Spirit of the age., 1853-06-29
Colleges.


One of the proudest and most encouraging
facts, to every citizen of North Carolina, is
or ought to be, the attention and encourage
ment which is now given to education, both
as to the grade of scholarship as well as to
the facilities afforded to the masses. Collie
ges. High Schools and Academies are spring
ing up like magic in every direction, both
for boys and girls-oh we beg pardon OF
the young ones; as we understand one OF
our clergymen remarked the other Sabbath,
that it was understood there were no boys
and girls now-a-days,-they were young la
dies and gentlemen! We say, that thisis an en-
couraging fact, of which all should be proud.
But few yeafs past, how different state
of things existed If parents desired their
children to obtain any thing beyond an "old
i field SCHOOL, preparation for the business of
life, they must be sent out of the State. For
few at that day, seemed to recollect that we
had University of our own, of which we
then ought to have been proud. Heaven bo
thanked that a change has come over the
, spirit of the dreams of our people. Now. i'll
whatever quarter we look, the temples of in
struction and of fame stand, and their occu-
pants invite our children to their pure fonts
: of learning.
But it strikes rs, there is point-a blurred
S plot in this pleasant field, to which our peo-
: pie would do well =. look. 1t is sugges-
ton, to which we would call the special mo-
f tice of those who may be regarded as the
q conservators of the educational interests Of
is North Carolina, and such we consider every
If man, who does not spare money or labor in
n promoting them. We allude to the rage for
# the multiplication of Colleges in the State
e It seems to us, if there be no check given to
! the adventurous and misguided zeal which
= prevails upon this subject, that positive evil
must ensue. The signs of the times indicate
:. that every association or respectable village
- in the State must have its CoHegel What
must be the consequence Will it not assu-
= redly, seriously injure those in operation.
% Already, with the exception of our Universe
. ty, they have bat sickly and precarious ex-
istence Wake Forest, which has been strug-
Cling nobly for years in endeavoring to ele-
,o Ndle anu pIOluOlO thc SduS6 lue
lists of the State, to whom it more especially
looks for encouragement, has received bat a
meagre support from that large and respec-
7" table denomination VIC mean, of course,
- mcagre in proportion to their wants and abiI-
- ity. Randolph Macon and Henry and Emo
ry too, just over the line in Virginia, in which
= the Methodists of this State arc supposed to
80 take special interest, we fear, have done
but little better; and there is Davidson Col
- lege, which presents her claims upon the
- Presbytcrians, we understand has strxggled
. on under great disadvantages fro1a the same
:, cause. And yet, we have that promising
- young institution, Normal College in Ran
r. r. dolph Co. and the Masonic College at Oxford
- and still the people of Wadesboro' are stir
J. ring the question Of a College in that grow,
:. ing place We ask, when is this to cease
- Can North Carolina sEstain so many Colleges
~ We seriously doubt it. Now, understand
US. When we speak g GeuAges we intent
=, to call thinSs~Dy their right nalh9r aH'
-, me1IHhaf we say. If we establish College
.or+ we must have able College faeulties-suit
.;sL bic College buildings-Collegc apparatus
nan College studies, ard Of course College pric,
be, Now can so many Of these be handsome
fold sustained? Let the people look to it.