Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-10-24
g ON MUNIC ALTON
ron THE SPECTATOR.
NO. 3.

Ma. EprroRs :-IfI only had the education OF some
first lawyers or ministers, I'D like TO tell folks
something in regular sly e about the advantages of the
Latin, and the Mathematics, and them things Youc can
all see, by tho lame hand make writing, that don't
know nothing about them but guess Ivc got sense
nouxh the antages of 'em other folks It's
tho mind thatmakes the man, tell my boys and its
education helps to make the mind If mans got good
Information and can talk with smar, people as we'll as
they, it don't make difference whether he's rich or
not, he goes INTO society He's respectable
He has a staudin in the neighborhood. People
respects him. Now neighbor, just listen to me min
ute. You is working and saving for your boy, and one
chief thing you aim at is, to fix him with handsome
You want to leave him ga gentleman" when you dies
Now how much money will il take TO do that Why
wards, nowadays he aint thought any big thing. But
you Just take onctcnh Of this, say 81 900, and spend
It in giving your boy rstrae education, and not leave
him cent besides, aud you see il he amt more
speccd and don't get into better company than he had
his S. 10000 and no education.
Now you want your boys to stand high, and rise in
life. You would like to them so to the legislature
to congress- and may be sometimes, who can
tell but one Of 'em may be President day (You
see know what of thoughts into foolish
hcarts Just suppose somebody should pass law that
none of them shouldn't ne er rise lfe and shouldn't
be congressman, minister, any thing else, but
what you before them; why you'd think twas
monstrous hard. But this is jest the law You passes
Fem YOURSELF when you keep cm out Of good schooling
You know, If amt got education he don't stand
chance for these Offices nowadays. There's enough
people that knows the value of education and they will
always take the of them that's got If
wants risc he must have information and when you
it shan't get office of honor whoever else
may
ted is the best sort" You'll remind of Frank
lin aud Henry and all them that by the force Of
good mother wand learned themselves without school,
ing You'll tell me- il your boys going to rise, he'll
aud lack Of schoon cant keep him down. But you
know better than this YOURSELF He may have good mo-
ther wit, and yet bad schoolin may keep him back
No doubt, for that's through, in spite of bad
schoon, like Franklin, there's that's been kept
back and if they're capable rising why giving them
n lea ikelie IN
rise There's piece of poetry, they cali Greys Ele
Ky in country Churc-y ard that they made of my
grls learn at school, that says somehow like this:
Perhaps in this neglected spot is laid
Some heart once pregnant with celestial fire
Hands that the rod Of empire might have swayed,
Or walked TO ecstacy the living Tyre.
But knowledge, to their eyes. her ample page.
Rich with the spos OF time, did nc'er unroH
Chill perjury repressed their noble rage,
And froze the genial current Of the soul.
All, thcms my sentiments exactly; and wish could
wish you'd get the book straen out the spelling
and forth, all right for accrd Pine rough hand
TO quote Poetry) Some of them that has bad chance
when they're young is brought out by the force cir
cumstances; but many that's just smart by
kept down and nothing heard Of 'cm. Jest let
ask you neighbour Do you so about raising your
corn. as you'd about raising your boys? Do you say,
Why them stalks that's got real good, strong root
will come any how, whether work them not; and
if they're going to come lack of hocng and poughing
wont keep 'cm back !" Oh no. you've got more sense
where your corn crib is concerned You know the bet
ter work your the fine stalks you'll have
You don't foolish about nothing your child
rem that's more precious than thousand corn cribs
The fact is. the better education you give your boys
the more chance there is that they be fit for congress
men, even for presidents.
I'D like nightly to say good deal about our chris
tan duty in this thing of education and wish all of
you could have heard sermon heard once, when the
preacher told us THE MIND much a talent The
was speaking about the Parable of the ten taents) as
envy thing else, and much bound TO put it 10
the exchangers and have il Increased. We is all bound
to gioriiy God, all we can and nobody is going be
such fool as to say that's educated don't
better chance to glorify God with his mind But am
afeerd folks don't much about their duty nowadays
its all for self and pushing along in the world and rsin
IN lite; and reckon if to write much abont
our obligations to educate children the highest
sglory of God people would jest skip without
reading; so I'll stop till next week with many thanks
Mr.. Editors, to you, for printing my poor stuff
COUNTRYMAN.