The Comet 1897 The Comet Vol I Issue 5 | Page 7

1 THE CmIET: MAY, 1898. over 16 years of age and its methods I true, co today America leads the wor.d of tool-instruction were those of or- in th ; r.u.nber and quali'ly 'Ofits manu- dinary commercial shops. It was in al tra.u ir g schools. fact 'the combination 'of the ordinary • Manual training has been introduced European engineering school with an into many of the public schools of lhe Unitod Slates and the object of intro- ordinary machine shop. In the same year, 1868, Victor Della- due.rig manual training into the public Vos introduced into the imperial tech- schools is well defined by Professor C. nical 'school at Moscow the Russian M. Woodward, when he says: "We do mechanics. We method of class-instruction in the use not wish to make of tools. Here the students were 18 teach banking; not because we expect years old on admission, and all were our pupils to become bankers; we teach to become government engineers. The drawing, not because we expect to train architects, artists, or engineers; and great value of the works of Della-Vos lay in tJhediscovery of the true method we teach the use of tools, the proper- of tool-instruction, for without his dis- ties of materials, and the methods of covery the latter steps would have been arts, not because we expect our boys to 'become artisans. We teach 'them impossible. In 1870, a wood-working shop and a the United States constitution and iron-working shop were added to 'the some of the acts 'Of congress, not be- University of Illinois. In 1871 the cause we expect them to become con- But we d'o expect that our Stevens Institute IQf Hoboken, N. J., gressmen. munificently end'owed by Edwin A. boys will, at least, 'have something to and Stevens, as a school of mechanical en- do with bankers, and architects, gineering, fitted Uip a series of shops artists, and 'engineers, and artisans; and we do expect all to become good for the use of its students, Our great object is educa- Washington University, of S't. Louis, citizens. Mo., took the next step forward and tional; other objects are secondary." Some of you are fannlliar with the provided for all its engineering stu- dents systematic Instructiorr in 'both name John T. Allan, T'his noble man wood and metals. In 1872, a large left his entire estate to be used for the &hop was equipped. 'The first work education of boys in the arts of manu- undertaken was the construction of facture, so that a boy may not be turn- models for the illustration of mecnan- ed from the school house door with no leal principles. The inability of t'he knowledge of anytihing practical or use- The amount left not being students to use the tools with any fa- ful in life. ei'lity led to the instruction of exercises enough to establish a separate school, for the sale purpose of tool-instruction. it was thought best to make it a de- Thus they followed in the steps of partment of the high school, A little more than a year ago, as Della- Vas. The work was so far sys- tematized as 'to be reported in the Uni- you are aware, the school was opened to the boy's of 'Austin, the work being versity catalogue of 1875. Progress 'had been made thus far made optional. At first the pUibliclook- waen 'the Phitadelp'hda Exposition of ed upon the work as being of no use to a boy unless ·he wished to learn a 1876 was 'Opened. .Few Americans, if any, knew any- 'trade. To some extent this feeling thing of the Moscow SChool. The still exists, but if any person who has Russian exhibit at Philadelphia sur- this Impression wrll visit the school prised many. It showed with remark- and learn :how the boys are instructed I am sure 'he will change his opinion. able fullness and logical arrangement the true educatitmal method of tool- Trades are not taught, for if they were the educational value 'Of the work Instruction. In 'his report of 1876, President J. D. would soon vanish. "Man," says Carlvsle, "is, a tool- Runkle of the Massachusetts 'Institute of Technology, recommended that using animal. He can use tools, can without delay the course in mechanical devise tools; with these the granite engineering a!t the institute 'be com- mountain melt into Iigiht dust before pleted by the addition of a series of 'him; 'he kneads glowing iron as if it instruction shops. The suggestion were sort paste; seas are his smooth was acted on and in his report of 1877, highway, winds and fire 'his unweary- President Runkle announced his shop Ing steeds. Nowhere do you find him without tools; without tools, he is as "near 'completion." For this vigorous action President nothing; with tools, he is all." Runkle deserves the praise of Amert- The students divi'de their working can educators Mr. Runkle looked hours. as nearly as posslble equal'ly be- deeper in'to the problem than 'had tween mental and manual exercises. It Della- Vas; 'he saw that Shop 'instruc- is not proposed or intended that the tion, essential to a mechanical engineer. shops shall enter into competttion with had elements of value in a general edu- manufacturing -establishments. Pro- cation. Others have found this to be prietors of machine 'shops and manu- factories need not lootJhthe la- bor an'd the laborer. With the acqui- sition 'Of skill in himself, comes the ability and willingness to recognize skill in his fellows. "THE PIDRFEC'r WOMAN." (By Long Stretch Pin." "Phil," look at that girl silting at the window. Did you 'ever see a prettier woman?" asked Will LeRoy with the enthusiasm a youth of 20 generally re- veals in respect to pretty maidens. For Will was no exception to the general rule, and was never 'happier than when gliding over '~he ballroom floor with some graceful girl upon his anm, or when enjoying a moonlight drive wil'h a fair companlon beside him. He thought it nothing 'but proper now that his education was complete, that 'he should marry and begin his "life." But his would Ibe no ordinary brtde ; he would be satisfied wrth nothing short of a perfect woman. Once Will had "confided these emo- tions to 'his friend, Phtlip Morgan, but the crusty old bachelor 'had answered in his usual curt way: "There are two perfect women; one is dead; tlhe other has not been found." So when WiU had caught sight of the girl at the window and had felt sure he had found that for which 'he had been looking, he decided to' conceal nts r,eal emotions from Philip until he 'had succeeded in winning' his fair ideal. This he felt sure .be could do. Will's ideal stayed in the dressmak- ing department of H. & H.'s, one 0,[ the largest stores of N---. ,She