Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-03-21
OUR SOUTHAMPTON LETTER.
Beriln-Dr. A. $, II. Burses-EdueatiOnal Int.
rest-We Must Educate.

rest-We Must Educate!
BEELIS, SOUTHAMPTON, March Is, 1866.
To tie Editor Of the Wing:
Berlin is pleasant little village of perhaps
a dozen families,. two stores, Masonic Lodge,
SC. The location is fine, and the place must
be quite healthy. 1t is distant about six miles
from Ivor, the nearest point on the Norfolk and
Petersburg railroad, and on the direct road
from Iyor to Jerusalem, the county scat
Though place Of no inconsiderable amount of
trade, its chief Importance is derived from the
fact that it has been for number of years the
Jealous patron of educational interests. What
influence the little village has sent forth, it
would be difficult TO estimate. Here, previous
to the war, AOurished first-class schools for the
instruction of young men and ladies. The
course of instruction has been resumed since
the war under the direction of competent
teachers, but they have not received as liberal
a patronage as heretofore.
During the war; the schools at Berlin lost
their most faithful and influential supporter
In the death of DR.. A. S. II. Burgess, the COM
munity has sustained an irreparable loss, and
the county has been deprived Of one of its
brightest ornaments. No man Occupieda more
deservedly high place in the confidence and
affections of the people. That superiority OF
intellect, to which his modesty allowed him to
make no claim, was accorded him by common
consent. But the form once familiar is now
seen no more, and the resources of that great
mind are no longer available to those whonever
sought his advice or assistance in vain.
None of the adjacent sister counties have
surpassed Southampton in the facilities it af-
forded for the education of youth. mmedi-
atelv before the war schools of the first order
were in successful operation at Berlin, Barn
Tavern, Green Plain and other places, from
which a number Of young men went forth
yearly fully prepared to enter any of the col
leges 1t seemed only necessary to concentrate
the talent employed in these several schools to
build up an institution which would have had
a name and influence far and wide. Teachers
are again at the post Of duty, but the pupils are
wanting. | cannot believe that this condition
of things is owing to Indifference on the part of
parents to the importance Of educating their
children. 1t must be attributed rather to
want of means. Yet this. was Il favored pOr-
ton of the South, and in many other places the
circumstances are even less favorable. Pa
rents. in easy circumstances before the war,
now confess with sad hearts that they are una
bic to educate their children. Instead Of
trudging to school with bright, merry faces,
the little ones must assist to procure their own
support, and, at night, sad and weary, they re-
tire to their little beds to dream of kind teach
.ers, pleasant classmates and pretty story
books. Young men, who gave up their books
and left their homes at the first sound of the
tocsin of war, promising themselves Il
speedy return to the quiet walks Of
literature, have found it necessary on
their return home to give up the cher
ished idea of the pursuit of science and face
the sterner realities of life l confess that no
other thought in connection with the present
impoverished condition Of the South so fills my
mind with sadness. We cannot afford that the
rising generation should grow up without the
advantages of education, nor will it suffice that
a few of the more fortunate should enjoy them.
The children of the unfortunate victims of the
war have claims upon us which we cannot disrc-
gard. We must educate Somehow or other
il must be done. Every consideration of duty
or interest demands it. We must educate
0, thou beloved land, dear, though so afflicted,
we long to see thee rise from the ashes Then
shall thy honored institutions again prosper,
and thou mayeSt, rs ever of old, point with
pride to thy children as thy jewels. f.