Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1869-05-27
THE RECONSTRUCTION NEEDED.

We have received, from the faculty of the
college in question, small pamphlet, entitled
"a Plan for the Extension of the Scientific
and Practical Departments If Washington
College. Va" 1t is the report of committee
appointed by the Board of Trustees of the ms
titution named, and prepared in accordance
with a resolution passed by that body at
its last meeting. The object in view is the
establishment of new departments of Agricul-
tue, ofCommerce, and of applied Chemistry:
. more complete development of the schools
Of Civil and Mining Engineering the addi-
ton Of distinct course in Mechanical Engin
eering, embracing. besides the Practical Con
struetion Of Machinery, fuller instruction in
Practical Mechanics; and the opening
in connection with the department of
Agriculture, Of farm and work shops
The plan as proposed, and there is no doubt
Of its entire adoption, is to place before the
youth under the charge of the college, oppor
tunities for acquiring knowledge in the con
struction of railroads, bridges, mills, and ma
chinery of all kinds; the practical operations
of farming the mnutia of commerce; and
the principles of ship building.
The main result sought TO be attained in
the establishment Of these additional branches
in the curriculum OF one of the leading col
leges of the South, is the endeavor to infuse
into the minds of the rising young men some
thing more than theoretical knowledge of the
At. r. ~. Ill a.
industries Of the country.
To none do we yield precedence in the
proper appreciation of mental culture, and TO
none We do look for lofter achievements than 10
those grand old students whose lifelong delv
ing into the lore of ages almost invariably ends
in the modification of some stupendous con
ception that sets the world agog, and elubri
Gates the creaking wheels of progress but
there is time for all things, and this is not
the time for the calculation Of metaphysical
distractions, and the propagation of aimless
transcendentalism. The plain, snlid, incon
trovertable fact stares us full in the face
that Virginia needs workers-not to the ex-
cluson of thinkers--but workers who can
place the pedestal as we'll as design it.
There never was time in the history of
this old commonwealth when the head to plan,
ami the hand to do, was more needed than
now. With the last lingering watch fires of
one of the most destructive conflict ever waged
by man scarce daad-with her very sap and
strength oen-nigh gone-with the flower of
! I II. IL
capital-no heart to do-no bright spot in her
political armament, Virginia to-day presents
q spectacle of heroic patience almost divine.
She has, however, one thing left her, and that
is life. With that granted, be it never so hard
all one. still it is life, and whilst there is life
there is hope. Hope giveth strength, strength
will, and where there is will there is way
We deem the plan, as laid down, one Of the
brightest thoughts of those interested in the
advancement of the interests of the South
since the war closed. For, as the condition
of political affairs will most likely remain IN
changed, or at least will not materially i'm
prove, for some time to come, it behooves
every father to urge his sons to seek outside
Of the political arena that success debarred
them within it. 1t behooves every well wish
er of the State to undo, in the minds of the
rising generation, the silly prejudice against
manual labor, and to inform them that there
are other fields open quite as honorable, and
for more remunerative, than those SO long
held land foolishly) to be the only ones con-
genial to the tastes and aspirations of young
men in the higher walks Of social life.
That the adoption of the above departments
is a stride in the right direction none can
doubt; particularly as regards the south, and
at the present juncture, and We hail with in
finite pleasure the intiatory steps in move
-ment that cannot fail to rebound TO the honor
and material wealth Of the old 'mother of
States" and which is destined. should it be
carried cut in good faith, to so rejuvenae
her impaired faculties that every workshop
and factory within her borders shall ring
with the clash and hum of hammer and spin
die, her trade-centres resound with the busy
pulsations Of prosperity, and her every acre
blossom as the rose.
TO TO work, then. Throw every energy III
10 the scale. and for the present, at least, let
our young men lay aside a portion of their
more abslTuse studies. and devote their time
thus gained to the deEelopement of that which
brings in capital. Be producers, either of the
raw article, or Of the machine that manufac-
lures it. Study the manipulation of farm i'm
plements as we'll as the composition of fertil-
iZefs; learn to strike nail squarely, and
plane board smoothly. as we'll to strike
artistic attitudes. and smatter French fluent
ly make researches into the hid1eI treas
nres OF our mountains, as well as into the
mysteries of the spectroscope, and all will yet
be web in the land We love so dearly.