The U. Of M.'s First Sacrifice
The U. of M. has already counted lts flrst sacrifice in the war. Although the fatality happened July 1, the fact was r.ot deflnitely learned here until yesterday. When Teddy Roosevelt was ralsiug his regiment of Rough Riders, Oliver B. Xorton, a freshman medie whose huma it at Eustis, Fia., received a letter stating that his three brothers were goinc to join the organization. His enthusiasm knew no bounds and iie hastily made application for enüstment in the regiment. Norton has spent four or live years in Arizona, and his daring and fearless horsemanship and his ability to shoot swift and sure made him a desirable acquisition to the Rough Riders. His chest measurement was two inches short of the requirement, but he was accepted and he ieft college to help flght Spain. In the celebrated charge at Santiago on July 1, Norton was shot through the head by a Spanish bullet. Nobody who was not acquainted with the undaunted courage of young Norton would ever have suspected that the slender little figure was a model Rough Rider, but that he wa selected by offlcers who knew him personally in preference to hundreds of others is surely evidence of his ability and courage. Oliver B. Norton was the iirst University of Michigan student to lose hiá Ufe; n the Hispano-American war. An Inhuman Act. A subject for the Humane society lo take up is the prevention of cruelty to children. It will sound like fiction, but it Is a fact, nevertheless, that a woman in this city so cruelly beat her little daughter, about ten or twelve years of age, a couple of weeks ago that the neighbors and passersby rushed to the ' scène and interfered in order to prevent ' the child from being beaten to death. ' The mother, no doubt, has had many trials and works hard íor a living-, but' she has an ungovernable temper and ïas a habit of beating her daughter , wnenever she is seized with rage, instead of using any reason or judgment. The day has gone by when parents can inflict the old blue laws of Connecticut upon their offspring; we have officers whose duty it is to look after such offenders, and the woman who dares to indulge in brutality of this nature had best beware of the consequences. Ii the Humane society really wishes to promote the welfare of humamly it would better give attention to cases of this kind and let the cats and dogs fight their own battles. Meeting With Success. The Presto, published ir. Chicago in the interest of all things musical, has the following compliment for the Ann Arbor Organ Co. in its issue of July 21: "The plan of the Ann Arbor Organ Co. for opening up new territory throughout the Northwest, is meeting with success. The plan referred to is the locating temporary branch stores In prominent points, which usuaJly results in permanent agencies. The latest is probably the one at Ishpeming, Mich. It is an excellent location - in fact rieht in the heart and center of business. Tiie branch is under the management of Mr. E. L. Whittier, who is working his terntory actively. Several of these Ann Arbor branch stores have been openeti and generally have paid well. It is the idea of Mr. J. C. Henderson. The Instruments pushed are, of course, the "Henderson" pianos and Ann Arbor utgans." "I am in favor of almcst anvthing and everything," said Nominee Sm Ih in his speech oL acceptance at the congressional convention, his irrepressible humor coming to the surface, "and especially am I in favor of represencing this district in congress, and I'm goipg erOSPBIi HTMS8. Just before the battle of the ballots last week, Hank Smith, Lenawee's candidate for congress, on being introduced to Mr. Judson, said: "So you are Col. William McKinley Judson, of the Rougb Riders, are you? Well, I'd like to be one of your lieutenants." The colonel smlled and was greatly pleased thereat, and his countenance was illuminated as by a biight light, and he said: "It would please me muoh." And it came to pass" that after the battle of the ballots, in whi:h the great leader's hosts were slain, that Hank Smith did Issue forth victorious and did humble himself at the great warrior's feet, and was received as a lieutenant of the colonel of the Rough Riders. And there was presently great rejoicing in the land of Judea. And it came to pass that one Helber, who runneth a paper and issueth it forth once a week in a foreign tongue, which is slow of comprehension by Chief Smith and his tribe, was angered at the defeat of one of bis own race and was gathering material with which to cali upon those of hls own tongue and tribe not to ally themselves with Smith and his tribe because of the defeat of one of his own race whose name is Wedemeyer. And it did come to pass that Hank Smith did come from his distant home in Adrián which lieth north of the land wherein Helber and all his race abideth, and did visit said Helber and did him homage and did say unto him, Come, now, and be not angerert, brother, for the Great Jehovah doeth all things well. His ways are not our ways, and our ways are not his ways. Let us be friends. And it came to pass that Helber was greatly rejoiced at the spaeeh of his brother who had come from afar, and hs forthwith hitched up his steed, which is named Jimmie Plashlight, and ïvhich goeth exceedingly fast, and he of the Smith tribe was greatly marveled at the speed of Jimmie Flashlight and 3id exclaim O. what wonderful speed this animal uuin possess! wonderful! Was it raised here? Is it thine? And doth thou possess more such steeds? WonderjTul! All of which did eo please and exhalt and appease Kelber that he did promise to Smith the support in the. coming conflict of himself and all nis race, which did so please Smith that he did appoint saia Helber on his committee to manage the campaign. Adrián I'resslsms. Mr. Butterfield of Ann Arbcr, presented the reasons why W. TV. Wedemeyer should have the nomination. He had many qualifications for "the place. He was tut 25, it is true, but then he old in politics and wisdom, and he was sound on finance and tariff. More than all, he was of Germán parentage and ! this would swoop him right into eongress, because every Germán Democrat would be tickled to death to have one of their nationality in the national congress. Said Dick Watts to Burton Parker, who managed Spalding's matters at Ann Arbor: "Burt, there's a difference in swins. Some are satisfled to get the nose in the trough. Others want to get ii wini m Lueir iee. mats the ápalding kind." This was after Stnith had been knocked down and dragged out of the convention. The "Spalding hogs" have concluded that they can get part of the congressional fodder if they stand with their feet on the ground. Graut'g Brigade Ordered Ont. Washington, July 23.- Orders were issued this morning to Brig.-Gen. Fred D. Grant to move at once to Newport News and to embark for Porto Rico. His brigade is made up of the First and Third Kentueky and Fifth Illinois. They Will leave Chickamauga just as eoon aa the cars are ready Lor their iranaüortation. I About Free Text Books. Comraisioner of Schools Lister has issued a circular in regard to state uni' formity of text beeks, the gist of whlch folio ws: The ostensible purpose of the law is the establishment of state uniformity of text books, but under its provisions , school districts have certain options. 1. May vote to furnish fre'e text books. 2. May vote not to come under the uniform law. The submission of one or both of these questlons to the voters is made mandatory upon all school boards whose districts are not now furnishing free text books. The vote must be taken j at the approaching annual meeting1 or at some special meeting before January I lst, 1899, if it has not already been takj en. A majority of the qualified voters present an dvoting is all that is required to carry either proposition. Failure to adopt one or the other of these propositins will opérate to bring the district under the uniformity law. Negleet to vote at all will have the same effect. Notice of intention to submit the question of furnishing free text books must be posted at least ten days before the meeting'. My advice, in answer to many questions on the subject, is as folüows: Wherever it is thought best not to vote free text books, vote not to come under the uniformity law. I believe this to be wise because while it is called a uniform text book law, it is so only in name. lts local option provisions wlll produce a lack of uniformity and thus defeat the very purpose of the act. Under these provisions some districts will have free text books, others will remam as at present, and still others will come under the so-called uniformity law. It will thus be seen that there can be no uniformity under its provisions, but that all the methods of text book supply now in vogue will be continued and one more method be added. If all the advantages elaimed for state uniformity are conceded, they cannot be realized under this law. Again, if you come under the uniformity law, you not only give up the right to control the selection of the books to be used in your lecal school, but you Dledere vnnrsplvM ín o,i,rov.rt to take the books selected for you bj the state commission. Kven thoug-h they be inferior to hte books you already have, you must take thera. Generalijit is not considered wise to displace the books already in a school the mérits of which are known for a series which nobody has seen and which may not as yet be published. Nothing can possibly be lost by not coming under the new law. Beeause, if the state commission succoeds in getting a fine series of books those districts which are exempt f rom lts provisions can, by a vote of thehlocal boards, adopt the same books and get them at the same prices. On the other hand, if the books are poor tliev do not have to talto thim rr „„_„ __. good and others are poor, the good ones can be taken and the poor enes rejected. Thus districts which exempt themselves from the provisions of the law are nevertheless in position to avail ihemselves of the same, if t'.iere be any and to avoid the disadvantages. ,,Flnall3r. by voting not to come under the law you will escape the large expense involved in a complete chne of text books. To establish uniformity would recjuire the purchasins of an entire new set of books for cach pupil in your school, necessitating an expendíture of many thousands of dollars The r,w "'. UIle iumP sum to make a complete changre would be at least five times the usual outlay for books. In other words, to establish uniformitv each district and each patrón would bc put to an expense íor new books equal to the usual expense for five vears Personally, I believe in free' ' text books and have no doubt that tha ? Tff LUPpIy wU1 taömatdy pre' thP iï t.Stec"res Perfect uniformity to the district, it reduces the cost of bookb matenally; it increases attendance; it is the losric of state schools with com Piüsnry attendance, makin? thé "chocas -se K-thyoff'eei, f,any whJie ss; mosTSacv1116 m6thd P
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Old News
Ann Arbor Democrat