The Portland daily press., 1869-06-29

Gregory is decidedly facetious and good
natured as well as sharp in his logic, and
therefore his voice shall be heard-ED.1
To the Editor of the Press:
Economy is, doubtless, capital thing to
have in the house. With a twenty -ive-cent
cigar in your mouth, you can preach economy
to your wife, and she can practice it if she is
SO disposed. Economy, repeat, is a very de-
sirable thing when practiced in the right d.
rection. The efforts of his Honor the Mayor
to accomplish reduction of his own salary
were in the direction indicated. The people
sympathized with him deeply in his desperate
struggle with the contumacions Common
Council, knowing well that he had nice ap-
probation of the value of his own services
They prayed for his success, but their prayers
were not answered. As the small-sized boy,
who is troubled with pain under his jacket,
struggles and kicks in his mothers arms when
she commends to his closed lips the bitter cup
of thoroughwort or senna stepped down strong,
which will be good for him, as everybody
knows, is compelled at last to open his reluc-
tant jaws, under the gentle but firm persua-
sion of the maternal hand, and take the bitter
dose anvhoo so, fadly and reluctantly against
his ''steadfast purpose and "unalterable de-
termination his Honor opened the closed
portals of his pocket, and down into its deep
recesses rushed the extra three hundred. This
was the pursuit of economy under difficulties
But the noble object was not to be given up
SO, for economy was the "strong holt of his
Honor and the new City Government. They
had promised the people, "upon their word
and honor" before the election, that economy
should come in with the Sebago water; that
his Honor the Mayor was the great distribut-
ing reservoir, and the Common Council were
the main pipes leading into everybody's house,
more particularly into the City Government
building, through which should flow the life
giving stream of that blessed economy which
was to wash away the lastvestige of "corrup-
ton in high places" and clean out things gen.
orally. So in Board Of Mayor and Aldermen,
his Honor presiding, big with their high re-
solve, the gas-lights dimly burning turned
down to save expense, you know-it was SOL
emnly resolved "That the salary of the keep
er of the city rum store should be increased
two hundred dollars and then-adjourned.
So the kingdom Of Economy was establish
W oiu LOA AoiSA AuduC pCIpotuStl' 4uc cuUoC-
quaint action Of the Mayor and Common 6oun--
Gil cutting down the estimates of the Superin-
tending School Committee and depriving the
teachers of portion of their hard-earned
wages, is not inconsistent with the high resolve
recited above.
To lower the standard of our city schools,
now high advanced, as we are all proud to ac-
knowledge, by refusing adequate compensa-
tion for their support to teachers who, confess
edly, stand in the front rank of their profess
sion, and have spent the best years of their
lives in the service Of our people, seems to me
poor economy. But it is the kind commended
to us by his Honor and the City Fathers. 1t
is that cheap sort, that, do not believe, will
suit our people. No measure of peeuuiary
advantage can compensate for the loss or
abatement of the advantages of our common
schools, and he does not understand the te M
per of our perple who proposes to abate one
jot or one little of their influence for good
The best teachers we can employ are none too
good for our children, and the wages paid
them is but barely sufficient to de.ray their
current expenses. Age, with its infirmities,
comes early upon them, and however efficient
or faithful their labors may have been, they
must give place to the young and sprightly
who are not SO old fashioned in their notions
and are more quick
'"To catch the manners living as they rise.''
The teacher of twenty-five or thirty years
experience is rarely fit for any other business,
and as he was never known to retire with
he gathers at least but precari-
Gus livelihood. "The laborer is worthy of his
hire" and the promise is not to him who with
holds it. The friends of the common schools
of our country, who feel and know that popu-
lar liberty cannot be struck down while these
colleges of the people are upheld and sus-
tanned, will be slow to impair their usefulness
by acts of unfriendly legislation.
Gentlemen of the Board of Aldermen and
Common Council. many of you owe your
present high position to the fact that the COM
mon schools are open to all, it is not comely in
you, it is not fair, having ascended
"The steep where James proud temple shines afar,"
to undertake to pnlI the ladder up after you.
-----5T sc a.iiFF GREGORY