Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1860-02-23
DARsEselLLx, o., Feb. II, 1860.


EDITOR CHRONICLE. As there has been
considerable dissatisfaction ut the Barnes
vile Classical Institute, during the present
session, IL Is no more than Justice to tho
friends Of the Institute, aud to the Senior
Proiessor--Mr. AIder,--to mike known to
tile public some OF the causes VIII. oh nave
led to This dissatisfaction. The Junior Pro.
tessor--Mr. Martin-came to the Institute
last autumn and taught a short term Of six
weeks, rendering general satisfaction, which
induced the Senior Professor to believe him
a suitable person to assist in the various
duties of the Institute, aud, according ly, he
secured his services as an assistant seucher
for the present session.
The present session commenced under
favorable auspices. A goodly number of
students were present at the opening Of the,
term. and the number gradually increased
during the first month. AT that time The
Junior Professor Introduced the Bible as a
study, aud commanded the students to learn
lessons from the First Book of Samuel and
recite them three times during each week.
This ommand he made obligatory on the
part Of the Students. He told them that it
was 'optionaP with thom whether they en-
tered any other class. but the B Bile class,
they must enter, also, that those who did
not take a part therein. could not reci,e in
ms room. This caused much displeasure
among many Of the students, und they re-
fused to attend the class,-not because they
had any objection 10 the Bibls;-thsy said
they did not come to the Institute with the
design OF studying Theology or 'Sectarian-
ISM And another reason was, a number
of them had taken as many studies as thew
could attend to properly, and they did not
feel willing to relinquish any of these, and
take those which be chose ~ assign them.
Many Of the students requested the Pro-
fessors to have a vacation during the holi-
d'ys, az some wished to attend the Teachers
Institute held at St. Clairsyille, some, to
visit their friends, and others, to attend to
business which could not be delayed till the
end Of the session. 10 this request the
Senior PsoIessor readily consented, but the
Junior would not consent, unless the stu
dents would agree to lose the time. Accord
ingly, he appointed a time when the students
should meet in his room, and there decide
by vote, whether they preferred the vsca-
tion on he's terms. When the time arrived
the students ere present, and a large ma
joritv were in favor OF the vacation; but the
worthy p. otessor decided with the minority,
thus setting aside the time honoref maxim,
the majority sha II rule -, -,
During the first part Of the session, The
Junior Professor was continually making
changes in the order Of etitations, much to
the inconvenience Of the students, till finally
he announced an order which SHOULD be per-
manent to the end Of the session.. With this
some were dissatisfied, bat as it wis to DO a
permanent arrangement they silently &C
q~uiesced therein, rather than be driven
from pillar to post, AMI from post to
p%iil'r, Us they had been. This spsrmaneni
a%rrangeme mt continued in force al least sDx
weeks, when another permanent arrange
ment was announced.
These and other causes. have proved the
source of much dissatisfaction among the
majority of the students. They appeared
to lose al! interest in their studies, and neur-
~ every week, a greater or less number oil
them withdrew from the Institute, until !,
now appears their number is reduced to the
famous 'baker'S do.en.'
In conclusion it may be said, there has
been no complaints against the Senior Pro-
lessor, amidst ali this dissatisfa ction.
Yours truly. A. l.. b.