Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-10-03
ron THE sPEcrAroR.
NO. l..

Ma. EDi1oEs-I reckon you will think it qrecr thar
PLAIN man like me, and at my time of fc should be-
gin to write Tor the newspaper. Well in fact il seems
as queer 10 me as 1t does to but the truth have
been thinking of late ill Iiye goi "a nm
easy that feel like must have some talk with nv
fellow citizens about it, right wrong And the tb,ny
is this-thc shocking way in which we ere falling bco
hind in the liberal educatioh of our bows ri conI,
make all your subscribers feel the want and Tho s
book learning a, bad as do row why need n.t -
any more. ForI know have the ideas in my head
that would convince every body that had any sense
Tor the lack of better schooling. How do wish how
that my old Father God bless hn,) had given mo such
tome. III had, wouldn't feel as bad as do nov
with my very heart swelling like bellows with thinxs
hW ieci INC Importance OIL and want to say and
When seen our folks so busy about this Tunnle a.
they call IT, thought TO myself " they will only send
us through as soon as they get OPEN big car load Of
first rate teachers why it rsght be worth While RID
the Tact is, Mr. Editors hs wouldn't do no coed tho
way things is now. They would have to scnd us car
load OF common sense about the value of liberal school,
ing, irst. To DIVIDE out among the people. What our
people wants is TO know the value Of education Ifthev
valued it, so as TO be willing and anxious TO pay down
the cash for it, like they do for good land thew yvoud
soon get 1t, and good article of il too. We haypt
even got much idea of education as our forcfnbc,.
had that settled this country You know and know tb.,
1t amt common Tor our farmers TO school their children
any better than the old settlers did ma be not barI
as well But just look how much better our opportuni
Ties u.s. In them days If two farmers together made Mn
spare load of -four for market, they were right web
satisfied Now, many of farmers make 90 much that
by hauling all winter they get it out and must
have railroad 10 take it, Then good Ivers had coo
OF sabbath mornings, and thought they was Little ex
a'agant at that Now just look at the coffee and ten.
ana goccrcs and all sorts of store goods we max ms. 81
And now amt shame that we haven't got ahead ~
ous grandiathcrs III educating children, when wo
nave twenty dollars where they had one, All if thov
only had had our means, with their ideas of the yaluo
OF good schooling, they would have done about right
Amt IT sin and shame, MIR. Editors that These ola
settlers living in their log houses feeding their fami
lies on milk and mush for supper with lust taste or
fomee sundays and not shirt jacket for their
puys mat wasn't spun and wovc at home should acu-
Any rcat us IN schooling thcm with our brick houses
ana all onr fine doins9 Ask the old men, and they'll
.e You mat when they have little grandson or some
thnS OF that sort 10 school, its harder TO pet good
teacher supported than when they was raising their
And after our forcfathcrs scuilcd so hard 70 bav
hstr aie SCHOOLS Just look how il with us now How,
many classical schools is there IN the county? Ono a,
IhnrchVIiie and little GOOD luck TO IT, hone IL
VIII soon be bigger gust starting in Wayncsboro'anI
that's an Now ain that shame for such county a,
n, - S'pp you say the Staunton Acad
si9y wen, show me the farmers that goes 10
it:-ior IT'S them pm talking about. And know
e'e VT lowers school, near town, and they tell
me MS irsrae but the mischief is its filed up entire
ly with boys from old Virginia, where people has The
sense TO value such schools and be willing to paw for
,nem seen an old friend the other day no ne toll
ling me the College at Lexington wasn't dona os well
as we could wish aud Col Smiths Institute " as nIi.
and he afraid the College was getting undcr .o,
oi cloud Now, says j, neighbor, its no such thing
Just tell me where Col Smiths bows come from VII,
m! N, most OF thems from Old Virginia, says he There
poFt is all fell. The Military Institute is fall and IL
Universitys full aud Hampden Sidncy's full and air.
~ III mem peoples got some sense, and knows
,he value OF education The reason Washington Col
iese art ii too, is because Valley people thai
Gns. 10 support IT. t belongs to thej is fast asleep
=. "' inc au OF the Faculty people knows they are
good cducaton-that's il. f
Now, say again, amt it shameful TO he at tho tail
eend OF The whole State, in this way Why we bray
ABOUT our comfy, how many Independent farmers how
, Inc Land what good farming, ard all that. We
augh nj Old Virginia for the broom straw and guJIies
and 1t may be all true; lift is mores the shame nr
u.s. we onSht to be as much ahead of them in our
schooIS, &c, as we is III crops and lands Are we 20
ing 10 spend the good things Providence gives us over
ana above others in growing fat and s,uDid like droy.
oil hog! IL we do, besides the sin and shame and The
rs ana an that, Wen soon see the people from O.
ther parts OF the country, that value education 90 ahead
oil US. But III stop. More week.
A UNTRYMAN