San Andreas independent., 1856-11-01
Written for the San Andreas Independent
Children and Education.

so and '56. Here is the eonly child that
was in this town, then-yonder is school
house full of children noac A child was
strange anomaly five years since, among so
much of stern roughness as dwelt in the
mines. We paused to look at one, and
wished that it would love US, rough and
strange as we were. Kindness and affec-
ton, that we neither gave nor received
from strange men, we freely gave and
sought from children. Deceit and selfish
ness, among the miners associates, made
them reserved and distrustful of each other.
But a brotherly, and home confidence,
was awakened at sight of the artless child
Was it little boy who came to our cabin,
or claim, as we toiled at the ''tom," or the
"rocker, did we not speak kindly to
him, and give him the "pan of best dirt"
inducing him, if possible, to come again
Or was it little girl, to whom we gave
the gold for pin, and the money to pur-
chase fruits. The kindness was repaid by
the almost forgotten words, II like you,
he is good man. Thus was recalled to
our minds our once happy childhood, the
pleasant homes we had forsaken, and all
those whose affection we had shared, when
such remarks indicated that we were bet
ter than now. Have not children in Cal
ifornia been the cause of reviving in us,
that spark of the gentleman, and those sa-
cred memories of the past, which we were
fast forgetting. How we saw the vices,
vulgarity, and i'll manners, among which
they were to grow up. We wondered
what kind of men aud women they would
become, with such patterns before them
Would they copy the evil around them,
and excel even their masters, until those
who are to fill our places in the future,
would be a blot and stain to enlightenment?
Did not the manliness of our hearts resolve
(unconsciously, perhaps to protect them
from evil, They had no associates or COM
panions, from whom to form manners, or
ideas, but ourselves. The connecting links
of youth-young men and ladies-were
wanting in the chain of being, to connect
children to rough mountaineers. For lit
tie as it is needed, all of us select a model
of excellence from the grade just above us,
to which we strive to attain, either in vir-
tue or vice. But what ayawning vacancy
appeared between little children in their
innocence, and the hardy and hardened
adventures Of the gold mines. Would they
become types, Of the vice and ignorance in
the land; aping while young the ways of
the old, or would some good spirit guide
fhan, fn hn hoftor aay.+c cfl, l,fo2 t., 1,.,l
ness we spake to them, and without harsh
ness, checked willfulness, forthere was the
intervening bonds, and restraints of ma
ture between us, orer uhich no child uW
step untaIted
Our scholars are as quiet, gentle and
mannerly, as in older settlements Their
pleasant faces soften down the boisterous
propensity of California town. We can
look forward with feeling of pride, that
California, with all its ''haste to be rich"
has the American feeling to educate the
child. And if there is one place, where
the young should be better provided for
than another, that place in the Pacific
State.
The love and respect they give us, and
keeping alive in our hearts the teachings
of parents, is ample reward for what little
it will cost, to make them happy and intel
ligent. They should not be left without
the means of education, that will tend to
soften and accomplish Enough of rough
ness, will be acquired in the public ways,
without sending them to private apart
ments, whore there is nothing of taste, re-
inement, or pleasure, for them to enjoy or
acquire. Education combines health and
strength, virtue and manners, with the
ability to read write, &c.
A sound mind dwels in a vigorous and
active body, and however good, or great,
or wise one may be, without health and
strength, they are of no use. That the
child may become useful citizen, the
first great object should be physical train
ing. Children at school. should have a
clean yard in which to play, and romp;
with swings, and balls, ropes to jump, and
hoops to drive There should be shade to
cool, and water to cleanse seats to rest
the weary, and room for pent-up life to
run. The school house should not be ''a
cross between a wood pile, and post
fence but should be better building,
and furnished with more taste and refine
ment, than any dwelling of the parents
Have you elegance, order, beauty, and hap
piness at home, and send your children
away to acquire this, at place where there
is less. Much of morality and good or
der is acquired in early life, by the pic
lures of neatness, and enlightenment, upon
which We daily gaze. The red haired
boy, or treckled girl, may be a trough
block of MARBLE but the ''beautiful stat
ure, perfect in all its parts, both mental
ly, morally, and physically, may be produ-
ced with the refined requirements and
skillful hand of the teacher,-and as fine
tools are to the artist, so is beauty, ele-
oance and taste in all tho y,;o4,,roe re q