eurasia(优雷夏)-第7章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
that at the present time we extract and reduce ore at a lower rate than in
other parts of the world； for there is no wastefill management and no
overproduction； for in all our mining operations we work those that cost
the least； and we operate our coal mines in the same way。〃
I thanked him for the courtesy shown me and took the train for the
capital； and my next visit was to the Department of Education。
23
… Page 24…
EURASIA
CHAPTER VII。
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION。
I was ushered into the office of the Minister of Education and was
introduced to a charming lady who filled that position with signal ability。
〃I am told that you are from the United States of America。 〃 she said with
a winning smile； 〃and I hope that you will have a pleasant time while you
remain with its。〃 She spoke perfect English and informed me that it was
the language of Eurasia； but that it differed from English used in other
countries in one way。 〃We write the words the way they sound and
eliminate all useless letters； saving a great deal of time and paper。〃 She
informed me that in no school throughout the country； save one； were the
dead； or foreign； languages taught； and in that one only for the purpose of
correct translation in the interest of science； for practical education is what
people need。 〃We have one great university for orphan children and those
without a name； and from it all the departments of the government are
supplied with secretaries； clerks； typewriters and messengers； and as they
are physically； mentally and morally trained for the duties of life； they are
highly prized in the matrimonial market。 All our common schools have a
gymnasium and swimming tank annexed to the study room； the
gymnasium being divided into two compartments； one for boys and one
for girls； with a door from each communicating with the study room and
also with the swimming tank。〃 The tank was only four feet deep so as to
remove as much as possible the chance for a child being drowned； and no
little children were allowed in the tank without two or more boys and girls
of fourteen years of age being present。
The doors leading into the tank room were kept under lock and key
and were only opened once a day and that at the noon hour。 The youngest
children； up to the age of twelve years； when they had learned their
lessons both in the forenoon and afternoon went into the gymnasium to
play； and by those means the children are physically well developed and
knowing how to swim are not liable to become frightened if thrown into
the water and know what to do to save others from drowning。 They are
24
… Page 25…
EURASIA
taught reading； writing； arithmetic； geography； typewriting； typesetting
and practical geometry； so as to draw lines； angles and circles and find
their volumes and areas； but algebra； astronomy； grammar； geology；
physiology； biology and metaphysics are reserved for the high schools；
where every boy and girl is sent when they are fifteen years of age and
kept there for three years at the expense of the government。 The high
school is located in the district reserve as near the center of the district as
conditions will permit in the vicinity of the court house and the Governor's
residence and has adjoining it not less than one thousand acres； according
to the population of the district； so as to make it as self…sustaining as
possible and to teach the students agriculture； horticulture and the care and
management of stock and poultry。
〃We have a foundry； machine shop； woolen mill； cotton mill and
chemical works at every high school； and while both sexes are taught
farming and gardening the boys are taught mechanical trades and the girls
knitting； spinning； weaving； cooking； housekeeping and nursing； so as to
know how to take care of the sick and injured； and at the age of eighteen
years the boys are drafted into the army and serve three years； building
railways； levees； canals； irrigation ditches； docks； warehouses and other
public buildings； and the girls are sent to the chemical factories； woolen
mills； cotton mills； paper mills； flax mills； sugar mills and tobacco
factories。 No exceptions are made from service； all must serve。 Both boys
and girls are dressed in military uniform and are drilled two hours in rifle
practice； firing ten shots at an imitation enemy in a military suit； stuffed
with straw； in different positions； from one hundred to one thousand
yards distance； every Sunday weather permitting and in actual war one
brigade of girls is assigned to every division of the army to carry off the
wounded and nurse them and to assist in the defense whenever it is
necessary； and also to garrison and hold the lines of communication and
their presence in the field has been so inspiring to our boys that they never
have turned their backs to the enemy。〃
25
… Page 26…
EURASIA
CHAPTER VIII。
THE WAR DEPARTMENT。
My next trip was to the War Department； where I was shown the Rules
and Regulations governing the army； and navy。
The army was organized in twenty…five corps of eighty thousand men
each； besides the ladies' army corps of an equal number； each corps
composed of three divisions of foot infantry and one division of mounted
infantry。 Each division was composed of three brigades of infantry； one
regiment of sharpshooters and one regiment of artillery； each brigade of
three regiments and each regiment of twelve companies； one hundred and
fifty men each。 The company was divided into three sergeants' commands
and those into three corporal squads。 Each company consisted of one
hundred and thirty…five privates； nine corporals； three sergeants； one
company clerk； one lieutenant and a captain。 Four companies composed a
battalion； commanded by a major； and the regiment by a colonel。 There
were no lieutenant colonels； the senior major taking charge of the
regiment in case of death or disability of the colonel until the regiment
elected an officer to fill the vacancy。 All vacancies above the rank of
colonel were filled by the corps commander； all vacancies up to and
including that of colonel by the votes of the men； but the colonel had to be
chosen from the majors； a major from the captains of his battalion。 The
lieutenant succeeded to the captaincy without a vote…but the lieutenant had
to be chosen from the sergeants and company clerk and the sergeant from
the corporals of his command。 The corporals were elected by the privates
of the squads； so that any soldier could rise from the ranks through merit
to high command。
The corps commander holds the rank of lieutenant general； the general
of division that of majo
