Show 1 WASHINGTON THE COMING ATHENS OF AMERICA I BT BY MRS JOHN A. A A LOGAN Washington Oct Oct 12 SInce 12 Wash Vu T. chosen time the capital ol oj tho the R Republic public great Keat lm has beer been in Its Is facilIties 1 and nd many propositions have have been boon made to Induce this government to tomako tomake tomako mako make appropriations for tor great silica RUles and colleges but on account of or ortho tho contention b by denominations over tho the control of or appropriations for tor this purpose no great In Institution of ot learning learn loarn- ing lug has hue ever been boen established by the tho albeit much encouragement encourage encourage- government mont ment has nan been given in all al movements in the tho cause causo caus of ot education Tho libraries lea ies Ies laboratories and museums of oC the various departments of or the government govern govern- overn ment merit are aro considered the finest of DC their kind in the tho world A few years cars ago aso a resolution was as adopted b by congress allowing the tho gratuitous use of tho those thoe e te collections by all al students and institutions of ot Ie learning tons of ot As early earh as 1799 the the Old World appreciated th the Importance Importance importance Import Import- ance Ol of ot education at the thc capital of ot the great republic and hastened nod to establish lish Ush the Georgetown university and the tho Convent of the tho Visitation to which were called the tho ablest educators of the tho church To thorn them belongs the credit of having been pioneers In lii that and being In close touch with universities of Europe for years they offered the finest advantages that could then be given to this country From time to time In the early history history his his- tory of the tho government various schools private and denominational have been established but It was not until after the civil war that it could be claimed that Washington was in Then education any sense an Athens like everything else made rapid ad ad- The public schools wore were among the first to bo be recognized on a proper basis anti and to receive their Just Juat share of time the appropriations for the District of Columbia The most learned learn learned ed and experienced mon men of the tho whole country were brought to the tho capital to try to raise the standard of the public schools There were many parochial parochial par par- ochial schools connected with the dif different dif dif- brent ferent Catholic churches of this thie city and consequently there was wa-s for a time much opposition for free schools The prejudice against the public schools however lied died out and taking Its place resulted in the highest possible pos poe sible standard being maintained The old private schools that were hero have been supplanted by others that are up to date in very every sense of time the word until today there Is not a city In the Union that presents anythIng anything any any- thing like liko the advantages that Washington Washington Wash Wash- ington does for a universal liberal edu cation Those not Informed as to the present advanced condition of educational educational affairs In Washington would bo be astounded at the number of public and private schools seminaries col colleges colleges col- col leges and universities that are arc now In a most prosperous condition The finest teachers from Europe and educational edu edu- centers from the tho United States have havo been brought to Washington andare and andare are now engaged in teaching a larger number of resident and resident non pupils than In another place in the United states Young ladles ladies seminaries seminaries aries have been opened in great numbers num nuni- bers within the last ten years simply for the flie reason that the advantages offered in the tho city of Washington for forthe the tho thorough equipment of young women for army any sphere in life are su superior superior su- su to those of any other place In Inthe Inthe the world The climate noncommercial commer non cial and healthful conditions condition magnificent I- I cent parks libraries scientific literary and musical resources make it possible ble blo for young women ornen under proper guidance to achieve more here in a brief time than they could anywhere re else to say nothing of the social ad advantages advantages ad- ad vantages which are arc optional and which bring them in tim contact with people of refinement and The Tho same samo can be said of the education educe educe- tion of boys boy and young men No other I pinco offers the opportunities which are found In Washington for boys boy and young young- men of moderates moderate means to win their way In any profession or vocation voca voca- I tion which they may de desire ro to follow p as nowhere else could thoy receive the tho same salary for their services OH ati they thoy do in the tho departments of Washington working eight hours a day arid and allowing allowing allow allow- ing th them rn the rest of tho twenty four without overtaxing themselves to pursue pursue pur pur- sue their chosen profession or vocation under the best Washington n can boast of th the Georgetown university the great Catholic university for higher education tion In theology literature and the tho American university founded on ott the same principles at that of the tho Catholic university and which when completed will afford another field for ambitious students as all enjoy the tha same namo privileges of the free use of the tha wonderful national collection hereinbefore hereinbefore herein herein- before mentioned the George Washington Washington Wash Wash- ington university which has for years graduated students In the higher de departments do- do and which is steadily in increasing increasing in- in creasing Its departments and benefactions bene beno- factions to students and patrons Daughton college Interstate Commercial Commer club cial Institute Army and Navy school National Law school Business high school and any number of private In Institutions Institutions In- In with data up-to-data equipments are open to oJ nh who de desire desire de- de sire to avail themselves of these ad advantageous conditions It Is probably not too much to claim that Washington is freer from froni temptations and demoralizing Influences than any other city in our country The Tha occupations are available in th District of Columbia are of such character char char- actor acter that It does not attract the vicious vici ous and criminal class to any very great extent extent- Hence if one is disposed to be rockier reckless or profligate ho finds little encouragement here because of the tact fact that those that are engaged In more elevating employment have no time to associate with that class No one can predict what the tho future of education will be In Washington as all its wonderful resources are con con- multiplying multiplying- The city is growIng growing grow grow- ing more beautiful and a residence either temporary or permanent la Is steadily becoming more agreeable It would sound like an Aladdin story to give the experience of those who have come tp Washington within th last ton years oar and established schools for young ladies especially Wo We have hava personal knowledge of schools that were vere established on five thousand dollars that have grown in property and equipment to the value of two hundred thousand dollars and who begun began with half a dozen pupils and who now have havo from one hundred antI ami fifty to two hundred who represent the finest families from every part of the tho country Washington being cos- cos petty prejudices and rivalries rivalries rival rival- ries seem seeni to be forgotten and these young people seem eem to drift Immediately Immediate immediate- ly Into broader views and higher ambitions am am- which naturally tends to greater appreciation of our own country and its innumerable and Incomparable Jn- Jn comparable resources |