The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-01-20

has been wasting away, the cost of edu-
cation, like everything else, has been
augmenting, until now comparatively few
of the poorer classes can afford the exs
penses Of an ordinary country school
How then can the thousands of boys and
girls, whose fathers fill shallow graves on
our battle. fields or around our hospitals,
secure even the elements of an English
education Who is to pay the tuition
and buy the books and stationery? It
obviously the duty of those whose homes,
and persons, and property have been
protected by our vigilant armies to do
this. 1t must be done in this way, and
it must be done right early. Some of
these children were old enough to enter
school four years ago, when their fathers
went into the service. Soon they will
have passed the period in which they
may be influenced for good.
We must rot, we dare not, longer delay
IN Il matter which, from the first of the
war, ought to have been engaging our
most earne It attention.
Tile armies in the field occupy so
largely our thoughts that we are in
danger Of forgetting the still greater ar:
mics which are growing up around our
fresides, into whose keeping we must
commit that for which all this sacrifice of
blood and treasure is being made. What
can We hope for if the youth of the land
are left to the debasing influence of ig
norance and vice? In vain will the
fathers have shed their blood and con-
| cuered an honorable peace if the chill
dren are not prepared to preserve the
dearly-bought inheritance. 1t is by the
proper education Of the head and the
heart that moral safeguards may be se~
cured, and virtuous sentiment implanted
and developed.
When we entered upon this war, and
our men were volunteering all over the
country, those Of us who remained at
home promised the soldier to make it
o,e,s care that his family should not
suffer that his children should fare as
well as our own. Many brave man, as
he bade adieu to his loved ones, and
brushed away the hot tears, lifted up his
heart in gratitude to Heaven that such a
pledge had been made. And the belief
that the people at home would faithfully
keep this pledge has cheered him in all
the toll and danger of the service, and
made him the more willing to offer up
his life on the altar Of his country. He
has nobly, gloriously, performed his part
of the contract. But have we come up
to the full measure of our duty to those
who were dearer to that soldier than life
itself? 1t is true, it may be that his IA
sily have not suffered fer the necessaries
: of life; but what Of the mind, to the
cultivation of which scarcely a passing
thought has been given? Long, weary
years have rolled away, but those little
ones have not been taught to write theil
names nor to read Gods holy book
Large sums have been spent on the edu
cation of other children; and had this
soldier managed to stay at home, as pro
badly he might have done but for the
} fires of patriotism that were burning ir
. his soul, his children, too, would now bt
= sharing with others the advantages of tn
best schools.
1t is a great mistake to suppose tha
our soldiers, who have families, attacl
t but little importance to this subject
), With many it is the ,sorest, saddest tria
j. of the war. The fear that his chill
G dren will be uncared for makes many
soldier dissatisfied, and has caused som
), to turn their faces homeward agains
l.. orders. A man Of great gallantry, aftc
+. three years of hard service in the Arm
of Northern Virginia, was stricken dow
in a late battle. Just before his deaf
If he remarked to clergyman that he wa
II not afraid to die-death had no terror
J. for him-but that he did desire to liv'
l. that he might educate his children, wh'
e. without his care, must grow up in ignt
it rance. He was assured that ample prt
% vision would be made for them in th
regard. "Then," said he, 81 have NJ
to thing more to DESIRE" and passed ava
q to the spirit land.
IS It isa significant fact that large pre-
S. portion of the letters we receive, contain
10 ing contributions to this cause, are wri
at ten "in the trenches" and send us
m portion Of TIE piy.ance which the soldi
ir receives from Government.
at In view of these facts and consider
Y, tons, we call upon our fellow citizen
h, everywhere, to respond with a noble lib
" rality to the claims Of this cause. Hu
n dreds of thousands Of dollars must
- contributed if the work is prosecut'
er with that earnestness which it deserve
nd Let every citizen, to the utmost limit
ke his ability, extend helping hand
those whose fathers have fallen I'M defen
lis of our holiest and dearest rights.
D. You can render us most important 81
ut vice by inquiring after. the children of o
%. deceased and disabled soldiers, encou'
ng ging them to attend school, and repo'
se. ling theii names to us. If every one
ms whom this circular is sent will thus G