Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 104, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 May 1915 — ATTENDED SCHOOL MEETING IN AUBURN [ARTICLE]

ATTENDED SCHOOL MEETING IN AUBURN

Superintendent Dean Spent Friday and Saturday There—Found In> : '2. ..-tieresting Features.

Superintendent of Schools C. Ross Dean spent last Friday and Saturday in Auburn, attending a meeting of the School Men’s Club of Northern Indiana. The club is composed of th* superintendents of Auburn, Goshen, Ligonier, Bremen, Peru,- Huntington, Garrett, Gas City, /North Manchester, Nappanee and Rensselaer. Some of the superintendents have found that more actual good results from the discussion at sectional meetings where the number is limited than at the state meetings and the Auburn symposium proved a very excellent one and Mr. Dean found interest not only in the school topics but in the Y. M. C. A. building at Auburn, which is one of the smallest cities in the United States to have a Y. M. C. A. a building of its own. Auburn has been greatly blessed by having a wealthy and public-spir-ited citizen, who has an interest in the city and. wants to give his fellow townsmen who have not been so fortunate financially the opportunity of development along right moral lines that is afforded by Y. M. C. A. and kindred organizations. The subject discussed at the meeting was “School Playgrounds.” This has not had as much attention as it should have, and Auburn, through the generosity of Mr. Eckhart, has established a playground with modern apparatus and regarded one of the best playgrounds in the country. There is SI,OOO worth of equipment. Probably it has never occurred to some people that the ordinary school ground is a very unattractive place. There is nothing for the boys and girls to do to aid in their physical development. Running games are about all that can be played, but the ideal playground is one supplied with the apparatus that we see in use in the play parks of the .cities. Auburn has them. Other things of interest were discussed by the superintendents of the schools at the meeting. Mr. Eckhart also gave $60,000 for a Y. M. C. A. building and there are some 400 members who pay $7.50 per year for membership. It is a splendid building, equipped in the latest approved style, for Y. M. C. A. homes and there are a number who occupy the dormitory part of the building. The city makes an annual appropriation of $2,000 for upkeep and $3,000 is secured from dues. Auburn has a population of about 4,000, being only a little larger than this city. A swimming pool is in the basement and there is a large gymnasium and a large hall for holding public meetings. Mr. Dean says that it is proving a wonderful thing. The public library was also given by Mr. Eckhart and is a very beautiful building. The Auburn court house is not so handsome as the Jasper county building and in some respects Rensselaer is ahead of Auburn, having a better high school building and fully as good a business district. One enjoyable feature of the meeting was a dinner served by the Domestic Science classes of the public schools. The school board were the hosts and the affair took place at the Y. M. C. A. dining room and the girl cooks served a splendid meal. In all respects the meeting proved a most enjoyable one. The meetings are 'held semi-annually and the next one will be held at Peru in October.

Mrs. N. A. Hendrix is again very low and it is hardly believed she will recover. Mrs. M. C. Dorsey, of Chicago, came Sunday evening and will spend several days with her sister, Mrs. H. E. Hartley. Every Wednesday we make a shipment of Panama and fine felt hats to be cleaned and reblocked. Bring yours t<? “The Home of Good Clothes.”— Wm. Traub. Today is a beauty following the shower and before noon quite a number of farmers had come' in to pay their subscriptions. We are in favor of frequent rains. It seems to prompt so many to do the right thing. A message came last evening statin gthat Taylor Boicourt’s condition was. such that it was doubtful if he could live through the night. Further word, however, was received this morning that he was in better condition and muc hmore hopeful. He is in the Methodist hospital in Indianapolis, where he was operated on last week.