Didactic fiction; Political fiction; Social problems -- Fiction
Almost the last public appearance of the Jackson Harts in that portion
of the Chicago world which had formerly known them occurred at the
elaborate dedicatory exercises of the JACKSON INDUSTRIAL INSTITUTE.
When the handsomely engraved invitation came to them, the architect was
disinclined to attend; but Helen, who thought only of the old man's
probable wish in the matter, induced her husband to take her. The
exercises were held in the pretty little auditorium which occupied one
wing of the large school building. There was much ceremony, and
numerous speeches, besides the oration delivered by the director, Dr.
Everest, on "Modern Industrialism," which was considered a masterpiece
of its kind and was afterwards printed and circulated by the trustees.
A bust of the founder, which fronted the stage, was first unveiled amid
great applause. Dr. Everest in the introduction of his oration turned
from time to time to apostrophize its rugged marble features, while he
paid his tribute to the founder of the institution. What the old
man--who had always avoided voluble people like the pest--would have
thought of the liberal eulogy scattered on his head, and of the
eloquent discourse that followed, on the future of education and the
working-man, no one will ever know. The rough old face looking
inscrutably down on the little, bald-headed figure of the director gave
no sign.
During the lengthy oration the architect's thoughts went wandering far
astray back into his past, so closely involved with this handsome
building. But Helen listened attentively to the director's flowing
periods, searching his phrases for an interpretation of his purposes in
regard to the school. Dr. Everest, however, was far too wary an
educator to commit himself to positive ideas. Yet in the maze of his
discourse there might be gathered hints of his attitude toward the
problem of industrial education. After the opening tribute to the
founder, "whom we may call a typical leader of our triumphant
industrial democracy," the speaker dwelt glowingly on the advanced
position of our country among the nations of the earth, attributing its
phenomenal progress to the nature of its political and educational
institutions, which had developed and encouraged the energies of such
men as Powers Jackson:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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