Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-02-26
Education in ShepherdstOwn.

We have in previous numbers oil our
paper called the attention of our readers
and the public, TO many OF the material
interests in the success Of which the pros
perily and improvement of our town and
are implicitly involved. To
do this, 10 keep public attention awake, TO
arouse thought, stir up enterprise, suggest
plans, point out opportunities, indicate de-
ficieacies and correct errors, we have
looked upon as among the first duties OF
this press. Obeying then our sense OF
duty we have come, none too soon' to the
very important subject Of Education a.
mongst US.
Liberal education in Shepherdstown
partakes largely of the nomadic character
which belongs to the earlier conditions OF
of human society. Ii movable, takes
up lis scenes of operations now in this
temporary place of refuge, now in that
but cannot yet boast of permanent IN
stitmion. Though the general intelIl-
gence of the town is quite up TO the aver
age of communities similarly circumstan'
ced as 10 size and population land many Of
its citizens have enjoyed the advantages
of liberal education, vet there would seem
to he an impression that there's something
about the place not favorable to educational
success, which Of course operates most
destruclivelv. If this were not so why is
so much money sent annually out OF The
town to pay for tuition, and assist the
growth and prosperity Of other and distant
Why not retain il here,
and by means of it build up institutions
that would afford every facility for con-
Quoting the bes: education at home! The
town Instead Of emPtying itself Of ITS IN
genuou. yoa,h might and ought to be
the centre Of instruction for the youth OF
the neighborhood. The practice of thus
posting children of TO other places is ru-
mons and suicidal, and we wonder that il
has rot often appeared in this light TO the
intelligent people Of the place. A good,
nav, thorough education can be Ss well
here as any where, and
there can be no doubt HAT il only requires
the favorable and kindly disposition of the
people, to put them in possession OF edu-
cationaI opportunities equal to the best in
the land.
An affair Of so mHch importance cannot
be effected however, without the combina-
lion Of hearty, and for some period, suS-
tanned effort. The various temptations to
failure must be resisted with a requisite
proportion Of moral energy. Some Of
these temptations, though sadly operative,
present themselves in the shape Of czrdi-
nal faults, others are due to mere human
weakness.
We shall not engage in the unpleasant
task of particularizing them, though 1t
would be quite possible.
The one great practical want now 10,
suitable apartments for male and female
academies. In this respect the town most
unfavorsbly compares with hundreds OF
hamlets in the land no: one fifth Of its pop
ula,ion. We think that as matter Of
specu,a,ioni II would have been well 10 have
had such buildings, which would besides
have afforded accommodations to OCCASION
al meetings. a..emblages. &C., now hard
ly 10 be said to exist.
A mischieyous Inconsistency il remark
able smengs, ~. Strangers, Ptripa'etcs'