The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-10-15
"GRIND1NG SEED coRN!o

We have seen and heard of persons discourag-
ing youths under Is from going to school. 1t
strikes us that this is the very worst policy we can
adopt, and We are glad to hear of rebuke admin
stered to it short time since by President Davis.
A youth from Mississippi had Joined the army,
contrary to the wishes of his relations who sought
the interpositon of the President to have him dis
charged from the service. The President readily
complied, and remarked, that the using up of
boys in the army was like grinding seed corn!"
The above from the Richmond Whig, suggests
ideas which we would be happy to aid in impress
ing upon the public The war which has burst
upon us ike portent, has arrested the attention
of the people to such degree as to call off their
thoughts from almost everything else. This is
very natural, and if the war were to prove very
brief, it would be allowable. Perhaps up to the
present time, it would have proven unavailable,
whatever effort we might have made against it.
Men are not stoics, and ought not to be. 1t
would have been no credit to us, if, Graded in
peace and pursuing unmolested our ordinary en-
gagements we should have been undisturbed and
unmoved from our accustomed paths by the sud-
den bursting of the storm of war. Something is
due to the sensibilties of our nature and he who,
without impression, can witness social tragedies
Ou whatever Scdle, is less Lnan q man.
But there las been enough time for indulgence
of this first shock to our feelings and the absorp
ton Of our thoughts and energies Other duties
begin now to appeal to us again for their appropri
ate observance and accustomed respect. They de-
mand of US the recognition due to their long-ac-
knowledSed and unchanging importance. Prom
inent among these is that alluded to in the ex-
tract above-the duty Of educating the young
Our schools have suffered an interruption during
the present year, let it not grow into their suspen
sion. Let the interruption cease at once where
it is practicable, and in all cases at the earliest
possible day The opportunity for instruction, if
now lost by the boys and girls who are soon to be
our men and women, will be irrevocably lost The
boy Of this year is the man of next year. a brief
period only lies between the schoolgirl and the
grown lady. If this time, allotted to education,
shall pass unimproved the season will be gone to
those persons forever. Parents will thus perceive
that they have duty to perform towards their
children which they may not defer; aud the young
people themselves will that if they do not wish
to grow up uneducated, they have something to
do besides surrendering themselves to the excite
ments of the war. ...
Theu let our schools 90 on. Let us educate
our children as carefully as ever so far as we pos
siby can. Suppose the war should last, as it may,
several years, and that meanwhile this policy of
closing colleges and shutting up schools should
continue; the generation which treads on the heels
of the present adult population, will come to their
places, aud will act their part through life, with
out those advantages of education which We so
justly value, and we will be to blame for it! The
duty of parents and the duty of citizens combine
to require of US all that this evil shall not come
The farmer who :grinds his sead corn" will reap
crop the next year, and will deserve no COM
sion.-RichmoAd Enquirer. ~