Des Arc weekly citizen., 1867-07-13
COMMUNICATED.

EDITOR CITIZEN :-I cannot refrain expressing to you, the diffidence l feel in attempting to communicate to your many readers, through the medium of your paper, a few of my thoughts. l write neither for fame nor reward, but simply to express myself differently. and opposed 10 the views entertained by the Gentleman who has been writing on the subject of Schools and School Houses, over the signature of 'Tax Payer
 He is opposed to building school house by taxation; he is opposed to- the City Fathers helping to build one by appropriating portion of the Pub lie Square, which is at their disposal {; and if I am not mistaken in the Gen tlemen, he has proven by actand word, that he is opposed to building one by private subscription and yerily be- lieve he is opposed to having one at all
 He says "it will take five years for the community to recuperate, and be in condition to undertake such an en- terprise.' In the name of wonder, what would become of the youths of this community in five years?
 In the first place, there are only about one tenth of the patrons of this com munify able to send their children of to boarding schools--that leaves nine tenths of the parents unable to do so. Then must nine-tenths of the children of this community grow up in igno- rance, because we are not able to build College? by no means. Let us have school house at all hazards. Use any kind of means to get it, so you do not steal it. Sell portion of the square get private subscripticn-bcg it-give concerts, tablcaux, or any other kind of entertainment which is calculated to raise the sum of ten dollars.
 Hickory Plain can boast of good Academy; Brownsville can afford one Austin has school house; Searcy has one; Augusta has one; the neighbor- hood of Col. Bulls has good school house; the ncighborhood of Stanly can afford one; and even Charlie King can afford if. But how is it with Des Arc She cannot even boast of log school house. 1t is a shame! It is disgrace 10 every man in the community Think for moment of the number of children in this town and vicinity that were ten years old when the war be- gan; add 10 this five years of war and distress without any schools making them fifteen years of age add 10 this the further sum of five years, which Mir. "Tax Payer says it will take to get ready for the project, and we have twenty years, bringing them to man and womanhood without almost any education. What think you my read CTS about the matter? Iimagine hear you, Cor at least majority of you,) say strike for the house do the best you can under the circumstances, which is all that can be expected of you.
 Parents, you have fearful rcsponsi- bility resting on your shouldcrs-you will be held accountable for the charge mtrustcd to your care. Never was there a time in which instruction ought to be more universal, than at the pres ent time; education, moral education is the one thing necdful; for virtue alone can sustain our political organi- zation. The present state of affairs win not last always, and as every citi- zen therefore feels particularly inter- osted in the universal dissemination of knowledge and virtue, let all classes combine their influence and means to promote the general welfare. Intellec- tual cultivation is the basis of virtue and happiness. As mental improve mcnt advances. vice and crimes recedc. That desirable happy era, when the science and implements of human pre- servation and felicity, shall be substi- tuted for those of slaughter and woe, will commence precisely at the time, when the rays of useful knowledge, wisdom and virtue, shall have been ex- tended tQ tho whole human family.
 The patriot, statesman and philan- thropist sees with pride and gratifica- tion, education universally spreading it's civilizing influences throughout the nations of the earth, but moro especial ly in this once great republic of ours. In every State except ours: noble insti-