The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1849-11-24
For The Cecil Wig.
The influence of Woman, Common
Schools and ublic Libraries.

remark that almost every important
change ever effected in the government
of the Roman Empire, was brought about
(either directly or indirectIy,) by the
agency Of woman. And in these latter
days, her "magic spell" seems to have
lost nought of its potency, for no sooner
does your "lair correspondent" liz M
voice--small though i! be-ayainst those
evils, the direful consequences of which
her sex bears so large share, than host
of reformcrs, who for years have been
secluded away from the vulgar gaze Of
men-7weeping perhaps at those dark por
tentious clouds which were gathering
over their birth place, and threatening
to involve it in midnight gloom-burst
forth upon the world like modern Grac-
chi, and join in the shout for Reform
The tocsin sounded in the Centre,
echoes and reverberates throughout the
length and breadth Of our county, from
where Old Arrarat lifts his rugged brow
as ifin proud defiance to the stormy ele
ments, or baths his craggy summit in the
suns first ray, to where the blue Bohe-
mia laves its fertile banks. Advertise
ments are inserted in our papers enquI-
ring the whereabouts ola certain school
committee; Immediately the worthy Sec
rotary thereof gives the world report Of
their sage deliberations land from centre
to circumference. nought is heard save
the "din Of battle and the clash Of arms"
as the various leaders marshal their for
ces for the deadly conflict against the
mlnons Of vice and crime. So much for
the influence OF women.
Having disposed somewhat summarily
Of this part ofmy subject {:
"Now to the other let me turn''
1t is not my intention in thi. article to
det,act aught from the glory oi"Common
Schools" or Public Libraries" but merely
to show that they are no, cures for all
the "ills which flesh is heir to-" as Juno
in the simplicity of his soul seems to inn
agine. In proof Of this, let us look to
those States where this cherished system
OF common schools has been established,
and see how much the moral or INTELLECT
tual character ofthe inhabitants have
been elevated.
In the State Of Pennsylvania, where
it has been in successful operation for
number Of years, you may find here and
there lean, half starved pedago5ue APP
proximating somewhat to the redoubtable
'Ichabod Crane' of "Sleepy Hollow"
notor,ety, employed at what they call
teaching school, during six months in
the year for the sum of one hundred and
fifty dollars. Ofthe practical effects OF
the system, the adult population form a
striking example, for il there are not
more in proportion to the population
than in Maryland who cannot read or
write, there are at least two to one
whose knowledge of these branches is so
imperfect as TO b. of no kind OF use to
them. But, says an objector, in the
Eastern States, Massachusetts and Con.
necticut for example, it is quite different.
This admit, but We must remember that
the system IN these States is not to be
compared to that Of Pennsylvania, MIR.
Wharton's assertion TO the contrary not
withstanding, but is marked by llberali
ty that put, to shame the parsimony man
ifested in the latter, and it is libel up
on this system TO call it common.
"Our present ,ystem, 'isays Juno "if it
can be called a system is wretched
ONE" and yet, strange to say, the people
Of "Marylandlin general and Cecil coun-
ty in PARTICULAR" taken as mass, are
better educat ID, more refined and better
able to give their opinions upon any sub
ject, moral, philosophical, or political,
than those Of any other State or county
short Of New England.
l must confess from the flaming head
ing Of "Juno's article, I was lead to sup
pose he intend giving us something on a
grand scale, but the cloven foot soon be-
comes apparent He would tear down
GU, Academies and rear upon their ruins
"two or three common schools'!! Now
l happen to know that both the Acade.
mics in this county only receive eight
hundred dollars from the State, and il
Juno can establish two or three com.
men schools upon permanent basis
with eight hundred dollars. lam incli-
ned TO think they would be common viii
vengeance.
From the tenor of srJuno's remarks
I must infer that he has not long been a
citizen of our county, or he would have
known that these Academies inslea / O
being nuisances-as he seems 10 imply
are'the very bul'oarks Of our educationa
system, and the SUN which they receive