Hope High School - Blue and White Yearbook (Providence, RI)

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Another evidence of the influence of the press is the fact that the movement for improved street-car service which is now agitating the public mind was started and directed by the Providence Journal. Every person in the city knew the inadequacy of the car service provided here, but no one had any thought of attempting to reform the conditions until the Journal published its first scathing article. Then every citizen of Providence added his mite of condemnation 3 letters to the Editor poured in faster than they could be printed. The Journal continued its attacks so ardently that, at last, public spirit compelled an investigation, and now the conditions are gradually being improved. The movement would probably never have been started if it had not been for the wide-spread inHuence of the newspaper. In addition to improving the street-car service, the J ournal has instituted recently another reform, even more important in its relation to civic welfare, for the lives of the citizens are certainly of more importance than their comfort. At a large mass-meeting held several weeks ago in Infantry Hall, the largest public hall in Providence, the pre- cautions against fire were found woefully inadequate. Previous to this, many persons had remarked upon the obvious danger attendant upon large, gatherings in this hall, but no action had ever been taken until the Journal printed, the following morning, a clear, concise statement of the necessity for improvement. Immediately all over the city arose a chorus of approval, and the people, under the leadership of the Journal, as before, demanded that the danger be averted by the immediate betterment of the existing conditions. As a result, the management of the hall is removing the unsafe exits in question, and is providing the ordinary safeguards against fire,-action which should have been taken years ago, it remained for the newspaper to awaken the people to a realization of their responsibilities as citizens. These are not the only movements demonstrating the infiuence of the Providence press 5 there are many minor reforms originated by it, such as the inquiry made by the Young Women's Christian Association into the cause of the constant disappearance of girls from their homes, and the exposure of the bossism in our legislature. Indeed, so numerous are these movements that every reader of our city papers must admit that even if they may exhibit some of the sensational tendencies of the average American newspaper, still they have the distinction of being exceptionally active and influential in the betterment of the political and social conditions of their community. ' Great Aol-hievements of Qulr Times RUSSELL MILLS WILsoN. There is no doubt that the last ten years have been productive of more achieve- ments than any other period of like duration in our history. Success has been attained along all lines of work, but the most noteworthy achievements have appeared in Polit- ical, Social and Scientinc work. Not many years ago, entirely honest politicians, fighting for the good of the people and against the corporate interests, were appallingly scarce. The temptation to take bribes was too strong for most men, and bribery continued unrestrained, until a few men appeared, whose interests were with the people and not the trusts. Wholesale briberies were revealed on all sides 5 then more honest politicians came, until now it seems as if we are about to enter a period of clean, honest administration,--an administration with the true democratic spirit. Surely we ought to be proud of these great political achieve- ments. 25

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The Arntheny Medal Centest Suilbj eeits LITERARY 1. The Sports of the English People as shown in Ivanhoe. 2. English Social Types in the Vicar of VVakefield. 3. Vivid Scenes from Macbeth. 4. Ideal Manhood as shown in the Idylls of the King. 5. The Music of IVIilton's Lyrics. GENERAL 1. Athletics as a means of Training Gentlemen. 2. How can Providence be made a HCity Beautifuln? 3. Great Achievements of our Times. 4. The Disadvantages of Learning too Easily. 5. Heroic Pioneers of Today. CURRENT 1. Should the Canadian Reciprocity Agreement be Adopted? 2. Should the Panama Canal be Fortified? 3. The Boy Scouts. 4. Should Providence establish a Commercial High School? 5. The Influence of the Providence Press on Civic IVelfare. The Hnflfuenee f the Previdenee Press en Civie Welfare BY RACHEL DAv1s. During the last few years, the citizens of Providence have gradually awakened to the fact that the newspapers of this city have taken up in earnest that problem which can be solved only through the agency and guidance of the press,-namely, civic wel- fare. There is only one medium through which interest in the good of a community can be aroused in the common people, and that medium is the newspaper. Its influence is immense, for it reaches the masses as no other periodical does. Through its agency, the workingman learns the conditions in his city, and readily lends his voice to the universal outcry against bad management, corruption and immorality. By means of leading articles and editorials, the press states its opinions, and by means of the page devoted to 't Letters to the Editor, offers every citizen a chance to state his, on matters pertaining to civic welfare. In this way, any newspaper is able to instigate and conduct practical, efhcient reforms in the administration of city affairs. The Providence press has, for several years, been following this policy, and by its articles has aroused keen interest in every question which concerns the welfare of the city. Its influence was demonstrated clearly a short time ago, when the tree campaign waged by the Evening Bulletin resulted in the purchasing and planting of thousands of young trees on some of the ugly, barren streets of our city. The immediate response made by the people to the Bulletvjrds request for contributions to its fund was a proof in itself of the interest aroused and organized by the newspaper. 24

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But still greater achievements have been reached in our social work. The educa- tional conditions of our country have been immensely improved. The number of public schools has been constantly increased, and the courses bettered, so that now a boy graduating from high school can enter the world with a very good education. Rich men, by their donations and personal interest, have brought the colleges within the reach of all who are ambitious. Another great achievement in social work, is the betterment of the condition of the children. Child Labor has been abolished, and public play-grounds are rapidly increasing. The Juvenile courts are saving thousands of children from becoming criminals, by showing them the right path, and helping them along it. Free Public Libraries, -established throughout the land, have aided tre- mendously in the educational advancement of the people. Since achievements along these lines are vital for the welfare of our country, surely they must be recorded among the great achievements of our times. The scientific achievements of our times have been the greatest the world hasever seen. The Aeroplane, the most wonderful of all inventions, has proved successful. The Wright Brothers and Glenn Curtiss have begun the manufacture of aeroplanes for use in war. Scientists have perfected the wireless telegraph, until it has become a great life-saver. During the last few years many disastrous shipwrecks have been averted by the use of the wireless The gyroscope has recently proved its usefulness for practical work, and soon cars will run on one rail. Great advances have been made in the study of medicine, and many wonderful cures, undreamed of twenty-five years ago, have been effected. The science of Astronomy has made excellent progress, and scien- tists are daily discovering new facts about the planets. The construction of the Panama Canal, a great scientific work that has puzzled engineers for years, is nearing com- pletion. These are only a few of the great scientific achievements of our times, but they will live forever in the history of the world. Summing up all these great successes and achievements, we begin to wonder how much further we will be allowed to advance, before some great calamity sets us back. Wherever we look, we see success, success attained by the greatest intellectual men the world has ever seen, and to these men we owe the great achievements of our times. fff-fe' I . 26