COLUMBUS DAY. OCT. 1 2.
A Message to the Public Schools
of America.
LOCAL Or.SLUTANCES SUGGESTED.
The Iiy Mi mi 1.1 Il Signalized n Kverjr
Towt nnil tilings In the Ilepubllo by
m Lnral Crlebratlmi or Which th Fnli
lle School Ii the Center.
To the scholars of tho public schools
of the United States the executive com
mittee of the Columbian public school
celebration sends tho following mes
sage: The 12th of October, 1802, tho 400th
anniversary of the discovery of Amer
ica, ought to be observed everywhere
in America.
The day will be marked in Chicago
by the dedication of the Columbian ex
position grounds. Tho day also may
be signalized in every town and village
in the republic by a local celebration of
which the public school is the center.
The public schools of the repnblio will
form the most fitting centers for all
these local celebrations. A national
public school observance simultaneous
with the Chicago exercises will awakon
a popular interest in the coming exposi
tion. Far more important is tho fact that
the public school has the right to occupy
the most prominent place in tho celebra
tion. The public school is the onechanvc
terfetic institution which links all the
neighborhoods together, and can thus
furnish a common bond for a national
celebration. The public school is the
ripe fruit of tho four centuries of Ameri
can civilization. Tho public school of
today sways the hundred years to come.
How It Came About.
The first approval of this suggestion
came from tho public school scholars
themselves. When the plan was first
proposed by The Youth's Companion,
January, 1S91, thonsands of letters were
received, testifying to the enthusiasm
with which tho scholars responded. j
The world's conirress auxiliary of tho
Columbian exposition then took up tho
proposal, calling upon all the peoplo of
the republic to observe the day in their
own localities, and suggesting that the
public schools bo everywhere tho cen
ters of tho celebrntion.
The superintendents of education
were the next to recognize the fitness of
giving to tho public schools the first
place in this Columbian anniversary.
At their national convention in Brook
lyn in February, 1802, they took charge
of the movement, and appointed the
undersigned an executive committee to
lead the schools in their commemora
tion. Appeal to the Scholar.
This executive committee now appeals
to the scholars themselves to be the first
to move. It is for you, scholars of the
American public schools, to arouse a
sentiment in your schools and in your
neighborhoods for this grand way of
celebrating the finding of America. Ed
ucators and teachers will meet yon from
their side. But it is for you to begin.
There are 1 3,000,000 now in the publio
schools. You have the chance to con
duct a patriotic movoment which will
have a place iu history, and will strength
en the republic through the coming cen
tury. Wliut to Do. '
The first thing to do is to determine,
when you read this message, that you
will do all you can to iuduce yonr school
to enter the celebration. Then show
this message to your teachers; every pa
triotic teacher will be glad to help you
if you show yourselves in earnest Take
the message to the school committee and
the superintendent thoir consent and
aid are indispensable.
After yon secure the support of all
these, then let the school vote that it
will enter the celebration.
The next thing after this publio voto
will bo the appointment of a strong com
mittee made up jointly from citizens,
scholars and teachers to take charge.
The committee should in all cases con
.1st of those most in earnest, so that the
work may not be checked by any possi
ble change of teachers during the sum
mer. The I'rocraiuiue.
A programme of exercises will bo
Tarnished by the executive committee.
It will lie simple and adapted to any
school, yet so arranged that more elabo
rate exercises may be added wherever
lesired. The aim of this official pro
gramme will be that certain leading ex
ercises may be the same in every school
n tho republic, and that at least in one
.'oature the Chicago programme and the
school programme may bo identical.
In due time this executive committee
will mako further suggestions.
The Local Committee.
The doty of your committee will first
be to interest the citizens and to prepare
I he school. Precessions may bo arranged.
The veterans, both north and Bouth, will
;ladly bo escorts for the schools. The
ther military, civic aud religious or
ganizations of each town will lend their
lid tf thoy seo that the schools are do
:ermined that the celebration shall be
worthy of the day. The local press will
the most valuablo of all supports.
On Oct. 12 the stars and stripes should
bo floating from every school house in
inerepnunc.
It is theiope of the friends of common '
chool cxnfcHtion that not one publio i
school in tho United States will allow i
itself to be left out in this most memora
ble celebration.
Executive Committee.
Francis Bellamy, chairman, represent
ing Youth's Companion, Boston.
John W. Dickinson, secretary of Mas
sachusetts board of education.
Thomas D. Stockwell, commissioner of
publio schools of Rhode Island.
W. R. Oarrett, superintendent of pub
lio instruction of Tennessee.
W. C. Hewitt, superintendent of Mich
igan educational exhibit at World's fair.
THE SHIPS OF COLUMBUS.
A Description of the Great DUcovercr'i
Little Squadron.
Tho approach of tho 400th onniversary
of tho discovery of America cannot fail
to awaken a reverence for the Genoese
mariner whose intrepid daring and en
thusiasm cbauged the destiny of mar
kind.
Columbus was by profession a sailor,
and his great maritime knowledge won
for him tho commaud of many shins.
During his numerous voyages he formed
his purpose of sailing westward to find a
nearer way to India. It was At the little
Spanish port of Palos that Columbus
prepared the expedition for which Fer
dinand and Isabella had supplied the
means.
Of his three ships the Santa Maria.
tho flagship of the little squadron, was
the largest, the Pinta and Nina being
SANTA MARIA,
of about ennui sixn. ( YilmnVina flioco
three small ships rather than one largo
vessel, wun tne nope that out of the
threo one at least would wnuthnr thn
stormy passago and livo to return.
iney were uesigneu ana constructed
upon a model of tho old typo of craft
known as the caravel, whirli" inrlnd nA In
its class all vessels from CO to 100 tons,
with or without decks.
The Santa Maria was no larger than
the little schooners engaged in fishing
on the Great Banks, or about equal in
tonnage to tho stauch pilot boats which
cruiso along our coast in all weathers.
This vessel upon which Columbus sailed
was eighty-five feet long, twenty-four
feet wide and drow eight feet of water.
Her bottom was mado very flat, in order
that she might be run upon tho shore or
sandy beach without undue strain to
her timbers. Iler extreme width was at
the water line where the hull bulges out
several feet beyond tho npper structure
at the deck. This form of tumbling
home," as it is termed in tho vernacular
of the sailor, is rarely seen in ships of
modern design and construction, al
though this build can be seen in a modi
fied degree in many of the old frigates
now relegated to"nriliimrv'Mn nnrnnrv
yards. Ancient shipbuilders held that
bulging out the sides of a vessel pre
vented her rolling in a heavy sea, and
accordingly her deck3 would not be ex
posed to to the sweep of heavy surges
breaking close aboard.
' The Santa Maria had but one deck.
At the bow was a house called the fore
castle, in which the petty officers slept
and also a part of tho crew. Across the
stern of tho ship was a second house
called tho after custlo, ubove which ran
a deck called the poop deck or quarter
deck. A small watch tower was erected
on the poop deck as the post of duty for
the officer of the watch. The admiral
of the fleet occupied the after cabin, the
officers of high runk being permitted to
share it with him, while the rest of the
crew was quartered in the hold and iu
such parts of the ship as were not util
ised for stowing provisions and ballast
The after part of theso 6hips towered
many feet abovo the crest of the wave,
and when running before heavy follow
ing seas the deckhouses were rarely
swept by them, no matter how severe
the gale before which tho ship was
driven.
The Pinta and Nina, sister ships of
the squadron, were about seventy feet
in length, tho Nina, however, being a
little Bmaller in tonnage than the Pinta.
These vessels were not decked fore and
aft like the Santa Maria, although each
had deckhouses, or castles, at the bow
and stern.
Today it would be a foolhardy venture
to dispatch vessels without decks on a
mission across a boisterous sea. Yet
these ships were constructed so solidly
of well 6easoued oak timber, planked
TIXTA.
with fir and secured by heavy iron bolts,
as to withstand the battle of tho elements
during that long aud weary journey
over the trackless Atlantic,
On account of these ships being built
high at the ends and low amidships,
high seas would often be taken upon the
docks when sailing with a side wind,
and to prevent this high stanchions or
losts were inserted in the upper plank
of the rails, to which screens of heavy
canvas were laced, making a temporary
bulwark, which proved to be very effec
tive in keeping out the wuter. In the
case of the two smaller ships heavy mats
and largo tarpaulins were stretched
across the beams to keep tho water from
running into the holds and swamping
them; the vessels of four centuries ago
were not supplied with pumps.
The Santa Maria was rigged with four
liusU -the throe foremost ones being fit
ted with yards or square rigged, while
the after mast was supplied with lateen
sails. A long bowsprit projected from
her bow, but carried no jibs or head
sails. No Fails were carried aloft above
the topsails.
During favorable winds a sail was set
under the bowsprit reaching to the
water, and known as tho watcrsail or
sprksail. This sail fell into disuso over
two centuries ago.
Tho Pinta and Nina were cnrav?la,
but rigged exclusively with lateen sails.
Tho former, however, was partially
sqnaro rigged prior to sailing, and tho
latter was similarly changed before tho
fleet left tho Canaries from Palos. Ships
in the days of Columbus were supposed
to mako headway through tho water
only when the wind blew in a favorable
direction. Tho idea of tacking against
a heitd wind was entirely unknown to
the manners of tho past, notwithstaml
ing the fact that ships havo been pro
pelled by sail power alone for thousands
of years. et in spite of all these ob
stacles and disadvantages we find in the
logbook of the Santa Maria that a speed
of seven knots hu hour was not an un
usual occurrence.
As it was customary to employ oars
against contrary winds, the crews of the
ships were necessarily larger in pro
portion to their size than in modern
ships. No less than 120 men wore cm
ployed to sail the ships of Columbus.
Tho officers were known as tho patron
or captain, watchman or first mate, a
counselor or navigator, tho master Of
the deck, a scribe or secretary who wrote
the ship's log, a steward and a surgeon.
1 he rigging consisted entirely of hemp.
Their anchor cables were hemn hawsers.
each following tho ofd rule of four times
tho mainmast in length. Each ship was
supplied with a boat called a launch,
which was always towed astern. Re
fractory sailors were punished by beinK
placed in the launch for many days
upon short allowances and exposed to
tho heat of tho sun and heavy drenching
of the waves.
Although tho compass was known to
tho Arabs long liefure Columbus and
by the Chinese as far back hs the begin
ning of the Christian era, yet this in
strutneut was iu itself not sufficient to
unvigato a vessel over an unknown sea.
Tho quadrant, an instrument known to
Columbus as tho astrolabe, was sup
plied to each ship; by its uso in astro
nomical observations tho ship's position
npon the high seas with respect to the
equator could be readily ascertained,
ond also errors existing in the compasses
causing the shiis to deviate from their
true courses were found and the proper
adjustments accordingly made.
Thus Columbus was able to embark
and sail away with that feeling of self
reliance which had won him success on
all his previous expeditions. The littlo
town of Palos, then the greatest seaport
on the Mediterranean, never sent out a
grander marine spectacle than when
Colunibnseiobarkod and weighed anchor
and stood boldly down the Rio Tinto to
sea, followed closely in his wake by tho
nnta ana rina. The lavish golden
carvings which decorated these ships,
the red and yellow standards of Spain,
the gay streamers floating in the breeze
from every mast and spar, these alto
gether presented to the cheering crowds
gathered on tho wharves, housetops and
neighboring hills a picturesque sight.
it was indeed the crownimr spectacle of
the rei?n of Ferdinand aud Isabella.
Lieut. R. H. Ubeuroth, U. a R. M.
A MEMORABLE ANNIVERSARY.
October til I'lilte Four Centuries of
American Life.
October 12 will have a nroniinpnt ularn
in history. It not only unites the four
centuries of American life that ore clos
ing with the ceuturiea that ar lfVrA
us, but it will be mado memorable by a
great national celebration. The signal
for this demonstration will be the dedi
cation of the World's Columbian expo
sition grounds in Chicago.
On that day our foremost American
institution tho public school will be
the center of local celebrations in the
cities und towns from the Atlantic to tho
Pacific.
By linking together all theso local
celebrations ns parts of a systematic
national demonstration tho full signifi.
ennco of tho day will bo brought out.
The object for this movement for a
national celebration is not only to inter
est tho youth of tho country in the
World's Columbian exposition, but also
to give to tho American public school a
fitting prominenco as tho fruit of four
centuries of American life.
Both the World's congress commission
of tho Columbian exposition and the
American superintendents of education
have requested that the public schools
of each city and town lead in the local
celebration. Theso two bodies havo also
appointed a joint executive cominittoe
to direct the movement and to prepare a
uniform aud fitting programme for uni
versal use.
Every wideawake boy and girl in our
land has read or will read the message
issued by the Columbian public school
celebration commission with keen inter
est. It sieaks a vigorous word to every
oe of tho several million pupils in onr
public schools. How far the spirit of
this message is carried out depends upon
each individual boy and girl. We be
lieve they will respond to it promptly
and enthusiastically. They are too thor
oughly imbued with the true spirit of
American loyalty und patriotism to per
mit such uu opportunity to be lost
They will enter iuto the spirit of this im
portant event with characteristic Amer
ican energy and determination.
It is an inspiring thought that on Oct
13 all tho loyal sons and daughters of
our land will be united by one common
purpose of such lofty conception. We
believo that the pupils in our publio
schools will prove as enterprising and
intelligently patriotic as those of uny
city or town iu America. Don't wait
until the eleventh hour. If our schools
are to attempt to be tho center of a local
celebration which shall bo worthy of the
day there is none too much tune for
preparation. Lot tho schools begin at
once. Teachers and scholars should
make common cause.
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They ald I n consumptive, sent m? to
Florida, told tnn to keep qnict, no rxcltn
ment. and no tenuis. Jnot lliink -( it.
One (lav I found n littln book called 'Ouiila
to Health, by Mr. I'inkliam, anil In it I
found out wliat ailed me. 80 1 wrote to
hor, got a lovely reply, told me just wliat to
do, and I am in splendid health now."
LYDIA E. PINKHAM'StSoud
conquer all those weakness and allmri:t
so prevalent with the sex, and restore per
fect liraltli.
All Driine'its orll It as a f-tiimlprd arti
cle, or lent hr mail, in form of Tills or
Lozenges, on receipt of 51.00.
For the euro of Kidney Complaints,
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Mrs. rinkhntn freely answer letters of
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.o.
Catalcgue and Price Lists
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AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.
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THOMAS GOUREY
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Dealer in Builder's Siipplics.
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fnvpnta and Trndo Marks obtain!, nim ..
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Send model, rtrnwlnir or photo, with 4,ri,
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charjre.
Our fee not due till imtein i J
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