Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1870-03-11


aGLaD TiplSGs On GRRAT Jog Recon-
struetion Of the State ef Southampton IA
tAs midst Of Daka there Is Ligl,-Is
gives us great pleasuse to record the literary
I growth and prosperity Of the township Of
Southampton. In order that we may show
+ with what wonderful strides she is attaining
2 to right standard, il is oaly necessary to 60
( back to 1865 and 6, at which time in sduea-
tioual matters, she was considered irreeoveT-
ably lost. For a number Of years prior 10
4 This, our common school system was help
less victim 10 the unreleniing and deadly preiu,
dices of that people Indeed their utter abb
horrenee to schools ran TO such degree,
that II was an impossibiIiiy to persuade
FIRE insurance company TO give policy on a
school building and there we're very few in
stances where ye pedagogue
-'Tradged ye district through.
And boarded roande and rouude,"
Notwithstanding the repeated efforts Of The
County Superintendent and the school N sn
in the district, when '.SchooI or No School,
was left to a vote Of the people, II was defeat
ed BY an overwhelming majority, and il was
through the enduring energy, perseverance
and undaunted frmness Of few citizens con
Joined with the power Of the Court, thai the
schools were thrown open in 1866.
This of course met with the most bitter op-
position for long time, but the excitement
gradually subsided, and those Who had been
c,~,-,,,e4 - ,,,.-es,sv :, t~.,- >. &. .
a different light, the effect Of which is as fol
lows: A new school house at Goidon's, one
at Fliutstone, one az Tewells, one at Point
Lookout, one at Lashley's one at the Forks
Of the Creek, one at Fairview, one at Buxon's s.
and two under construction, one at BeaNs
Cove and one at Brownipg's, 5, making eight
new school houses within the last three years,
al cost of four thousand dollars, TO raise
which they laid, and to their honor paid
a school tax of twenty-four mills on the dol.
lar. We learn from the County Superinten-
dent, Who has just made his annual pilgrim
age through that country, that the per cent. 4
age Of attendance for this year, on an aver
age, runs higher than any other township in
the county, some of the schools having reach
ed 90 per cent, and that in districts where
children have had TO irndge from two to three
miles through swamps aud over ridges in al
sorts Of weather. They have now $50 pupiis
studying mental ari,bu etie, when three years
ago, not enc pupil perhaps bad ever seen
much less studied it, 7S studying geography I
100 written arithmetic, and fair member
grammar.
The course Of study in some of the schools
three years ago, taken from the Superinien- |
dents statistics,l was the spelling book and
second reader, the ages Of the pupils running !
from six to twenty-five years Ia one OF |
these same schools to. day, we find 25 read
ing and writing, 10 studying arithmetic, Il /
geography and grammar. Sareiy mighty 4
vacuum IS being rapidly filed. This spirii
Of enterprise is not confined to the young /
alone, for the older folks realizing the benefl 4
on the part of their children, have Instituted +
neaus whereby they can improve themselves.
They have nov a circulating library the found
sr of which is our esteemed friend, dr. Geo
Percell Il consists Of over two hundred vol
lmes-all of Dieken and SCOTS works, to-
gether with the standard works of poetry
history and biography. The library is kept 4
At May 5 schoolhouse, three miles south of
Robinsonville. They have three missions
7ne at Fairyiew. one at Buck Valley, and one
At the National Pike. Fifty cents constitutes
he initiation fee for membership, aud the
monthly dues are ffteeu cents, which allows
zach member two books per week. Any one
1eing in arrears for two weeks, is deprived Of
he privilege of using the books till he pays
ip.
In addition to this. they have organized a
literary society at each of the above points,
which meets once week regularly, the ez
.reises consisting Of readings, essays and de-
rates. At Nays the present presiding Off
,ers are our friends, James Purcsll, Prssi
lent, and George Miller, Librarian, who IS
.lso Secretary Of the school board.
Thus tie 'State Of Southampton bas been
under the most favorable cir
She has rooted out the vile
7rejudices which have held her back 10 the
,ause Of education for the last fifteen years,
and now studies her own interests ia truer
ight. She is nov engaged in q noble calling
and she has our best wishes for her success.
We might suggest a Ike reform TO other PoF-
ions Of the county. A literary society should I
be organized in every township IN the county,
particularly during the winter months, for
g is an iaesiimable source ofimprovement to
he young men, In connection with these
. library is Indispensable. We hope the live
energetic men throughout the county viii
I'VE this their attention, and lead their aid
oward supplying this desideratum.
L yea want all kinds Of Smoking Tobae.