4 ,i had an idea that nowadays teachers did the real work and pupils only copied it4 ,that's what ,i've been told4 ,pupils look bewildered for a second1 then1 thinking this an attempt at a joke1 laugh4 ,,visitor4 ,when ,i was a boy1 we used to speak pieces on ,friday afternoons4 ,i liked best to recite bits of patriotic speeches4 ,do any of you know ,lincoln's ,gettysburg ,address8 7,most of the class stand47 ,bless me6 ,so many6 ,,miss ,,white4 ,if you would like to hear one of my pupils recite it1 choose your orator4 ,,visitor4 ,i think ,i'd like to hear this little chap speak those great words of a great man4 ,,george1 the boy chosen1 comes to the front of the room and recites4 ,,address ,,at ,,the ,,dedication ,,of ,,the ,,gettysburg ,,national ,,cemetery ,fourscore and seven years ago1 our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation1 conceived in liberty1 and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal4 ,now we are engaged in a great civil war1 testing whether that nation1 or any nation so conceived and so dedicated1 can long endure4 ,we are met on a great battlefield of that war4 ,we have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live4 ,it is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this4 ,but1 in a larger sense1 we cannot dedicate--we cannot consecrate--we cannot hallow--this ground4 ,the brave men1 living and dead1 who struggled here1 have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract4 ,the world will little note nor long remember what we say here1 but it can never forget what they did here4 ,it is for us1 the living1 rather1 to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced4 ,it is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us--that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion2 that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain2 that this nation1 under ,god1 shall have a new birth of freedom2 and that government of the people1 by the people1 for the people1 shall not perish from the earth4 ,,visitor4 ,thank you1 my lad1 thank you4 ,,miss ,,white4 ,sometimes we make original one-minute speeches4 ,would you like to hear one of those we prepared on ,theodore ,roosevelt8 ,if so1 choose your speaker4 ,,visitor4 ,indeed ,i would4 ,i think ,i'll choose you4 ,the pupil chosen comes to the front and delivers an original speech4 ,,visitor4 ,great work6 ,great work6 ,i'm sure there is another ,lincoln or ,roosevelt in the making1 right here in this class4 ,i am especially pleased to hear these good ,american speeches1 for ,i can see by your faces that some of you1 or perhaps your parents1 came from foreign lands4 ,,miss ,,white4 ,those who were not born in ,america please stand4 7,seven pupils stand47 ,in what country were you born8 ,in turn each answers3 #a1 ,italy4 #b1 ,russia4 #c1 ,ireland4 #d1 ,sweden4 #e1 ,russia4 #f1 ,austria4 #g1 ,england4 ,,miss ,,white4 ,now1 will all those whose parents--one or both--were born in other lands please stand also8 7,more than half the class rise4 ,motions pupils to their seats47 ,what are you all now8 ,,pupils 7emphatically74 ,,americans6 ,,miss ,,white4 ,i am sure our visitor will be pleased to hear1 8,i am an ,american10 recited by ,alice and ,peter4 ,then we will all recite ,the ,american ,creed4 ,,alice and ,,peter come to the front of the room and recite4 ,,alice4 ,i am an ,american4 ,my father belongs to the ,sons of the ,revolution2 ,my mother1 to the ,colonial ,dames4 ,one of my ancestors pitched tea overboard in ,boston ,harbor2 ,another stood his ground with ,warren2 ,another hungered with ,washington at ,valley ,forge4 ,my forefathers were ,america in the making3 ,they spoke in her council halls2 ,they commanded her ships2 ,they cleared her forest4 ,dawns reddened and paled4 ,stanch hearts of mine beat fast at each new star ,in the nation's flag4 ,keen eyes of mine foresaw her greater glory3 ,the sweep of her seas1 ,the plenty of her plains4 ,the man-hives in her billion-wired cities4 ,every drop of blood in me holds a heritage of ,patriotism4 ,i am proud of my past4 ,i am an ,american4 ,,peter4 ,i am an ,american4 ,my father was an atom of dust1 ,my mother1 a straw in the wind1 ,to his ,serene ,majesty4 ,one of my ancestors died in the mines of ,siberia4 ,another was crippled for life by twenty blows of the knout2 ,another was killed defending his home during the massacres4 99 99 99 99 99 ,but then the dream came-- ,the dream of ,america4 ,in the light of the ,liberty torch ,the atom of dust became a man ,and the straw in the wind became a woman ,for the first time4 8,see10 said my father1 pointing to the flag that fluttered near1 8,that flag of stars and stripes is yours2 ,it is the emblem of the promised land4 ,it means1 my son1 the hope of humanity4 ,live for it--die for it60 ,under the open sky of my new country ,i swore to do so2 ,and every drop of blood in me will keep that vow4 ,i am proud of my future4 ,i am an ,american4 ,,miss ,,white steps forward1 and placing a hand on the shoulder of each1 leads the class1 as they stand proudly erect1 in reciting ,the ,american ,creed4 ,the ,creed must be spoken clearly and emphatically4 ,,class4 ,i believe in the ,united ,states of ,america as a government of the people1 by the people1 for the people2 whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed2 a democracy in a republic2 a sovereign nation of many sovereign states2 a perfect union1 one and inseparable2 established upon those principles of freedom1 equality1 justice1 and humanity for which ,american patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes4 ,i therefore believe it is my duty to my country to love it2 to support its ,constitution2 to obey its laws2 to respect its flag1 and to defend it against all enemies4 ,,curtain ,,education and ,,any ,,city appear before the curtain4 ,,any ,,city4 ,do you mean to tell me that all the sixth-grade pupils in ,america are being taught as are these children8 ,if so1 no sacrifice is too great for the public to make1 that such schools may be maintained4 ,,education4 ,alas1 no6 ,i have shown you one of the best schools4 ,but there are hundreds of such schools in the land to-day2 and ,i tell you1 no sacrifice is too great for the public to make that all schools in the country may be brought to this standard1 may be advanced beyond it4 ,it is owing to the self-denial and patriotism of the best teachers of ,america that the average standard of her schools is as high as it is to-day2 it is because of their untiring efforts that ,america has to-day schools beyond the price the public is paying for them4 ,,any ,,city 7as if thinking aloud74 ,yes1 such children--children with a thorough education2 children trained to think and act for themselves2 children who learn to stick to a thing until it is finished2 children who are healthy1 courteous1 and patriotic--will be a power for good when they become men and women4 ,,education4 ,yes1 it is to the school-children of to-day that you must look for the controllers of the future destinies of ,america4 ,upon the training you give them now depends the fate of the ,nation in the years to come4 ,we are at the dividing of the ways4 ,the public must either provide the means for the democratic training of all boys and girls1 or permit class-distinctions in citizens of a republic4 ,that you may know the danger that thus threatens1 come with me and behold a possible school of the future4 ,exit ,,education and ,,any ,,city4 ,,tenth ,,glimmer3 ,a ,,warning ,a public school of the future suffering for lack of public support4 ,the pupils are crowded into dilapidated desks--two pupils at each4 ,benches on which other pupils are crowded are arranged along the wall4 ,the pupils are unkempt1 ragged1 rude4 ,a small blackboard1 much defaced1 is at one side of the room4 ,on it is some very careless work1 misspelled words1 poorly made figures1 etc4 ,the ,,teacher is slovenly in appearance3 hair fussy and untidy2 she is dressed in a sheer chiffon waist1 much worn and entirely unsuited for business purposes2 a badly hung skirt2 shabby slippers with 8run-down0 high heels4 ,her movements are awkward and abrupt2 her voice harsh2 her articulation poor1 the 8g0 being constantly dropped from words ending in 8ing02 her pronunciation incorrect1 and her grammar faulty4 ,she is the type of teacher to be expected if teachers' salaries are not materially advanced4 ,teacher's desk is cluttered with books1 papers1 etc4 ,as the curtain goes up the ,,teacher is talking to1 or rather screaming at1 a foreign-appearing woman--a woman with a black handkerchief on her head1 who has brought two children to school4 ,,teacher4 ,no1 ,i can't take them4 ,look at this room6 ,for the land's sake1 where do you think ,i could put two more8 ,hang them on the wall1 or plaster them to the ceilin'8 ,gee6 ,i'd like to quit this job6 7,raps on desk47 ,stop yer talkin'6 ,you'd think you had never been learned any manners4 ,you know it ain't perlite to talk when ,i'm speakin' to a lady4 7,turns again to visitor47 ,no1 it won't do you any good to see the ,board of ,education4 ,they've got troubles of their own1 ,i guess4 ,i jest can't take another one in this class and that's the end of it4 ,you'd better go now4 ,i've no time to fool with visitors4 ,woman leaves1 shaking her head4 ,,teacher4 ,the ,a division will take out your ,arithmetics4 7,the ,a division obey noisily47 ,for the land's sake6 ,i didn't tell you to smash your desks with them4 ,i bet some of you bust your book-backs4 ,pupils examine books2 one boy deliberately tears back binding4 ,all laugh4 ,at this point1 one of the old seats gives way and the occupants are thrown to the floor4 ,,teacher4 ,there1 ,i've been expectin' that to happen any time for the last month4 ,i have begged and begged for some decent desks1 but the cry is always1 8,no money6 ,no money60 ,are you hurt1 boys8 ,,first ,,boy4 ,no4 ,,second ,,boy4 ,yes1 ,i twisted my wrist4 ,,teacher4 ,well1 go home and have it 'tended to4 ,i have no time to fix it for you4 ,and 7turning to ,,first ,,boy7 you can go with him1 ,sam4 ,you might as well1 for ,i have no place for you now your desk is broken4 ,boys leave and ,,teacher turns again to the class4 ,,teacher4 ,the ,b division will-- ,the class interrupts1 ,a and ,b divisions shouting at the same time4 ,a ,,division4 ,you never told us what to do yet6 ,b ,,division4 ,you forgot to tell the ,a's what to do with their ,arithmetics6 ,,teacher 7placing hands over ears1 and screaming74 ,hush up6 ,do you want to make me deef8 ,a's do the first five examples on page #ig4 ,the first1 second1 and third pupils speak at the same time4 ,,first ,,pupil4 ,aw1 ,i can't do them examples6 ,,second ,,pupil4 ,you never told us how to do them examples6 ,,third ,,pupil4 ,i don't know what this word means6 ,,teacher4 ,you'll have to do the best you know how4 ,i'm sure ,i haven't got any time to stop and explain things now4 ,if ,i have time later1 ,i'll explain anythin' you want to know4 ,,fourth ,,pupil4 ,i hain't got no pencil4 ,,teacher4 ,correct your ,english4 ,,fourth ,,pupil4 ,i ain't got any pencil4 ,,teacher4 ,borrow one off of another pupil4 ,the ,,fourth ,,pupil creates further disturbance by proceeding to borrow a pencil4 ,,fifth ,,pupil4 ,the point of my pencil's busted4 ,,teacher4 ,well1 you can git along as best you can4 ,with seventy-two pupils ,i haven't got time to see that pencils are sharpened4 ,,sixth ,,pupil4 ,i haven't got no paper4 ,,teacher4 ,well1 do your examples on the blackboard4 ,the stingy allowance of paper provided for this class is used up long ago4 ,,sixth ,,pupil4 ,the page is tore out of my book4 ,,teacher4 ,i'm not surprised4 ,we should have had new books two years ago4 ,these have been in tatters for ages4 ,look on with somebody else4 ,,seventh ,,pupil4 ,i-- ,,teacher4 ,oh1 do be still6 ,i won't listen to another word4 ,i've got to hear the ,b history lesson now4 ,let me see everybody at work at once4 ,a division takes its time getting ready1 slouches down in awkward1 unhealthful attitudes and makes a pretence of solving the problems it does not understand4 ,the ,,teacher meanwhile is giving her attention to the ,b division4 ,,teacher4 ,to-day we will have a review of ,america's great men4 7,she opens her book and reads the questions from it47 ,john1 who was ,washington8 ,,john4 ,washington was the first ,president of the ,united ,states4 ,he was the father of his country4 ,he cut down a cherry tree4 ,he fought4 ,he killed a colt4 ,,teacher4 ,very good1 ,john4 ,does anybody else know anythin' about ,washington8 7,a number of hands are raised47 ,well1 what do you know1 ,mary8 ,,mary4 ,his birthday is ,february twelfth4 ,,tom4 ,hear her1 ,february twelfth6 ,that's ,valentine's ,day4 ,washington's birthday is ,february twenty-second1 and we have a holiday4 ,,fred4 ,you're wrong yourself4 ,february twelfth is ,lincoln's birthday4 ,valentine ,day is the fourteenth4 ,,teacher4 ,stop quarrelin'4 ,fred is right4 ,now1 ,fred1 what can you tell me about ,lincoln8 ,,fred4 ,he was a poor boy and split rails for the railroad4 ,he was president4 ,he was shot4 ,,teacher4 ,good4 ,,fanny4 ,i know something else about ,lincoln4 ,he-- ,,teacher 7interrupting74 ,never mind2 we have no time to hear more about him4 ,tell me what you know about ,franklin instead4 ,,fanny4 ,one day a girl saw him walking along the street eating a roll4 ,she laughed at him and so she married him4 ,,carrie4 ,franklin wrote wise things4 ,we have a book about him at home4 ,he said1 8,early to bed1 and early to rise1 makes a man healthy1 wealthy and wise40 ,,peter4 ,call that wise6 ,gee1 ,i never go to bed before eleven4 ,,fanny4 ,i don't believe ,franklin ever said that4 ,it don't say anything like that in our history book4 ,,teacher4 ,well1 if it don't we'll not talk about it4 ,the land knows ,i'd be tickled if ,i had time to hear all that your book says1 without huntin' up more trouble in other books4 ,now we must stop4 ,time's up1 but you have done splendid1 children4 ,nobody can say ,i don't teach my children ,american history as good as anybody1 even if ,i have such a whale of a class4 ,,curtain ,,education and ,,any ,,city appear before the curtain4 ,,any ,,city4 ,but it is impossible that such a state of affairs can ever exist in this land6 ,,education4 ,impossible6 ,i tell you the beginning of such a state of affairs exists in this land to-day4 ,the danger is even now at your doors4 ,when the penurious1 short-sighted policy of the public drives the cultured1 trained1 and efficient teacher from the classroom1 her place is taken by the ignorant1 the untrained1 or the inefficient4 ,there are scores of thousands of untrained1 inefficient teachers in ,american schools1 teaching ,american children to-day2 and1 unless the public speedily awakes to the danger1 and pays the price for competent service1 such teachers will predominate in the schools of to-morrow4 ,unless measures are promptly taken to secure for every child in ,america a seat in a healthful schoolroom1 and books and materials for his education1 the public schools of the land will surely sink to the level of the classroom ,i have just shown you4 ,are you willing to trust the government of this country to citizens so trained8 ,,any ,,city4 ,but the children you showed me are the children of the poor1 the ignorant4 ,surely the children of the rich1 the cultured1 will have better training4 ,,education 7sternly74 ,the children ,i showed you are the children of ,america2 and would you train a selected few to rule this land8 ,if you say yes1 then are you a traitor to ,america4 ,you would overthrow this ,democracy--the 8government of the people1 by the people1 and for the people10 and substitute an aristocracy--a government of the people1 by a favored class1 for--what8 ,nay6 ,i tell you1 8the end of ,american education is the knowledge and the practice of ,democracy40 ,the education of the children in a democracy is the concern of all the public4 ,it must be an education of all the people1 paid for by all the people4 ,you sent millions of ,americans across the sea to make the world safe for ,democracy4 ,you must educate every child in the land to make democracy safe for ,america4 8,education is the most sacred concern1 and the only hope of a nation40 ,,any ,,city4 ,you are right4 ,i wish that you had shown me a happier view of the future1 however4 ,,education 7eagerly74 ,i will4 ,i will show you my dream for the future education of ,america1 and ,i can make the dream come true if you will lend your aid4 ,come4 ,,education leads1 and ,,any ,,city eagerly follows her behind the curtain4 ,,eleventh ,,glimmer3 ,,education',s ,,dream ,when the curtain is raised1 the stage is almost in darkness1 only the light of ,,education1 from the lamp hung near the front1 streams across the stage4 ,a searchlight should be arranged to suggest the brightening of ,,education',s light1 turning the glimmer into a broad gleam4 ,into this bright light march those who are a part of ,,education',s dream4 ,all the characters of the past1 those who took part in previous glimmers1 should be grouped in the background--the ,past looking toward the ,future4 ,the procession--,,education',s dream--carry banners showing who they are4 ,as they march1 they sing4 ,,order ,,of ,,procession #a4 ,leader1 carrying ,american ,flag4 #b4 ,kindergartens1 first a girl and boy1 each carrying something to suggest their work4 ,after them marches a third child with a banner on which is printed3 8,kindergarten--,from #d to #f40 #c4 ,the ,elementary ,grades3 #b ,first-,grade pupils4 #b ,second-,grade pupils4 #b ,third-,grade pupils4 #b ,fourth-,grade pupils4 #b ,fifth-,grade pupils4 #b ,sixth-,grade pupils4 ,some of above carry books and samples of work1 showing that there is no lack of books and materials provided2 others carry ,indian clubs1 dumb-bells1 footballs1 etc41 showing that the physical welfare of the child is considered4 ,after the elementary grades marches a boy bearing a banner on which is printed3 8,elementary ,schools--,from #f to #ab40 ,then follow the pupils representing the higher schools4 ,each group carries objects suggesting its special school activities4 #d4 ,the ,junior ,high ,school--,from #ab to #ae4 #e4 ,the ,classical ,high ,school--,from #ad to #ai4 #f4 ,the ,technical ,high ,school--,from #ad to #ai4 #g4 ,the ,commercial ,high ,school--,from #ad to #ai4 #h4 ,college--,from #ah to #bb4 #i4 ,extension ,school--,from #ah4 #aj4 ,americanization--,for all4 ,as they march they sing4 ,,processional3 ,,hymn ,,of ,,freedom 7,tune3 8,stand up1 stand up1 for ,jesus407 ,unfurl the flag of ,freedom1 ,fling far the bugle blast ,there comes a sound of marching ,from out the mighty past4 ,let every peak and valley ,take up the valiant cry1 ,where1 beautiful as morning1 ,our banner cuts the sky4 ,free-born to peace and justice1 ,we stand to guard and save ,the liberty of manhood1 ,the faith our fathers gave4 ,then soar aloft1 ,old ,glory1 ,and tell the waiting breeze ,no law but ,right and ,justice ,shall rule the seven seas6 ,the procession forms a tableau toward front of stage4 ,the ,,leader with the flag stands in front4 ,all banners held at the rear face audience4 ,in the centre of the line of banners is a very large one bearing the legend3-- ,a ,,place ,,for ,,every ,,child ,,in ,,the ,,public ,,schools and ,,every ,,child ,,in ,,the ,,public ,,school ,,leader4 ,let us repeat our slogan4 ,,all4 ,education for all6 ,,leader4 ,one country6 ,,all4 ,the ,united ,states of ,america4 ,,leader4 ,one language6 ,,all4 ,the ,english language4 ,,leader4 ,one flag6 ,,all4 ,the ,stars and ,stripes4 ,,curtain ,,education and ,,any ,,city appear before the curtain4 ,,education4 ,and now1 speak no more of the cost of education4 ,fear rather the cost of ignorance4 ,never yet has ,america failed to give1 and to give generously1 to the cause of ,freedom4 ,and through education comes perfect freedom4 ,uncounted millions were spent in the war to make the world safe for ,democracy4 ,will ,america not gladly spend a tithe of those billions for peace and to make safe the democratic principles of this republic8 ,were half the power that fills the world with terror1 ,were half the wealth bestowed on camps and courts1 ,given to redeem the human mind from error1 ,there were no need of arsenals and forts4 ,nor will a plea of ignorance avail4 ,i have shown you glimmers of the past4 ,i have told you the needs of the present4 ,i have given you a gleam along the pathway of the future4 ,by its light you may find the right path1 you may see to walk in it1 you may arrive safely at the journey's end4 ,up6 follow the gleam6 ,as ,,education says1 8,up6 follow the gleam60 the lights are turned off4 ,,education steps behind the curtain1 her hand holding the light being withdrawn last1 so that the gleam remains after she has 8faded0 from sight4 ,during the moment of darkness1 ,,any ,,city resumes his chair1 and when the lights are turned on1 is seen1 as in the ,prologue1 fast asleep4 ,,epilogue ,,the ,,gleam ,,any ,,city 7opening his eyes1 as if waking from sleep74 ,what a dream ,i have had6 ,no1 ,i believe it was what the seers of old would call a vision1 for a light seemed to be with me always4 7,picks up tax paper and opens it47 ,well1 dream or vision1 ,i have learned a lesson4 ,i will follow the gleam6 ,by the gleam ,i see my path--,i will cut off my hand before ,i cut one cent from this school appropriation6 ,by the light of the gleam ,i will follow the path--,i will give more1 and more1 and more1 that my children may be educated in the knowledge and practice of ,democracy4 ,by the gleam ,i shall reach the goal--the democratic education of every soul in ,america4 ,only by thus following the gleam may ,i make certain that 8government of the people1 by the people1 and for the people shall not perish from the earth40 ,,transcriber',s ,,note ,italic text is denoted by underscores4 ,bold text is denoted by equal signs4 ,obvious punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources4 ,some hyphens in words have been silently removed1 some added1 when a predominant preference was found in the original book4