At the State Association male teachers were in the majority; while we began to judge from our party what proved to be true beyond doubt at Washington, that the women teachers outnumbered the men at least five to one.

The time was pleasantly passed in quiet gazing at the scenery, interesting conversations, fun, frolic and singing. "Hurrah for the Schools of Ohio" was sung more than once by an enthusiastic chorus which included some of the most famous of the "goslings" from the State Association.

It has never been my good fortune to travel with a company in'cluding a better-natured, more thoughtful-for-others set of people than we had on that memorable Wednesday. The grumblers had stayed at home, and the "faulty faultless, icily regular" had been thawed out, indeed melted as it

were.

Through Ohio we saw at many places pretty though not grand scenery. The country in the neighborhood of Zanesville is fresh, green and attractive. Winding streams of water always add to the beauty of a landscape. The picturesque Muskingum is a delight to the eye on a warm summer day. "Going further south we come to high hills and welcome them as familiar friends. One born in a hilly country never loses an early love for the hills and would rather have them, in spite of any disadvantages

they may have, to add grandeur or beauty to scenery, than to live in a level country.

Over the Ohio river and into West Virginia our route carries us. Here we begin to wait for the mountains. When the foothills are reached exclamations of surprise and delight begin to be heard; and as we pursue our journey through the picturesque Allegheny mountain region enthusiasm increases. Sometimes we look up to the mountains and are moved alike by their grandeur and by their beauty of outline, again we ourselves are, as it were, on the heights and gaze down upon Nature in all her wildness. All hearts feel an uplifting, but neither tongue nor pen can do justice to the emotions of the heart. But as we go up hills and down valleys, round curves, and through tunnels we are as much impressed by the mind of man that could triumph over such difficulties and make a railroad where such a thing seemed impossible as by any of the wonders of Nature and we feel anew the force of Bancroft's words: "The eye of Latrobe saw at a glance the capacity of the mountain, and scoffing at the threatening ravines and precipices and lofty summit, gave himself no rest till commerce had carried its safe and easy pathway in triumph over the mountain top, and proved to the world that there are no difficulties which true enterprise cannot surmount; that Nature is in league with genius."

We go up grade from Cumberland until we reach the "Glades." Here are the famous summer resorts Deer Park, Oakland, and Mountain Lake Park, and we have reached the highest elevation. At Deer Park, which we reached. about 6 p. m., our party remained for the night. The cool bracing mountain air and the beauty of Nature all about us made it a charming place to rest for an evening. We had a glimpse of fashionable society life which aroused and did not tempt us. Elegantly costumed women assembled in a ball-room, where the music and the highly polished floors would have. tempted some of the young ladies to dance had they had other than traveling gowns with them and had they not felt a pity for the regular guests at the hotel where the dancing young men seemed so scarce as to make one wonder if they had not a factitious value set upon them by those of the opposite sex. War and business greatly reduce. the number of young men that can dally at summer resorts this season.

After breakfast on July 7 we resumed our journey to Washington. We have written at some length of mountain scenery but must not forget to mention the rivers that added so much to our pleasure.

Cheat river, Shenandoah and Potomac will long be names by which we may conjure visions of beauty that will never fade from memory. Harper's Ferry is rich

in both natural and historical associations. We saw the monument to John Brown, and were about to try to fix the scenes of battles of the Rebellion, when the "All on board" cry startled women who were unused to getting on moving trains, and we climbed on with more haste and fear than was comfortable. The scenery from Baltimore Junction to Washington is not particularly interesting; and from that point all thoughts centered on our journey's end, and the first announcement of "There's the Washington Monument" from one of our party was hailed with pleas

ure.

At the station our pleasant party scattered. Some went to Ohio headquarters at "The Normandie," others to different hotels, many to private boarding houses, while some had the high privilege of being entertained by friends while in the Capital City. It would have been difficult to select a better place for Ohio headquarters than we had. The hotel is very central if one considers either meeting places of the Association or places of interest in the city.

Supt. F. B. Dyer, State Director, was untiring in his efforts to assist Ohio teachers, while Mrs. O. T. Corson's charming hospitality and Principal J. F. Smith's zeal for the welfare of Ohio's teachers will never be forgotten. More than 730 registered from Ohio. Illinois claims the largest registration; but

some of us will not be willing to take second or third place until the actual roll of membership compels it, because Ohio's pretty State badge was certainly seen oftener on the streets of Washington than any other State badge. At the meetings no State was conspicuous by the number present. I attended eleven sessions of the Association, because I do not like to report meetings without having attended them and because sight-seeing did not tempt me that week as strongly as it did many others owing to the fact that I could remain nine days after the Association closed. Truth compels me to say that if the Association was educationally a success, it was in the education that comes from studying the workings of our Government as seen in the various Department Buildings of Washington, its libraries, museums, and the places of historical interest in and about it, and not from any educational enthusiasm created by great meetings, distinguished speakers, and animated discussions. It may seem ungracious for me to say this, because I had the honor of presiding over what was said to be the largest meeting held with the exception of the great mass meetings of the opening and closing sessions. But I do not like to hear teachers saying "I never attended a single session of the Association, I can read the proceedings afterwards." The question is whether they will do so; besides this, the finest paper

on the program is not to be published in the proceedings. At least, its author told me that it would not be. Then if the men and women of our profession are what they ought to be, there is something in their personality which is not entirely transferable to paper. I may be old-fashioned, but I cannot miss any possible opportunity of seeing and hearing any one distinguished in my line of work. I grant you that the number of eminent persons on the program was not large, but there were some that no professional teacher could well afford to miss. And in order to be honest those teachers who attend no meetings or comparatively few when they ostensibly leave for educational associations, ought to have this form of announcement in their local papers. instead of the usual one, "Miss Blank has taken advantage of the reduced rates allowed the O. T. A. to have a frolic at Put-in-Bay," or "has taken advantage of the N. E. A. rates to visit Washington.” I do not wish to be misunderstood in this matter. I think that it does one more good to go away just to renew friendly associations with teachers of the State than to remain at home; and I know that the enlargement of the mind by travel and sight-seeing is very valuable, but I deplore the flipp and tone in regard to meetings which is becoming rather fashionable.

The first mass meeting of the

General Association was held at Convention Hall, Thursday, July 7, at 8:15 p. m. The hall was large, and to the surprise of all, cool, because this meeting was held before the welcome fall in temperature which blessed our stay in Washington. The decorations, which consisted of the flags of various nations with a predominance of the U. S. flag, were very tasteful. A beautiful flag of our country of the largest size made was very greatly admired. The audience was very large but not always quiet. The music by the famous Marine Band was simply delightful. When the different national airs were played, as it seems only the Marine Band can play them, the enthusiasm manifested itself in hand-clapping and even cheers. All rose and stood through the playing of "The StarSpangled Banner," as is the Washington custom.

After a kind welcoming address by a member of the Board of Commissioners of Washington, Dr. B. L. Whitman, President of the Columbian University, Washington, D. C., made a very eloquent speech. The speaker had a musical but powerful voice which reached every part of the large hall. He so connected the stirring events of the day with the subject of education as to make a wise and patriotic address.

Dr. W. T. Harris, U. S. Commissioner of Education, next read

a short paper. To our great re

gret we were unable to hear it, so many were moving about at the time and talking when they ought to have been listening.

The president's address followed. Supt. J. M. Greenwood, of Kansas City, has long been prominently identified with the N. E. A. and many were glad to see him honored with the office of president. President Greenwood's paper was mainly a review of the educational status of the American people. He said that the "present educational tendencies in the United States, so far as an active sentiment had formulated them, were fitly expressed by the words 'tempest tossed.'" The summing up of his paper seemed to be about as follows: "After a careful analysis of the trend of educational thought in this country, it must be admitted that we have settled only a very few issues of any permanent value; but that we are adjusting the child to his new conditions, and yet holding in trust his spiritual possessions bequeathed from former civilization." Although the hour of ten had been reached addresses were made after this one by Hon. Webster Davis, Assistant Secretary of the Department of the Interior, and by Hon. Charles R. Skinner, of New York.

On Friday morning general sessions of the Association were held at the Grand Opera House and the New National Theater. Both programs were attractive but I decided to go to the Grand Opera House,

because of the intense interest I had had in the author of "A History of the United States." Principal W. F. Gordy, of Hartford, Conn., read a paper on "The Essentials in U. S. History to be Taught in Elementary Schools." The paper was a thoughtful, intelligent exposition of the subject. Some of the principal ideas set forth were as follows: The function of history is to explain human life; the feelings, the thoughts, the inclinations, and motives of men, the forces that lie back of the mere sequence of events should be explained. The great aim of education is to reveal physical and human life to the individual, to the end that he may understand his relations to them, and especially his social obligations to his fellow men. History is a study of the human will, of which actions, deeds, events are but the expression. The development of thorough scholarship through the acquisition of a considerable body of facts should not be a dominant motive in elementary schools. If the pupil acquires an interest in history and learns how to read it in such a way as to appreciate its meaning he has at his command the means of continuous self-education of far more value than any number of facts.

The second paper was by President H. H. Seerley, State Normal School, Iowa, on "The Essentials in United States History to be Taught in Secondary Schools."

Mr. Seerley thinks that a change has come which attempts to return to first priciples, seeking patriotic citizenship and living enthusiasm as the true end, without forgetting the thoughtfulness and scholarship which is still thought to be possible by making this study a combination of civic, economic, sociological, philosophic, and educational instruction.

The speaker dwelt upon the thorough scholarship, skill, training, ability, and true spirit necessary in the teacher for work of a higher order in history.

One of the finest addresses, replete with thought, power, and pertinent and timely suggestions, was that delivered on Friday evening by Dr. A. S. Draper, President of the University of Illinois, on "American Universities and the National Life."

On Saturday morning a chorus of Ohio teachers proceeded to the Opera House to open the session with their State song, "Hurrah for the Schools of Ohio." This really should have been kept for the session at which an Ohio woman was to preside, but owing to the fact that the inspiring leader, Professor A. J. Gantvoort, could not remain until Tuesday, it was determined to sing it in honor of Professor J. W. Redway, who has made interesting addresses several times in Ohio, and is a decided favorite with Ohio teachers. After the singing, which was heartily applauded, Professor Redway delivered a scholarly pa