Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-10-11


the Public Schools Of neutrality-suspicious.,
indeed, wherever there are youth to be educated
We bespeak fof II the attention Of all the Stars
readers:
-" EDUCATE TOUR CHILDREN, AND The COUNTRY
~ SAFE .h-Fhese were the last words that I ever
heard from the lips Of the immortal Webster
On the 18th Of April, 1852, I received a note from
MT w, inviting me to breakfast with him the
following morning, precisely at O'Clock Ac-
cordingiy, on the 18th April, at * a m, / was
his hou>e-aimost adjoining the Unitarian
churcb-whcre met four other gentlemen. init
mate friends of Mr. Webster--two of whom alas,
via our eost, have gone ito that bourne from
whence no traveller returns Precisely at the
stroke OF the " God like Daniel' entered and,
'aiter cordial srluiation and grasp Of the hand
said BE seated, gentlemen circular table
with beef steak, Connecticut river broiIsd shad,
hot potatoes, and fresh butter from the Marshheld
form, yellow "a gold, and with the fragrance of
new-mown grass in June, was the attraction of
We all did ample justice to this savory repast;
after which, Mr. w. gave an account of the
great trial In the Patent case OF Goodyear rs Day
which had just closed, in which he described
the character Of Day the most remarkable in
assurance and perseverance, of any man he had
ever met with Then commenced brief de,
scIption, by Mr.. Webster, Of the character and
influence OF most Of colleges and then the
condition Of our public schools Our free schools
(sald Mr. w are the only bulwark Of safety for
our republican form Of government
Notwithstanding this was but two months he
lore the good men and the best men Of our coun-
try were confidently expecting the nomination Of
MI webster TO the Presidency by the Whig
party, in sitting Of one hour and half not one
word was said OF politics, by Mr. Webster or his
guests, who were all his political and personal
friends; and when he to bid US sgood morn
ing" thes came, In the deep. ex pressiye feeling
ana sue almost laundering tones of his voice
scste your children, and the country is safe -
IA Saly, ls56, at a union celebration Of the pub
Vie schools Of Bridgeport and New Haven a,
bsrnuIn's Grove, East Bridgeport in which 500
9,.l school scholars were all placed at table,
win ample Ioom' PsItaking Of the pic mic festi
been four years principal OF the w ebster School
al New Haven,) from Webster's own Granite
state, had a beautiful blue banner, in letters Of
gold, giving these words Of that giant mind:
EdEeats yosT children and the county is SAFE -
This banner, with its band of music headed
the procession Of 100 intermediate and ssgram-
mar" scholars from all the public sc hools in New
Haven, accompanied by some 100 parents of the
oh ldren and friends of the public schools and
the line Of march was formed from the steamboat
from New Haven, till that column pas sed throup h
the open column Of !, 400 children from the
Bridgeport schools, formed and i'm waiting 10
receive them The scholars had a day of glse in
the beautiful grove where, after 500 children
had feasted, and 500 grown persons afterward,
paTtook from the same bounteous tables and
after which ''seven baskets fullr were gathered
up Tor The poor i've pune heons of rich ice lemon
ade were dispensed, from which S, 600 persons
received unlimited drafts, aud no one was left TO
say they wanted more.
so much for Webster and the public school
ieslvai-the foremost feature Of which was his
"HdyiEg cords This narrative has been in
auced oy visitation, the past week, of the pub
this Metropolis OF our country, from its location
having no trade, commerce or manufactures-the
support OF Its 10000 inhabitants coming almost
entirely from the public treasury-it is very oh
vious to my mind that the FEDERAL Government
as bound By srsry pTiaeipIs of Justice and homo,
20 promote free FHbite SeAooIS for the education
Of fhs rtStsg generation.
In other cities where commerce, trade and man.
utsctures create millionaires. there tie support
Of these schools is hardly felt But here, where
so large portion Of the property within the cor
Porate limits Of the city belongs TO Government
ana Is exempt from tax alton. the support of ado,
quate schools TO the property holders, who are
PfinclPally salaried men, is, indeed onerous
But should Congress utterly refuse to award this
Justice, Is this any reason why the CITY of Wash
ington should not provide for the education Of
her children as we'll other cities! Most Ger
tainly not. And, now, if no higher principle
than the mere matter Of dollars and cents were
lnyolyed-if the good citizens of the Metropolis
VIII thoroughly Investigate this matter and ke
the experience Of other cities. they will be salts
ned that II the CoTpOI alton order the erection of
say nVe INST class school houses after the model
OF the recently constructed ones in New York To
accommodate 900 or 1000 scholars al an eY
Pense of $50 COO each, say $3.50 O0O in six months
from the day Of their completion the property Of
the CITY Will be worth a million of dollars more
They will thus, for every dollar they have ex.
pended, be able to sell their property for fonr
dollars S ,n more thus being gamer Of three dol
In the city Of Norwich Connecticut nos,
beautiful city Of our country, with . population
OF ioUO-if my memory serves me, they spend
SoO,Oo per annuIn on their public schools while
here, for the last i've years the w hole xnenss r..
averaged but 900 O0O-some years IL being ais To
ana others So coo, making an average OF only
SD,OO- Thus the citizens Of that besntif,I cj;y,
paw Si6 where the citizens of Wasbington ~,
but 81, as Washington has four times the popsla,
tlon ana pays but one fourth Of the amount In
future letter, will give you some account of
the condition Of the public schools of m. Netron
Obs nom the Rotes Of a voluntary visitor of the
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
N. ~ Since writing the above, i am pleased 10
IedIn tnat the national Government has protfsred
to the city government, by an act of CONGRESS
already passed In one branch, the right hand Of
fellowship, and offers to appropriate the same
sum which the city government will do and "a
Ia HHI0R is strength, accept the q sntsnf. ,oy.
diats, and feel that this pfoffered !.
the true position In which tine great work of re-
i0i" 'Houio commence and will prosper. p 5.
"AsHISsroS THEArRK.-On Saturday MIG ht
the theatre was well allied, by an assem- biage tbat
witnessed with much interest the "Frsncb snv,,
and "A Husband at Sight,
The manager has retained Miss Mitchell four |
nights ionGer-her stay among as tcrmIpa.ing
Posmveiy on Thursday night. The int ryeninS
evenings before her departure will doubtless rs
FULLY improved by the admirers of this nreItv ,nS
piqu1nt little artistic, 10 witness and enjoy her
admirable and sparkling impersonations.
10 those who enjoy good music we yUonId r.
speetfuliy suggest that the orchestra AZ the h..,,
conducted by the efficient and popular Witbers
one OF me best, considering the limited numbe2
Of the performers, which we have Iistened 70 -, |
years The music one listens to from this orche.
ua during an evening is well worth the price Of |
ticket 10 the play.
Tonight, one Of the best and most effective NJ |
modern Tamas, "Green Bushes, or the Huntres.
OF the Mississippi" will be produced and but |
iof me one night IL was favorite play of the |
great Celeste, Tor whom ID was written: and yys
are assured our fair young countrywoman h. bnt
niue behind the gifted original Of the leading
70, $50, 10 het Pe5sonatios The pretty Protesn
Mrs. c. w. Taylsure and Messrs Dawson and |
Hanley appear In the drama
THE ISLAND FAIR Our Island friends are
always enjoying themselves Indeed. we will
venture the assertion that on the continent there
eni''s no people who are more honest, prosper
Gus, eontented and thirty, and who withaI s,;ov
IIie more tnan those same Island folks Fairs |
festivals, excursions, pic Mics and halls fhs, |
always LOOK al life on the sunny side and live tbs
happier for IL. The last announcem.n, 80
place Of pleasant resort, aud indeed a.. 49, -. |