The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-04-30
LOCAL. MATTERs,

CAPrrAL IsvEsTMEsr-In the North
crn cities where gold is supposed by some to be
the only God, we freqnently read Of wealthy rneu
donating their Thousands Of dollars 30 literary
and charitable institutions, and % the estabish.
ment Of schools and cole gee for the education Of
the masses. In tile ssufh where the wealthy are
believed to be mofs libcral we rarely ever hear AZ
extensive individual aid being offered to usefui
rprises ior pnplc purposes. Tha middle clas-
ses-n OF moderate meaHs-do what they ca
10 ava every good cause; but the rich stand aloof
ana seem neither TO know nor to care what their
nelghbors are striving TO accomplish. How is this
ainerence in the public spirit of Northern and
southern capitalist to be accounted for. The ex-
pianation may be summed up thus: In the North.
an children, rich and poor, are educated in pmblie
schools the mechanics son by the side OF the mil.
ionatres son-and all classes hsv-:learned that IL
isJust as important to educate a child Ia make a
successful blacksmith of him, rs 20 make = suc
eessful lawyer. Men who have made fortunes feel
That they owe their property to the education they
received in public schools, and they therefore
take pleasure in giving literally to the support of
every institution that promises to benefit those
who are to succeed them. In the South our men
OF wealth were not educated with the masses
know but little Of the wants and do not see how
the mechanic is to become an efficient work.
man. save by the constant application of his
physical strength to his calling. They take
It for granted that all inventions aud i'm
provements Ia mechanics must come from sci.
entiic gentlemen, and relying upon the work
K
ed ont for him. expect no more If they could be
made to see the benefits to be derived by their
State and society at large, from educating tue
working classes, they would then contribute lib
orally OF their abundance q ~ t+ssA
suppose that such association as the Virginia
Mechanics Institute were started in Boston or New
fork-its great object being TO educate the chill
dren OF the working classes-and only 5000 were
needed to bnild ball. the membership fees of the
Institute being amply sufficient to support the
schools after the Hall is paid for, how long would
IL take to raise the sum needed by private sub
scriptionf We verify believe, aot more than
twenty-four hours; because men of meaus would
see the general good to be effected, matter
of policy. give accordingly And yet in Virginia
70 the Metropolis of the Old Dominion-but $1,000
for this purpose has been raised in year, aud
more than two-thirds of that amount, from men
OF moderate means. Can it be possible that among
all our wealthy and Influential citizens, not one
can be found with liberslity enough to give few
thousand dollars to complete this building, and
thus assist in establishing an institution which
will do more to enlighten and refine the working
classes In i've years, than ell the free schools in
the Commonwealth will do in fifty yearsf Have
we no Abbot Lawrence, no Girard, no more Joseph
r. Anderson's in our midst, to give Of their abnn
dance to cause which appeals directly to the pri
siness man in the State? If we have, let them send
in their notes or checks to the Secretary OF Treas
nrer OF the Institute at once and thus ensure the
success of enterprise which will add to the glory
and honor of the giver and State. -
For two winters past the Night Schools of the
Mechanics Institute have been in operation, and
great good has already been effected. Not only
has the foundation of a good education been laid
for scores of apprentices, but the art of drawing
and designing has been taught to many young
uen, who promise to become proficient craftsmen
and architects When the Hall is completed and
paid for, the Institute can employ the best teach
ers for day schools, and as all pupils will stand
upon the same footing, hundreds of children may
thus be educated, who would otherwise grow in
ignorance. We sincerely wish that our business
men could become sufficiently interested in the
Institute to examine into its operations, and see
the good it is effecting, in quiet way, for We
know they,would then give it their cordial, hearty
snn