The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-12-01
The Public Schools.

having derived much pleasure from the interview.
The Public Schools
The subject of education is one which among all
others should command the greatest share Of atten-
ZION from the American people. The safety and
perpetuty Of our institutions depend, to a great
extent, upon the enlightenment Of the citizen, and
we should therefore watch with the utmost solicit
tude the institutions where our youth are to be in
structed The Northern and Eastern States, for
various reasons, have bestowed more care upon the
education of their children, than the younger mem
bers of the confederacy; but we are glad to see
that many of the States where public education has
heretofore been neglected, are awakening to
Of its vast importance. North Carolina, South
Carolina and Indiana have recently taken measures
for the establishment Of public schools, and it is TO
be expected that by this the prosperity of these
States will be greatly augmented. In our State it
is but short time since general attention has been
directed to this branch of governmental policy and
in this city it is but few years since public schools
were first established. 1t is, however, source Of
Qualification and pride that in that short time,
so many beneficial results have been developed.
Out of the city, and through the State generally,
system Of public education has not as yet been
adopted but we hope it will not be very long
before such viii be the case. The approaching
session of the Legislature has been called chiefly
with reference to this very subject, the school APP
preparation bill which passed the House last year,
having unfortunately been lost in the Senate. By
that bill $3.50 900 appropriated for the present,
and the same amount for the next, year, to be de-
voted to educational purposes. But to return to
the city: the schools of the Second Municipality
those to which we propose to direct our atten-
ton In order that our rea iers may be enabled to
Judge for themselves as far they do so, with
out visiting the schools in person, We intend to be
present for some time at each school in the Munich
palty, and report the result of our observations to
the public.
In accordance with this determination, we yes
terday visited the Franklin School in ST. Charles
street. The hour we selected was rather late, so
that we had not as good an opportunity for obser-
walton as we could have wished, yet from what
little we saw and heard, we were satisfied that the
pupils were, to say the least, as far advanced as
those of the same ages in any other institutions.
This school (the female Department. is under the
direction of Mrs Bartlett, lady whom we believe
to be very competent to the duties Of her station.
There are employed altogether in the female depart
ment of the Franklin School, nine teachers. The
number of scholars at present under tuition is 379,
and the number of admissions since February 1862.
These facts show that the school is in hourishng
condition, as far as attendance is concerned. We
regret that we did not have time to hear more of
the recitations, the only branches which we heard
the scholars examined upon having been Grammar
and Arithmetic, In both of these the scholars
acquitted themselves creditably, and evinced both
care and ability the part Of their insructress.
Among the pupils here was one who excited a great
interest in us. We aliude to a young lady who is
totally blind yet by the constant use of her fingers
had acquired such an extreme deicacy of touch,
that she could read from book printed in raised
characters with remarkable degree of fuency.
Ii was the first time we had seen an instance of
this kind, and we must confess TO a certain amount
of establishment in beholding it.
OF the Franklin School we have nothing more
to say to-day, not having had time to pursue our
observations very far. We shall, however, in pur-
suanee of the resolution we have made, make it
business to visit the other schools and to report
whatever in the course of our inquiries we may
find of general interest," together with Statistics etc.
THE New ORLEANS MECHANICS INSTITUTE
An institution of this title, designed for the improve
ment of mechanics and others in the useful sciences,
is about to be commenced in this city, by DIR.
Macauley and Rev. Alexander Campbell A lee
ture, Introductory on the advantages of science,
will be delivered at O'Clock this evening, in the
basement of the Presbyterian Church, near Lafay-
cite Square, by DR.. Maeauey. The public, in
Guiding ladies, and especially mechanics, are
respectfully invited TO attend Admission--free.
STATIoNERY.-J. II. Bechtel q Co., 40 Camp
street, have on hand splendid assortment of Blank
Books and Stationery of all kinds in fact, every
thing necessary for the use Of the merchant or
business man. 1t would be difficult to find better
selection than that of Messrs. Bechtel & Co. Their
commercial blanks are of the most approved forms
and superior paper. Give them call.
Coal. There was an arrival of coal boats at
Louisville on the goth. The owners are demand
ing Is cents. No sales al that price.
Coal Boat Stuck Fast.--A fatboat loaded with
coal, in attempting to go over the Louisville Falls,
the 18th, got out of the channel and stuck the
bar opposite the lime kilns, in the Indian chute.
Manufactured and observation-disclosures
and Macready have commenced their trial engage
ments in Philadelphia. They both began in the
part of I" Macbeth y on the same night.
CLEVELAND, ONO. = By a recent census taken
of the population of Cleveland it appears that the
city contains IA 23l inhabitants. Number Of color
ed persons 1874.
OF Col James Dell, of Florida, died on the 18th
ult., at his residence near Newnansville, Alachua
county. Col. Dell was intimately connected with
the history of Florida. He immigrated to that Stale
from South Carolina, with his father Philip DELL in
the year 1902. Duringthe revolution in Florida in
1872 and 1913. he was the leader of the patriot
army He subsequently, for many years, repre-