Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1827-07-19
[Whole No. 1885.

paflSon tnat results 10 u own disad-
vantage, we cannot but regret that the
privileges enjoyed by those now coming
on the stage, are far superior to what
were Afforded by uur country when our
selves were young. We rejoice at il ss
we would at the prosperity of our chill
dren. Blessings that we're withholden
from us, we would gladly see descend
ing upon them. We have Witnessed
and it was not necessary to nave lived
so long TO have done 10 many changes
introduced into the conduct of life, most
of which have met with the neglect
thew deserved, and are now sunk into
forgetfuIness; but enough that are valu-
able remain 10 give US pleasure in the
reflection that our children viii live in
times TO come after. We cannot fstter
ourselves that they will be benefited by
the discovery of a highway to knowl-
edge, for without study it is impossible
to become a mar OF learning.
Though fully persuaded of the neces.
sity Of persevering application for those
who would become wise, we cannot but
believe that one method of instruction
is better than another.
An improvement has been introduced
in this particular, which we witness
with pleasure, as promising to be Of
no small benefit to our country.
When first told of schools organized
on military principles, our thoughts i'm.
mediaie!y REQUIRED TO guns, drums,
broken heads and pensions; and we had
no small dread Of an indiscribable some-
thing, called a military Spirit" in short
we felt distrustful of their utility and
doubted of their success. The estab
lishment of the Gymnasium In our city
has given us an opportunity OF Witness
ing the effects of a military discipline
upon a literary institution. So far have
we been from having our forebodings
realized, that we have been unable to
discover tire existence of one of the
evils we had anticipated Instead of
the naughty bearing of the soldiers
which we had prepared ourselves 10
witness, we have uniformly observed
in the young gentlemen that propriety
of conduct which has met with our APP
probation, and we believe has attracted
the notice Of all who have had oppor-
t~unities of seeing them.
In our apprehensions of the cultiva-
ton of a military spirit, We think we
were not singular, and now we believe
we were not alone in this change Of
opinion.
Judging from our observation,
the worst effect that would result from
giving to an institution too much Of q
military character, would be the undue
attention that would be thus devoted 10
a branch Of education of but secondary
importance. But in an institution ike
the one established IN this city where
just enough of the military is introduced
TO answer the purposes of sub ordination
and exercise, we do not know what
reason we bad to expect other than salu-
tary effect BY such an organization
one object certainly Is secured; parents
know that their sons take exercise, and
they know achere aud in what company
they receive it. The time from FIVE till
sunset, which we believe is the period
devoted to this purpose in the summer,
would not we think, in many instances
be better employed. The ordinary
branchesof knowledge pursued at other
literary institutions; are not from what
we can learn, in the least degree inter-
rupted by the military exercises; but
are conducted each by its appropriate
instructor with as much regularity as il
the culture of the mind was all that q
attended to. AS the young gentlemen
are designed for different pursuits in
life. they attend to those studies which
they think will be most useful to them,
and are not as in colleges all confnedto
the same course of instruction without
regard to their future prospects.
We are grati6ed by the success which
has attended this institution; and il af-
fords US pleasure that our citizens can
now give their Sons an Education suited
TO any condition in life, and yet be re-
lieved from anxiety, lest their son
should return to them with constitutions
undermined by injudicious habits or
moulded to suit only a sedentary life.
Gsorg. Columbian.
v-xy D0An TIT ca