Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1842-07-21
For the Snccirinr.

MIR. Editor-alany years ago, was then but
boy, and in passing from the Valley to the county
of Orange, ! fell in with gentleman from the
South. He was educated in mind and feelings,
courteous, communicative, intelligent, and conde-
scendng So thought then, and after time has
matured my capability of Judging, without i'm
pairing the vividncss of the impressions left by
his conversations. think SO STILL He lectured me
long the subject of education, and the various
and often minute circumstances which give direc-
ton to the mind of the boy, and permanently af:
feet the destnes oil the man. lie dwelt upon the
suggestive faculty, and the importance of plea
SAINT and elevating associations in the training OF
the youthful mind.
When we reached a point in the county of Al
bemarle, upon The public highway, where the for
ward scenery begins to attract the attention of the
traveller from West to East; and he is led to look
around and grasp at the whole prospect-my COM
panion, for such he made himself, refined up his
horse and seemed 70 luXuriate upon the expanded
>iscene. did not then fully comprehend, but have
since learned, that the secret of his enjoyment
was taste, seasoned by the scntimentalitos of a
refined education. When my fellow traveller
had arrived with me in few miles of the county
seat OF Albemarle, after an apparent reverie, he
remarked, "Well, if had son, this is the coun-
try and these the scenes in the midst of which
would have him educated. The University of
Sa may have been contemplated by Mr. Jefferson
ialhis time, but the idea not vet before the
Public mind. have been struck since with the
~ulcIdence, that not many years after, pupils
"eio coming from the four quarters of the COM
pass !oceceive their educations, almost upon the
'"1oi'le gSound of my Southern acquaintance.
III pursuing my travel alone, thought per-
celyed an Illustration of the influence of scenery;
Psuaps II was delusive, perhaps many cIrcum-
- unhhown to me had commiDgled in pro-
fduclng that which attracted nv attention--per
maps IL was fortuitous. SO it was the distin-
guished citizens located upon the line of the most
peaut1u' and picturesque tract of country had
impressed my own imagination. I refer 10 the
region OF country lying along the eastern base of
the South West mountains and the parts contiou.
GUS thereto. Here at once was Monticello the
residence OF Thomas Jefferson, elevated far above
'ne horizon, the seemingly appropriate abode of a
PhiosoPlic mind. And here, in close proximity
was me seat OF James Monroe, not in airy HEIGHT,
pu' WINE occupying broader base, looking out
on every airy height. Lower down was Belleyoir,
.io ses' OF Hugh Nelson--a few miles onward
Ind' % James Barbour, then of p. p Barbour
and TO close up the vista, Oor | snpnose ,Le en-
Psng oil the climax would beit Mo,tnel;or is
imam Monticello) the traveller would End h;r,saIr
In the nelghborhood Of James Madison. to ,rhor,
PeIsona'ly, nad applied the figure withheld from
his nome, would neither have dsparaoed o,i,o,s
nor run counter TO the opinions of his conm,,''
men. ''''''y
am believer in the influence Of scenerv -
forming the character of people, and when full
scope Is given to this influence by judicious and
wholesome system OF educa.ion the effects are
happy and lasting. To us Of this region, nature
has been lavish Of all that is bold and grand in
The one respect. Let not be nooardIy and
Wanting to ourselves in the other. If true 10 onr
selves, and the time should ever come when the
alarms of war shall be sounded through the land
and trembling for liberty seize upon the patriot,
the death struggle will be made amid these hills
and vailies, and liberty shall find home ,lere
nature has furnished the ramparts of her SAFETY.
At future time, | wish to say word ON tho
Subject of Education, and the culpabc public ne
g'ect visited upon our schools and academies
For the present, am yours,
AN OBSERVER