Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-10-06
nErRRNFn ARfTCLEs.
From the Bedford ScnfiasL
General Education.

No. 3.
Eellom C.ii=eas-If large number Of
your children. md successorsin all the de-
,,rrtmcnts Of life, were now widely sepa-
rated from the rest. and groveiing in allow,
muddy, barren plain. breathing an I'M
healthy atmosphere. envelopcd in mist and
fog, which SO rcfracted the rays of light
that they could see but few objects, and
those few distorted and deceptive in most
Of their phases-whcre they could hear
but few sounds, and those few incohercnt
and acknowledgement to the influence
Of jugglcrs and nccromancers, and thou
sand other humbugs, what anxiety would
YOU not fecll what solicitudc would you
not manifest If host Of pbiIosophic
travellers, nay, your own convictions.
should say to you, From the top Of yon-
der craggy prccipice, lie an infinite sue
cession Of rich, arid, and healthy table
lands. where the broad light Of Heaven
exhibits to the view an infinite variety Of
interesting objects in their true colours and
dimensions; where sounds are innumcrable,
harmonious and significant; where wis
dom, peace, order, and chcerfulness, char
scterise all the inhabitants; and though
these delightful regions rise gradually one
above another. enhancing. at every clcva-
ton. the superior blessings they bestow,
yet none Of the separating barriers are SO
difficult Of ascent as the first; but TO gain
these heights, you must employ skilfaland
laborious engineers, or your success will
be doubtful" how would your hearts
leap with joy at the prospect ofso glorious
a deIiverancc. How liule would you say
about triAle inthe cost of the enterprise.
How loudly would you call for the best
engineering service.
II an engineer should present himselfbe
fore you, and say. Gentlemen, at the ex-
pcnsc Of much labor and time, have ira
versed this dread barren; have infinitely
surveyed the innumerable neanderings Of
its gorgcs and defiles; carefully taken the
altitude Of its different crags, breaks, and
offsetts-its ravines and resting placcs.
None but !, and the best Of my craft, aid
ed by your constant cooperation, kindness
and forbearance, can gain for your chill
drcn, safe and secure footing upon the
first permanent level. ! hold in my hand,
the first passports to the counting house,
the clerks table. the sheriff's box, the bar,
t,bysician's office, the editorial chair, the
legislative halls. the seat Of justice, and the
executive mansion. Ifyour children reach
none ofthese stations. l shall be able at
least. to qualify them to judge correctly Of
those who do. 1 shall place them on an
observatory, from which they may survey
the whole universe. Ifthey choose the
peaceful occupation of the farm, or the
workshop, shall furnish them with the
means Of comparing. testing. culling, Sc
lccting and choosing for themselves. Pay
me, in the aggregate, what you would
chccrfally pay dry goods salesman, or a
deputy clerk, furnish me few simple u
inform instruments, and we will forthwith
commence the toilsomc. but interesting as
cent. Be quick and diligent, or your chill
drcn must remain rhere they are, forever.
The current oftme is constantly interpo.
sing now obstacles" Would you say to
this man. Cant you take little less!-
This work is casier than labor, and we can
hire good hand for half that money!
Would you ask. whose children were to 60
up at the same time? Would you bubble
about all sorts Of trihesi Would you par
alyze all the energies ofthis man-chll him
to the heart before he commenced his ardu-
GUS labors, and freeze him while at theml
Would you presently swap him off for &
three pence TO boot and place inhis steada
booby-one whose natural and acquired
capacities take dead set at few degrees
below zero-who had pretended to look
about the base ofthc mountain little, but
who had no conception ofits summit, or
what lies beyond! Would you ,acitly say
to this man. "Quit this new calling, get
you .omc calic6es and ribbons to sell, get
You pair Of saddlebags and put some pills
in them, read few law books, do almost
any thing else, and VIC will respect you
and pay you, but in this capacity we can
mott If we have any favor to bestow we
shall never think of yox!! You and your
profession are ooly by-words." f..-.r
But to cap all. would you then furn
round and say, 1--WE have always regarded
the emigration up that mountain as deci-
dedly the most important enterprise among
US. All children ought to be elevated to
the first level, at least; none stand any
chance in life below it. But the good for
nothing engineers! We can't get one
that's any account; if we do, he won't
stick" All. say you. Ave hope no one
would impute to us such gross folly and
Inconsistency. But we begin to suspect
that you are only talking about tri-
fling bit Of schoolmaster, whose paltry
and easy task it is, to hear our children say
over their lessons, when it happens to suit
our convenience to let him. We all know
what that is. Such comparisons are rath-
or insulting and audacious."
CROSS ROADS.