MY ARIZONA CLASS,

full load of “the fort children,” who swarmed down
before it fairly drew up at the gate. In the enclosure
the “town-children” would be already forming in
line to the beat of a drum —a concession to one of
the older lads who owned and loved his drum—
but the ambulance and the drum gave still more the
idea of an army of progress. ,

It was the duty of the Governor to inspect the
schools, and we made together the first visit to this
one. A broad hall separated the two very large
rooms for the younger classes—such jolly, bright-
eyed, red-cheeked, clear-voiced little men and women,
Americans, English, German, Mexicans, and mixed
— admirably taught and trained, and with the pleased
willingness to show-off of happy children at home.
The large windows which looked out to beds of
granite mountains and pine-forests, let in sunshine
and life-giving air, and this, with their good models
in teachers, had given them the friendliness of well-
trained children — wearing enough from their num-
bers and tremendous vitality, but wonderfully credit-
able in results.

On the second floor was the upper class. Perhaps
forty young people from fourteen to twenty years of
age. This naturally was the more interesting class.
Here the examinations, especially in mathematics and

in applied physics, won the surprise and admiration of -

the Governor. There was one lad who added to his
calculations swift, sure touches of mechanical draw-
ing (sinking shafts and other mining operations), and
though he was but sixteen, he showed in every con-
clusive line and calculation that his subject had a
living interest for him; and the intelligent looks of
many of the girls as they followed him critically
proved their unusual knowledge in these branches,
Although I looked on politely, I comprehended but
dimly. To me sweet little “ Pet Marjorie’s ” despair
over figures is very real— “seven times seven is the
divil,” she says, “ but seven times nine is more than
flesh can bear.” However, the General knew enough
for two, and when the history review came up he said,
was the authority, and so turned upon me

a battery of doubting, inquiring young eyes.
dren and dogs know who to trust.” These children
paid me the compliment I value sincerely, to take me
into their regard, and from the first we made friends.
The principal explained that history was not a
favorite study with them; that they did not give much
time to it, as it was out of the line of more practical
studies, etc., etc. And one of the elder girls said,

“ Chil--

18g

“We are Americans, and have no connection with
that old world and its dead-and-gone kings and cruel
queens and wars.”

You see, in place of the delightful, suggestive, ex-
planatory study which history should be made to the
young, they had only been given those old husks and
dry bones of dates, and battles, and lists of kings,
and detached moth-eaten old anecdotes called “ Con-
densed History,” to be committed to memory only to
be at once thrown out of a healthy young mind as
not fitting in anywhere.

But it would be a whole book full if I began to
tell what it might be, what it had been made to me
even in my childhood, by my father, growing with
my growth, and expanding steadily into fresh interest
and comprehension.

It is impossible for young Americans to appreciate
their own form of government, faulty as its workings

 

MRS. JESSIE BENTON FREMONT.

must be often, unless they can know where it differs,
from those of other countries. We have an arrogant
way of claiming as our own certain ideas which are
the results of long effort in older countries, in which,
though they might need and desire radical changes,
they had to go on bearing their ills, because any
change meant such disturbance of interests that to
reach good evil would have to come first.

We began with a clear field on many of these
greater ideas.

The one change in our institutions which we have
made has taught us how sore the cost was. Think