of Massachusetts as this very state of Kansas. The two states struggled together years ago in behalf of Freedom. They are working together now in behalf of education. And I am glad to say from what I have seen, since I came to Topeka, the results of the work of your teachers shown in the exhibition which I have had the pleasure of seeing, I am satisfied that Kansas is far in the van in the cause of education, and that she is doing a grand and noble work for mankind.

PRESIDENT CALKINS :-I think the audience would be glad to hear from a representative of the State of Illinois. We have present to-night Mr. Robert Allen, Principal of the Normal School at Carbondale, Illinois, whom I have the pleasure of introducing.

MR. ALLEN'S REMARKS.

Mr. Chairman:-I noticed in looking yesterday and to-day at the register in the headquarters of the State of Illinois that there were a few more teachers from Illinois enrolled as Kansas teachers than there were teachers from Illinois itself; so that I reckon Illinois has done something to supply Kansas with teachers. It has been claimed here that Kansas is a daughter of Ohio, but I think she is quite as much a daughter of Illinois. Illinois has contributed very largely to the population of Kansas. It is a very large state; not as large as Kansas in territory by any means, but it occupies a very important. position in the United States. If you would study your geographies a little and observe Illinois, you will see how far it goes to the north, by its connection with the lakes, and how it reaches south by its connection with the Mississippi River. It is not as Pennsylvania has been called, the Keystone. It is not called the keystone, but it is absolutely the keystone in the great arch of the States, touching the north and touching the south. It is a state standing in the middle of the nation; and through that state four times a day there go the great continental railways, weaving like needles into the woof of this great nation. The State of Illinois is a State of honest men, and it is glad to send a good many of those honest men further west. When I began to learn geography, the West was written as the "Great American Desert." When I began to study geography they used to ask the question, “What are the chief cities of Illinois ?" and this was the answer: "Kahokeas, Edwardsville, Vandalia, and Kaskaskah"; but none of you know the names of those places. Edwardsville is left; Kahokeas is washed into the Mississippi River; and Kaskaskah-who knows anything about it outside of the old settlers of East St. Louis? That was geography then, and a thousand miles west of that was this immense State of Kansas. I asked a man this evening how many counties there were in Kansas. "I can't tell you," he said; "there might be a thousand or a little less; we are making a county a day." And to those new counties are going Illinois

I am

men and women. You lay out counties here in Kansas, and Illinois is filling them up with school teachers and farmers and merchants. glad I have been in Kansas this time. And I remember when I was in Rhode Island a good many years ago. There was my friend Dr. Vail, who was a good friend to Rhode Island, and who is now a good friend to Kansas, and he did a good deal for education in Rhode Island, as I have no doubt he is doing for education here. I say I heard about Kansas in those days and I have had a sympathy for Kansas ever since. I have been here once before, and what surprises me, and delights me too, is to see how the State is growing up, in what were then all waste places. Kansas has helped to make American history, perhaps, as no other state has, but in doing it, it chose men of other states. And I trust that she will still continue in her good ways.

PRESIDENT CALKINS:-If my geography is not at fault, there is a very large state lying between Illinois and Ohio and the State of Kansas; and I should like to hear whether any of those who left Ohio for the West or who left Illinois for the West, stopped on the fertile plains of Missouri. I will introduce to you Professor R. C. Norton, President of the Missouri Normal School.

MR. NORTON'S ADDRESS.

Mr. President, Ladies, and Gentlemen :-I thank you for cheering at the opening, lest I should have no cheers at all. I hail at present from Missouri, a state seemingly not frequently mentioned, but yet one of which we Missouriaus are very proud. If I go back to 1861, I see the hosts of Ohio-some of the boys of Ohio under the leadership of the gallant colonel of the 48th, leading us to Southern fields. You know there was quite an invitation for us to go south then. Some of those brave boys in blue never returned. Some have; but out of the ashes of those who lie buried there have arisen some of the most glorious achievements of our nation. And before us to-night in the product of one eloquent and learned, of the colored race, we see the possibilities that are being brought out of those who hitherto have been held down. And fellow teachers, whatever you may ask from Ohio, whatever you may ask from Maine, Rhode Island, or Texas, we will grant it all and believe all you say, for we think your possibilities are beyond our comprehension. But, teachers, as we meet here, we feel that we are meeting friends and acquaintances, though we had not hitherto seen them. I feel acquainted with Mr. Calkins, with Mr. Brooks, with Mr. Allen, and all those who have given us invaluable treasure in their works to which we as teachers may come and take counsel. Teachers, a great responsibility rests upon us; and as a teacher from Missouri, and before the National Teachers' Association, let me make this assertion: that never shall that book of books, which is the

anchor of my liberty on earth, and the light of my hope hereafter, be, either by my word or my act or my consent, banished from the school in which I labor. We shall find no equal in modern writing to him who said, "The firmament showeth God's handiwork.”

Now with this thought before me, let me pass back for a few words for Missouri. The words "border ruffian " have not given a peaceable idea of the State; and the "Younger Boys" have been known far and wide; but let me tell you that now they are gone. In those days the State had been devastated by war and by the marching and counter-marching of armies; but out of that State has arisen, in 1886, the grandest school fund that there is in any state of the Union. We have to-day over $10,000,000 in a productive fund for the common schools of the State of Missouri, and I believe that those schools are growing in the affection of our people, and as they are growing they are producing a sentiment of patriotism, until now the people of Missouri are shouting the glad song of the poet Longfellow and saying,

"Sail on, sail on, O ship of State."

PRESIDENT CALKINS-I now take pleasure in introducing to you a representative from "Old Virginia," Julius D. Dreher, President of Roanoke College.

ADDRESS OF MR. DREHER.

Mr. President, Ladies, and Gentlemen:-I did not come before you to-night to speak for the State of my adoption, nor for the State of my nativity. I come to speak to you as a citizen of our common country. A year ago I went to the Northwest and on to the Yellowstone Park. And as I travelled over this long distance, I began to realize, as I never had before, the wonderful extent of this great country, and I traveled from Kansas to the Pacific coast and saw more and more of this great country and our wonderful institutions. And as I saw the noble men and noble women, who are the pride of our country, my admiration rises higher and higher as I say "This is my own, my native land." I am glad indeed to be here in this great State of the plains. I am glad to see something of the fertility of the soil; and if the old Virginian, who is said to have gone for the first time to New York City and to have stood before the Grand Central Hotel and watched the throng as they passed up and down Broadway, and to have said in wonderment, "Where do they get enough for all to eat?"-could that old Virginian have been with me on the Union Pacific train from Kansas City to Topeka, I could have told him that here is where the bread shall be made for millions of people.

I have heard a number of references to the history of Kansas. You can well imagine that, born and reared and partly educated in South

Carolina, and now living in Virginia, an ex-confederate soldier, whose home lay on the line of Sherman's march, that I hear all those references with a mingled emotion. But I am also happy to add that I rejoice most heartily, as heartily as any one in this house, that no institution of any kind separates the patriotic heart in our common country. I rejoice that from the South to the North and from the East to the West we all meet here, earnestly engaged in this great cause of universal education.

PRESIDENT CALKINS:-I think it is due, after so many flattering allusions. have been made to Kansas and especially to Topeka, that Topeka be allowed to speak for herself. I will introduce to you Mr. John McDonald, County Superintendent, of Topeka.

MR. MCDONALD'S ADDRESS.

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen :-You have heard all about the State of Kansas, that it is 400 miles long and 200 miles wide and 8,000 miles deep; you have heard of the fertility of the prairies; that we have the biggest grain in the world, and the finest farms; and last but not least you have heard repeatedly that the people of Kansas are the cream of the East. I have no doubt that our eastern visitors must have been struck by the cool modesty of the natives, of this city and State. I have no doubt you have noticed time and again in the speeches as delivered by the natives of this State, that excessive modesty is our distinguishing characteristic. I may say, with my brethren of Kansas, that I am glad this Association has come here. If this meeting of the National Educational Association does not inspire the people of Kansas to do infinitely nobler and greater things in the future than in the past, if it does not lift us as a people to a higher plane of educational thought, then this meeting has been in vain. But I do believe that this meeting has inspired us; that the inspirations will go out from this centre to every part of the State, and I have no doubt that this meeting in closing to-night will be glad to sing the doxology to a long meter, and I know that 1300 Kansas peoplewill be ready to pronounce the choicest benediction on the National Educational Association.

PRESIDENT CALKINS :-We should like to hear from the broad plains of Kansas, and I take pleasure in introducing to you Dr. Brown, President of the Highland University.

DR. BROWN'S ADDRESS.

Mr. President, Ladies, and Gentlemen:-You have heard so much about our great State that I hardly feel warranted in saying more. But there in a great deal of Kansas outside of Topeka-perhaps not much to speak of in the minds of some people, but still there is. You remember that motto

that Kansas adopted, "Ad Astra per Aspera"? I tell you that is a good thing to think about sometimes. "Ad Astra" stands before our physical, mental, material, moral and spiritual welfare. And I have no hesitation in saying for the people of Kansas that they feel universally that the meeting of this association has been a great help to them. A gentleman from Indiana said to me this morning, "Have you noticed what good-looking men and women come to us from these eastern states? They seem to be so much better looking than those that are already here." I said to him they are teachers; that the teachers in any community as a rule are the best looking people, just as they are likely to be the best people. Then in the second place, teachers that attend the National Association are the best looking teachers among all teachers. Do you notice how many of these states seem to be proud of the fact that so many of the teachers and people of Kansas had come from their state? Surely Pennsylvania was a fine State to come from. Indiana is a good state to come from. Rhode Island is a small but a great state to come from. There are a great many states that are splendid to come from. I have heard it rumored that there are a great many of these fine school "marms" who have come out to Kansas who may not get back. I have an idea that such a thing might possibly happen. We have been glad to welcome you.

CLOSING REMARKS OF PRESIDENT CALKINS.

Ladies and Gentlemen :-Citizens of Kansas and of all the other states that have contributed to make Kansas what it is to-day: I know that you would be glad to hear also from other states, but the hour is too late. We must close the exercises of this meeting of the National Educational Association. When I came among you and received the welcome of the citizens of Kansas; when I saw from day to day the incoming of teachers from every part of the country; when I heard those who came speak of the pleasure which they had experienced; I am happy to say that I was glad, as I know many others are, that we came to Topeka. I do not know but some of you may be glad when we are away-some of the citizens of Topeka, whose hospitality we have shared, and who have themselves experienced many inconveniences that we might be made comfortable and happy during our meeting.

And now, citizens of Topeka, in behalf of those who have been so royally entertained by you, I want to thank you for what you have done in behalf of this 26th meeting of the National Educational Association. And I trust that we shall all look back to this meeting and rejoice in the day that brought us together to exchange hand-shakings and greetings; and that all of us may long remember with pleasure the occasion that enabled us thus to become better acquainted.