The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1867-11-05
Thc .y'omGs school, .sgai

Thc .B'omGs school, again.
1t is now a considerable time sluce
the noble and we'll conceived plan OF
erecting u normal school ii this place,
was first preached in our columns. Such
an institution is most certainly to be es-
tablished somewhere in this distr let,
composed of the twelve surrounding |
counties, relating to which our county |
occupies the most central and advanta-
geous position. And hence,if we prompt.
" act, our claim holds all others in abey
ance. The feasibility of this project we
say was fully set forth in communications
by many of true wellewishers, but now
with feeling regret we notice that
general listlessness seems to prevail on
the subject, and that not even the Sigh.
test measures are taking toward its
perfor nance. What we ask, can be the
cause of this self prejudicial inaction ?
Is it fear that the necessary funds will
not he forthcoming? 1t cannot be, for,
as to this, there is not a grain of doubt
in our mind. The State appropriates
$4,000 and the district is to raise tn e
sum of $4,000, Now the men who
are expected to, and who will, principal
ly assist in accomplishing the end, sure
ly are not likely to do it unasked and
without word, when such men as ought
to be n,overS and leaders remain idle
and apparently careless. We will talk
of the advantages of a lyc@um where
perhaps some Plato is destined to be
bred; we will say that "Virtue and
learning are endowments greater than
nobleness and riches" but all to no pur-
pose, if, as the Satirist says,
"We see the right and we approve it too
Condemn the wrong, andyet the wrong pur-
sue."
This is what stands between us and
our grand dcsideiatum. Some Of our
Influential men seem to think, as it were,
that the ponderous and powerful ma
chinery ofan engine should 90 into op-
Grafton, when not even ire is kindled
1t is thus with some Of the men whose
duty it is to take a part in this enters
i prise. If they would proceed as they
ought to do, all necessary things would
flow as a consequence. If, on the othel
hand, this golden occasion is allowed tC
slip, it is foregoing one of those brillian
, opportunities whose like we never lool
upon again. To insure success, then
we must first begin. "Dimidium fact
qui caepit habit" the beginning is hal
the work Once that We are up ant
doing, oil the other things acW be yiUen
We for one, will perform the part in
!. cumbent on us, and discharge the dut
d that we owe, as every one owes, to tn
t community; by apprising the county G
~ all meditatcd movements, and OF tn
+. time of meetings, &C., and also takir
lie an active part in them. In views {
re the many undoubted benefits and advar
H. tages of our location, as being, b
y means of railroads projected and alread
l. executed, far the most accessible polr
ID in the district, as combining the sceneI
d, of Tempe and the geld Hacmus, an
aV which in salubrious air ana waters
not surpassed by Ballston Spa, and
view Of the fact that strangers alwa,
hy leave this place heartily convinced tn
is is they had never known more health
at locality, and other thing more than W
in could name, who will dispute what v
ms emphatically as sert, that our title e
rs cludes all others? We would ask
~ fne, whether our citizens can be so bin
= to the welfare of their children, as
=" neglect this enviable offer, the compl
III ton of which will be the making of t
u. place.