Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1829-02-19

" t. lIlt
mas MS own particular part assigned him, in the
Neyu'ioh oi which lac displays great dcxterty. The
'cct' arms even the Nee turnings of the head
ohd 'ao IRE wrough, IN the finest manner; but the
F,oor,"n nnd apt adjustment ot'the whole is len to
'ne Shii' "' thc masters in the art rhcsc with pcp
C1'o,h'% eye, scan every part, md By few delicate
touches give tho air ad attitude of body md the ex-
., countchancc, peculiar TO the parsonage in
,ehseo'o De represented The same Kind OF excel
1ence' however, ~ not found even Il. the most sLilf
al thoir professions each one has an dcul ueftectin
ever before iis mind TO the atipnment of which h,
directs Its undivided attention. Hence Some ,rou;-o
the power ofthowing into their statues ,n,iest, ~,
attitude aiid bo!dncss Of countcnancc peculiarly be-
coming To the statesman and warrior. Others give
Keehness TO the eye, and compoc,ness = the limb
"uCh indicates that activity and CELEBRITY uf motion
so characteristic ofthe orator aud advocnte A few
by toll andnuch the rarcinent of giving
10 their pieces deep oat-lino and u LOFTY express
SION, ,lat mar the philosopher profound thought
anu t!.c poet OF sublime contemplation.
AS the rude marble by the statuarvs art is elabo-
rsUi through various apartments until il IS finally
polished INTO the most exquisite specimen of tie b,-
INN hniei 20 ought our youth TO be trained and dis
cipaHed by tho plastic hnnd 81: education tlnt when
'e aye OF manhood is attained, they NAV he able TO
perform Justly and magnaninousy all the offices both
puSic and prIvate, ofPeace and ofwar.
Now have We made Our plan Of ctucet;on ITO mr.
serve the stnilude) after the mode OF the building
Just described? Has the foundation been first laid or
lid bnSs and the sulcrstructure made a(ler tb,.
exact rucs OF proportion, been divided into proper
.
nave VIC not pursued contrary course. and erected
a great oveTshodowing top, that i pressing down q
Weak and .ranccss shc!iaircauy oticrrr ON n rotten
foundations? And have wC not d;scoyrrod ths so,on
oversight IN policy by filling the upper part of this
OniiIing with suitable men, when ut The same time
Wa have entirely overlooked the uicr apartments; on
the right ordering aud furnishing ofwhch mainly de-
ponds tic success OF the other?
Il the lower departments be FLIED with cnv interlo-
rcr that may ntrudc himsclt:--wilh men who arc
ignorant OF the art they profess, and careless OF
improvement their wo'k "a natural consequence
viii be- mast shamc!ully neglected.
Aud when theit sp:ci ! ms IRE brought Nh TO the
master vOrkln 10 receive their final polish these
IN will be mortified to ftui, that. instead of recurring
lew slight iouchcs,-soIue mast be shaped entirely
anew. others on account d! their unnatural Cistor-
lions, must be laid inside nsel, S. while many to be
made any thing OF, mils be taken de noco-froin the
very block itself To speak plainly it is notorious
TACT winch cannot be disguised and which we all de-
piore, That our University with the exception of
lev in the professions, is filled with Young men in
tho clements of science, aud the first rudilneuts of
language. The Professor instead of meeting the
Youth, rs It were, the hill OF science enchanted
with the snoolinesS and gTccneSs uf the spot the
eloiioNs sounds on every side; enrnpturCd with tho
bennty Of the prospect; and eager pursue whcreso-
ever ms pleasure may be heightened and bis views
cn!arEed-lrsieBd NJ meeting him here. the u,lide
mnat 90 down TO the bottom aud drag him along and
lift him over the numerous obstacles which arr, TO BIZ,
met with i'll every step of the path that leads TO
knowledge. Whose fault is il, that our University is
IL
logo Is it the fault of tho Professors in that Insti
intious-by no means. They are learned men and
inr anght know, we'll qualfc,i to discharge the
hrduous duties OF their respective offices. Is it the
auit of the young men who frequent that Institution,
No., fundy cherish the hope that some ofthc cho,cc
flowers Of our State Durturing there. Tho ulilt
falls upon us; We have neglected to afford the Youth
"f our country the means of pursuing on reasonable
terms, IN their own neighborhoods under the eve of
their parents, good elementary course of instruction
Hence they arc compelled even unhetlrcd bows in
their accidents. compelled to fly TO the Colleges
or the University as the only places fit to BE-; n their
education.
There IN this State as mentioned above at least
10000 young men, who ought to have within their
reach some good permanent common school, classical
school, or acadcny, where those who have not the
means OF gong farther, may acquire sound practical
cdcatIo", and where those VINO aspireaer hiricr nj
talnnents may be so trained and Dractisnd that
when they come TO the colleges eU TO the Universi
ty, they be novIccs but much skilled TO nee the
moro extensive means here afforded of uttaninr, all
knowledge 10Th useful and ornamental Have we
Snch Institutions Orr academies where arc thcv3
10 look on The statute book one would suppose thnt
they were vcry numcrous-thqt thcy stood like ben,
con fires every hill, nngng their lights and she'd
ding their genial rays 10 every corner ofhs happv
Commonwealth. But what the facto Most OF
them only have name III tho statute book and arc
not 70 be found on terra Gmr very few Of those i'm
real existence deserve the distinguished oppclsfinn
Of Academy Some, is true, have acquired cons i'd
erabo reputation, and are really valuable institutions
bht lhcr reputation ana continued SUCCESS 3epcDd
ON the popularity of the prescnt incrnbcn's: v,bo
have IN every Instance raised them TO that degree of
rcspectab'hiy, they now enjoy. When these men
leave thcn or when their popularity begins to vane
they SIX into common schools, where they ever at
terwof,s remain.
We have no academies on permanent foundations,
ana with eDdowfncnts sufficient to command and 10
retain in service tho best talents.
Oar schools are even in n worse condition than the
academies In every country where education il at
tended to at ALL there IRE special laws determining
the mode Of procedure in the erection of school,
houtcs, and in the choice of proper teachers.
Every thing connected with common schools Is
directed by EScd principles. But with u.s. these
important concerns managed without any system
wlG,cYcr Zach one is permitted TO follow the bent
o. ms own INCLINATION az to the best manner Of in
siricting children. The consequence is, that our
school buildings for the most part nTc miserable hus
III the woods, destitute or all accommodations and
scarcely able 10 drag oU wrctched existence Of
more than tircc four years. The schools kent i'm
them oi course partalc Of the same transient nnturc
mere TO day and gone tomorrow. Sonefifuc. n