Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1839-05-11
For the Lexington Union.
EDUCATION.

EDUCATION.
/ Mr.. Editor:-In time of general, or
National calamity, whether occasioned by
financial revolusion, pes,illence, or war, it
is extremely difficult to draw the public
mind from it to the contemplation Of other
subjects. When pressed by eminent and
threatening danger, or serious evil, it is
mans nature TO exercise all his mental and
physical energies, to avoid or ward it off
at such period he has but few thoughts
for distant evils, and will not make much
exertion to achieve prospective good to
himself or posterity, this. therefore, as it
IS an unwonted and unusual period Of Pc
cuniary embarrassment and distress, is an
inauspicious moment to speak ofthe import.
ance and utility of education, and to warn
parents ofthe great and irreparable injury
they will do their offspring by neglecting
the culture Of their minds; but will ven.
ture few remarks upon these things as it
will "do no harm ifi does no good"
A great and cu!pable apathy and neg
igence has long existed and been manifest
ed by our citizens, upon the subject of
education. Efforts by no means commemo.
rate with lie importance, have been used
to spread & disseminate it. No university
deserving the name at which alone fn-
ished, complete, and perfect education can
be obtained, can be found in our state.
whilst nearly all the other states of this
powerful and glorious confederacy, have
their richly endowed universities, or uni
versity at least with presidents and pro-
fessors of the most profound learning and
ability--their pride and honor which send
forth yearly, hundreds of youth with high
ly cultivated minds imbued and stored with
classic and scientific learning; and conse-
quently well prepared to win laurels for
themselves and render service to their
countrywide great cotton State cannot boast
ofone. How long, o Mississippi, will you
remain in the rear of your sister states.
The newness Of the state, and the conse-
quent necessity of employing the most of
our means in opening and improving plan
tations, and building dwellings, &c. is
some apology for not having the higher
institutions of learning; but this excuse
connot be much longe. successfully plead,
and is not now sufficient for the scarcity
Of primary schools and academies gene
rally, and in Lexington particularly.
Childhood and youth are the proper
ages for mental improvement. lfthey are
passed in idleness, manhood and old age
the summer and winter Of life-will be apt
to be spent in obscurity, ignorance, and
not unfrequently in crime. The under
standing Of the young is plastic, and is
easily moulded into beauteous or hideous
form. 1t is open toithe truths Of science,
and the light Of knowledge. Impressions
are more easily made and are far more
lasting, than at any other stage Of life.
The occurrences we witness in childhood,
how fresh are they always in our memory,
whilst many Of those Of manhood no sooner
happen than they are forgotten. The
youth are not harrassed and perplexed by
the cares and misfortunes, which are the
sure heritage ofman--they have no enemies
Ito defeat--no rivals 70 supplapt, and their
maintenance is the burden Of others not
theirs; they can, consequently, devote
their Wholesalers undivided attention to
books and learning, while man, for the
reasons just given, cannot do. At early
periods, too, Of our existence, tastes and
habits are formed; which, like the gentle
riples started in the oceans midst, roll to
its utmost bounds. II, then, habits Of stu.
diousness, or the reverse, are acquired in
the spriog-time Of life, they will be almost
certain to last to its end. Sone, il is true.
loose their youthful fondness for learning