Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1870-01-14
NUMBER 50.

III WOulu De tnat We Sll1Vc 10 make the
Hospital less of prison and attend more
TO the healing influences of Nature. Lot
the inmates come in contact as much as
possible with that which is calm and free
and natural and sane. think that the
laying out of the grounds on some artistic
plan would afford salutary employment
and recreation TO many OF the inmates,
and thus without much outlay by the
State the place may te made attractive,
and the gloom which prevadcs the atmos
phere OF such IN Institution be mitigated
ifnot dispelled by the beauty and salubri-
ty of its surroundings.
For some reason which does not now
clearly appear, the Insane Hospital is
largely exempt from that responsibility
Of the Executive Council which affects
other Institutions OF the State. The
practical effects OF this appear in many
ways. and have not contributed to relieve
the doubts which have sometimes arisen
in regard to the management OF the
establishment. lwould therefore recon-
mend that the Hospital be placed under
the same supervision rs other institutions
sustaining similar relation TO the State.
The Trustees of the Naive General Hos
pital will ask your aid. II is understood
that generous private beneiactions are
ready to follow m appropriate endow-
ment by the State. This petition Is
eminently proper, and should be received
with the most favorable disposition.
EDUCATIONAL.
There is probably no branch Of our
public interest where such improvements
has been made rs in that of our common
schools; not that any striking changes or
brilliant results haze rs yet appeared;
but what mean 10 say IS, that we are set
upon right ways; that the faults. the
wastes, and the wants of our former
practices have been brought out. and
appropriate means have been set in mo-
ton which can scarcely fail 10 work salu-
tary and permanent effects. We are
seeking, not so much 10 change the sys-
tenn as 10 infuse life into 1t; so that the
best appliances. the best methods and the
experience of the best minds, can be cN-
tended To remote and humble places; so
that in IN educational sense, we can Sc
cure through every nook and corner OF
the State the equal rights OF al.
II is moreover no 'eXaggerati0n to say
that the present is new n in teaching.
II ia not "A little singular 10 find novelty in
M art So old. But the spirit Of our insti-
tutions. the demands Of The times have
necessitated aims. objects, and methods
which render education altogether a diff
crcnt business from what it was a gener-
alton ago. 1t no longer seeks 10 cram the
mind with strange forms and aggre gated
facts. without harmony, relation, life, or
permancncc; it now teaches the mind
from The vcry start 10 observe, compare,
analyZe, assimilatc; Ia master and make
It's own-in fact it is education-the train
ing. unfolding. leading and fashioning
forth OF the mind. Teachers must now
have something more than good moral
charactcr-trat and something besides
they must demonstrate that they have
character at all They can't teach merely
what they have borrowed over night; but
only that which they have wrought out
and made their own. This tells on the
Young mind, gives ii edge and point, and
in many WAYS tends 10 I'll all, both teach
or and taught, To enter undiSnayed the
arena OF these stirring and eventual times.
think the highest goods flowing from
our Normal Schools, aud Institutes and
County SuperviS)rships. They have
caught the right spirit and transiuse it.
They are the means mainly by which
the State is to be reached and brought
within the better modes.
That the people are awake in This mat
ter il is easy enough to see. They have
raised over $500, 600. thi, past year, by
direct taxation, and. expended the To.
tai SUM oi 100000 for the support OF
schools. Il remains Tor Us 10 take care,
by all means in our power. that such
means are not wasted and such intentions
failed We want, among other things.to
see that al have fair chance; that, Tor
instance, the cost and changes and variety
of books do not put poor parents to dis
trCSs to keep the means OF education with
in their childrcn's reach.
feel that these are importan; matters,
and have thus spoken that we may under
stand the spirit IN which we shall be- called
TO act. We have wasted a good deal Of
time and money hitherto; but ! believe
we have now begun better things. and
that with the Intelligence, good sense and
yigor now brought To bear on these in-
terests. our people will before long be
satisfied with the results Of their gcner-
osity and care.
As To our College Of Agriculture and
Mechanical arts, although generous de-
yotion TO duty has been manifest on the
part of al who are charged with lis I'M
mediate concerns, it yet tails to attain 10
quite the prosperity which We hoped and
which believe is still possible for it.. 1t
is my duty to say that, 20 far as appears,
there are two principal causes of its pres
ent feeble and uncertain condition. First,
The neglect Of mechanics and mama
iacturcrs and masters OF the Industrial
arts, to assert their rights in the college.
Second, The deep-seltlcd feeling on the
part of many, that the location Is uniayor-
able. The existence of these two dlsad-
vantages il is worse than folly to deny or
pass over with soft words. The truth IS,
we must come TO an understanding in the
matter. IL is pity TO waste money and
mind even for the best OF motives, with
ont a successful end The S2S, 900 voted
last winter in condition OF perfect deed
of property 10 the State, has fallen dead
through failure Of the town To make the
fall convevance. Eve are all in earnest
to have the college 90 on where it is,
neither the State nor the town need insist
much upon conditions But lift is the in
tention To remove the college. then it
would be best not to expend more money
there am unable to give you the least
information or advice on this point. But
| am ready to assure you that unless we
keep in mind tho scope and generous IN
tent of this insdtution, it will never greatly
thrive. A farmers college is a good and
WORTHY idea, but that alone will not live
and move. There are not boys enough
who mean to 60 back to farm after they
have got through the college.