The republic., 1851-06-07
Local Matters.

Tns Schools or THE Cry, PuBLIc AND PAT
vArE.-Nearly half century has passed since the
first election of the City Councils was held. Almost
Immediately after they organized, they appropri-
ated 8 500 towards educational purposes, being
"impressed with sense of the inseparabe connex-
ion between the education Of youth and the preva-
lencc Of pnrs morals. with the duty of all commu-
mites to pace within the reach of the poor well
~ the rich the inestnable blessings OF knowledge,
and with the high necessity Of establishing at the
seat Of Government proper seminares Of learning"
In 1908 the first school established. and in 1916
an additional one From 1920 10 1915, these two
schools were, we learn, conducted, in part, the
Iancastcrian system, and the number of pupils
a"craged from two hundred and fifty TO three hun
drcd aud fifty annually. None were admitted but
such were unable to pay for their tuition in pri
vate schools. Thus distinction was drawn be-
tween az the poor and the rich,' which line our
citizens at the present day would not tolerate In
1896 tho sum Of $4,000 was appropriated, and
soIemnly pledged and set apart forever" for the
purpose of cndowing public schools This fund
was invested in ak per cent. stocks, and has in
creased 10 over $50.O00.
During the year lS4l il was ascertaned that out of
population Of children between the ages Of six
aud sixteen, not more than 200 were in the public
and private schools of this city, and much smaller
number was returned by the census. Thus 4 900
were growing up in ignorance-a fact that could
not fail to excite interest in their behalf The
attention Of the City Councils was earnestly in
voked to this subject and the people met in their
primary assemblies for the discussion of "thc FREQ
school Question" Subsequently, in January, ls45,
y combined free and pay system went into opera
ton. 1t worked tocrably well at first, but be-
gan to decay, because the bringing Of social dis
tnctions into the school room injudicious. We
learn, from a report OF school trustees, that 'the
pupils soon ascertained which OF their number
were pay and which were free scholars, and it led
10 heart burnisgs and ill-natured remarks among
themselves and their respective parents. Injustice
was often committed, throughthe natural pride of
the extremely INDECENT, in prcferring to pay the
tuition foe (this tuition fee fifty cents month)
rather than suffer the feelings of their children to
be constantly wounded, while some In better cir
cumstances avoided the payment if possible This
state Of things continued but short time after the
renewal Of the charter by Congress, in lS4S, in
which was taken to obtain the power OF inn
posing school tax, and also capitation tax Of
dollar annually each voter to be appropriated
to the use of the public schools.
The schools now conducted essentially on the
principles those in the larger towns OF Mas
sachusstts They open freely to all iohite children
in the order Of application the age of six years
The school accommodations, it is to be regretted,
are, on an average, inferior; but let US indulge
hope that reform in this particular will be effected
at no distant day, and that applicants may not be
turned away because there is no room for them.
There are now four district schools, and upwards
OF four primaries, and thirty or more teachers, Of
both The report Of last year shows that the
whole number Of scholars admitted during the
twelve months was 2,6ll, though the average at
tendance was considerably below that mark.
Next month there is to be general examination
Of all the schools. but no public parade like that
which took place last summer.
The present school system, as yet in its infancy,
works we'll, and is deservedly popular with our
citizens. Many improvements, however, should
be made. and doubtless will be, the funds
will authorize enlarged expenditures
We have noticed with qualification that, with the
increase Of public schools. there has been an in
Of private schools, and that the teachers of
the latter among the best friends Of the "equal
ity system" Of INSTRUCTION. Parents, too, more
dssrous than heretofore that their children sha be
libcray educated; and ALL like the first "City Fa
thers," are now Impressed with sense of the
inseparable connexion between the education of
youth and the prevalence pure moras.''
Success to the public schools.
MouSr vEaNoN.--A large company of ladies
and gentlemen went down tho Potomac yesterday
morning in the steamboat Thomas Collyer. A
more pleasant trip has rarely been enjoyed. The
scenery on both banks Of the river and the short
stay at Fort Washington, were the minor attrac
tions. Mount Vernon the chief for there
lived the Father of his Country. and there rest his
remains. The associations OF the place cannot but
cndsar II to every patriotic heart
The "Collyer" runs to Mount Vernon three days
in every alternate week. The fare is one dollar
for an adult, u price which is willingly paid for
trip which imparts 80 much qualification.
CIacuIr Couar.--wc have already stated that
in tho case Of Roman Estko and others, petition
crs. vs Lewis Johnson, administrator de bonis non
of Thadeus Koscusko and Kosciusko Armstrong
the jury returned verdict that certain paper of
1906, giving legacy OF three or four thousand
dollars to kosciusko Armstrong, was not the last
will and testament Of General Kosciusko. Yes
terday morning the chancery case was taken up.
The object of IL, we believe, is 10 obtain decree
for the parties represented by Messrs Johnson and
Tochman TO recover the sum Of 81, ,504 40 with
interest from the frat Of January. lS47, belonging
90 the Kosciusko estate. The defendants arc rep
resented by Mcssrs. Rcdin, Marbury, Richard S.
Coke, and Morft.
The wire Of the pendulum was about forty five
feet in length, and was suspended from the deme
OF the building. The experiment has, we learn.
been tried by scientific gentlemen connected with
the Smithsonian Institution,
"THx RorA rios or THE EARTH" ExrERIMESr
was tried publicly, yesterday. in the National
Gallery, by Mr.. Lane, one Of the examiners of the
Patent Oficc.
OyMr. q. w. JAMES, No. I Harrison street,
Cincinnati, Ohio. ia our General Travelling Ageni
for TIA Wsstsrn States, assisfsd by j. H. Smith, j..
7. Dsnf. Jason Taylor. J. W. Armsirong, Perrin
Locke, w. Ramsey. DR.. Jos4ua Itads,corth, disr-
awdsr X. Laws. and Il. y. Smiley.
0y- Mr.. HENRYM LEWIS. Of Montgomery.
diaba~ss, - our General Travelling Agsnf for the
States qf Aists~s aud 7sn~sssss.