Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1838-10-25
For las Slaunton Npectator..

1850 ~ANNsJ ~ 80 AS>>Ss
For ths Stauaton Spectator.
Ii is a trile but true maxim that s.know.
ledge is I'uwer." Aud while We are compel
led III admit thai saith has lis in tlueics.
aud tina, the vicious carry with them many
10 ruin We cannot deny: but that mind and
moral worth, Influence the most csiimable
POI ton nj the community; aud thai. part, loo.
Who are disposed. 10 disCUunteuauCe vice ..and
judge man 10y his Character. Hence The inn
i'ortan,s vi Culiwating the mud, encoura.
gins education, and forming character
And however philosophy may differ as ia
the character OF mind, nil agree in the prov
Piic.y Of giving II proper direction, aud Ut
storing II Nth useful knowledge. The CON
'cntion IN references 10 this ,r that sy s.erD.
"niy proves The Importance vi the 81 sfen,
Itself, and iacteases public responsibiiit, in
the choice presented. Every lnan " ho il
capable Vt judgment, and " no has thought
On the subject, must tie satisfied iha, the
great AT Oi teaching, Iii mol to exercise t!,s
memory mere'y, but TO call into action
The thinking faculiies Of the mind GoEse-
tiientIy, he " no Is capable III selecting pro,
cr studies, aud Of procuring the greatest A.
mount, (ii am allow ed tho expression) of
well arranged thought, Is the most useful
instructor. No proposition is mere certain
W true than that the child who is tauo hit.
should understand The subject 10 which his
NINA - directed, as we'll as the man " no in
Sestigales And il il cannot he made TO
comp' ehend, it only proves, either. thu, The
mind - improperly directed ur that the
mind Is mol sufficiently drawn 10 the subject.
These thoughts are hastily thrown tos.,h.
er, III recurring 10 two several examine
tons, which had the pleasure 10 witness.
so;na two CT three weeks since, in our own
village say had tn. pleasure TO attend.
because was deeply interested, much eti.
lied, and truly groiit,d. IL Mas no: the
mere recita! OF that which had been memo
rized for The occasion but OF well d,gestetl
IDEAS, handsomely expressed, and upon sub
JeIts ~ ell understood. In this as the great
beauty and excellence Of The examinations.
While thsTe was pTumplncss ia answering
questions, and in making mathematical call
culations, there was satisfactory evidence IF
an understanding mind au,. "a the Same
lime. that the young ladies and gentlemen
did themselves credit, they reflected great
honor upon their Instructors. The FIRST eX-
aminatinn i attended, was al Il aiorama, IN
der The direction Of Mrs. Shcff:y-an fns,is
tuition, which has acquitted we'll deserved
reputation, and one " hich Ihc,c 10 see. as
II has bc'n .pd!ronizrd for itself. Mr. Smith
is the only male instructor in this ins,iIu>
tion and he has acquired in the few years
nc has been annnS us, high character for
intelligence and judgment as teacher; and
trust his merit Will he properly appreciA-
ted. believe state but the n,,ii.ion Of
our citizens, and they are most Capable of
Judging, that the school; iii all its DEPART
ments,'s inferior 10 name in Virginia. can
intend no disparagement certainly 10 other
classes IN this institution; ny participating
one, since all acquitted themselves so hand
SOm0ly-f tho f.iasS Ri, |,
The members OF this class, as ell as others,
displayed great pro,nplness in answering
questions, and Knowledge of The Bible his
tory, of names. places, mud events, which
was, Tor The short space OF me allotted each
day, to this subject, astonishing And while
] am much pleased 10 see the Bible used in
this institution as text book | vas mole
highly pleased with the method OF examin-
I"g, and the manner in which the class ac-
quilted themselves. And in connection
with this I" i'll say, that am ell assured.
that there is nothing taught TO which any
sectarian can object. This sir, is a shori,
imperfect and partial, bat jus. notice Of Ibis
very interesting female school. And hope,
not only because am citizen OF Stanton,
hot tor the merit OF the institution itself, 10
see 81 still! more extensively patronized
The other examination which attended.
was al the male academy under the direction
OF Mr.. Wnddell.-To speak Of the character
oil This gentleman, where he has spent So ma,
ny years Of his life were superfluous. Here,
his character, for intelligence, and his capa-
city 10 teach, are we'll known; and he is only
TO lie Known else" here, 10 be properly es,i-
mated, and ihe academy under his care en-
couragej. Those who attended this exam-
inatinn must have been much grsliicd, and
will readily agree with me in " hat have
already said, that tho young gentlemen did
themselves great honor and reflected great
credit upon their instructors. And ! only
regret sir, that some one more competent
than myself, has not through y cur columns,
taken some notice OF these examinations, ard
presented the institute ions themselves, in
their proper light TO The public. ! can buts
hope, when ] look al our location, climate,
health, and last, though no. least the cbarsc-
Ter ct our society, that Siauoton Will, ii she.
has not air eady become, remarkable for beE
institutions OF learning. And why not ?-Ia
there any thing to forbid it? We haze
wealth, intelligence, good society, and COM
petsnt instructors. ! throw out these.
thoughts for what they are worth. In The
exercise Of lsudibls pride and effort, they
ate OF great value, without hem, nothing.
A CITIZEN.