Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1869-02-04
Indianapolis correspondence
INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 2, 1869.

INDIANAPOLIS, Feb. 2, 1869.
DEAR PoRT =
Il lang haze thought, my youthful fiend,
A something 10 have seut YOU,
Tho il should serve no other end
Than Just kind memento;
But how the subject theme NAV gang,
Let time and chance determine;
Perhaps il may turn out a sang,
Perhaps turn out sermon
We wish all those persons who think il
is an easy task for one to write an article
Tor home consumption, that will meet with
the entire appreciation of the editor, ant
of his readers, to try it once. | suppose
you are intensely anxious TO know what
the Legislators of the great State Of 1ndi-
ana are doing. If you were here, endeav
oring to write, while a lot OF men, anxious
10 immorialize themselves, were shouting
at the top OF their voices, 'Mr. Speaker,
''The gentleman frem Wabash,"'I move
to amend, "'Quesiion, Louder" II move
to table the resolution" and such like par
liamentary phrases, l believe you would
throw your manuscript under the table,
and quit in disgust for / think you are
mortal, and cannot stand any more than
ANY other man."
The principal questions that seem TO ag
iia,e the noble body (?) most, are THE
Prison Reform, and TIE Normal School
IT Tcrre Haute." The committee that Wis.,
tied the two prisons have as yet made no
report; aud of course nothing definite is
known as to what will be done. The gen
eral impression seems To be, however, that
we will have graded prison, as well as
graded schools. But that question does
no; interest the readers of your paper, as
their honest proclivites will let them
board at home, and not seek paths that
are ''hard to travel"
The other question is one that i teresls
all tax PAYERS. The State Normal School
at Terre Haute was started by the citizens
of Terre Haute giving $4,000 toward ii,
on the condition that the State would APP
propriate another $4,000. The citizens
Of Terre Haute subscribed their part, and
the State appropriated, at the last session
OF the Legislature, $4,000. With cap>
ital Of 100000, all thought the School
would be success. But you know that
State money is not always used to the
best advantage. The money appropriated
by the Stale has all been spent by the truss
tees, and $50 in excess. And they now
petition for another appropriation of
100000 10 place them out of debt, and
have surplus to spend. l suppose by
the time the next Legislature meets, the
trustees will be $4,000 in debt, and will
want further appropriation of S2Oo,OOo.
We like 10 see the good work of education
go Oh. but protest against the method
adopted by the aforesaid trustees. That
it is a good thing 10 have State money TO
spend, We do not doubt, but would just
suggest the propriety OF spending ii where
1t did not evaporate SO rapidly. and with
such seemingly small results. Almost all
the schools of this State that are above
mediocrity, have their Normal departs
ments, and ';urn out just as good teach>
ers, we believe, as the school (to be- a.
Terre Haute will. The general impress
sion here IS, that the appropriation will
not be made, and VIC hope not. OF course
there will he an innumerable number o.
bills before the august body" but none.
we think, that have sWiHdte written so
plainly all over them.
If there is any one institution that In
dianians can be proud OF, il is our SOL
diers' Home, of Knightstown. 1t is carr
ried on in very good shape indeed. The
Legislature in q body visited it last Satur>
day. Members made speeches, ate a good
dinner, and came back well satisfied. Did
any person ever hear of a negro that
could understand the Dutch language?-
One of he members. who Is Dutchman,
was so happy that he could not express
himself in English, but commenced talks
ing Dutch to one of the negro waiting
girls, who was frightened SO much that
she is two shades lighter now than she
was u week since.
We have been having regular spring
weather for the last two weeks, but ex
pect to get it in March. indianapolis is
very lively "youth and beauty" throng
the streets every day.
VELociPEpE.