Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1871-12-22
TCOMMUNICATED.


the part of parents in behalf IF their children.
especially in some Of the tiichly settled local
tiles in this State, aud near the city IT Wash
ingtn. We have gp.d system Of e iuratin"
III our State sn:h one "a We may WILL tee
proud Of, aud nud.r the npcrati ms OF which
even the poorest Of the p"'r might reap in
c.lcuable advantages. and whose minds might
i've cultivated aud Improved. AMI br.u hit up
to such degree OF intellrctu. improvement
nd refinement as you'd make them tn rough
and accomplished gentlemen, blessing t
community. ornaments in society, aud a"
honor t. the State OF Maryland, or. perhaps,
<nch As the whole country might feel pr"n'i
10 recognize aud own. But. alas alas ! h."
tie golden opportunities are allowed t. pass
by unimproved, and. in very many instances.
wholly and entirely neglected. We are all
aware that there is much gross ignorance
storkin. abroad all over our beloved State.
even though we live in the full midday blaz
If educational aud intellectual progression; =
period in our history 10 which the dark and
beDighted mi nd aud understanding of every
man may be lighted up by the means and the
agencies employed to advance education. and
intellectual improvement, and moral culture
held out to every one, both rich and p,~r a
like, with lavish hand. These means and
advantages are within the reach Of every mar.
be his situation 10 life what it may; all. all
may reach forth and grasp the precious jewel
at will, freely and without price. But how
sal is the fact, yet how true that 10 our every
day business and intercourse with men we
meet, in nearly every community. with those
whose minds are uninproved. uncultivatei
and as unrefned, comparatively speaking. as
the poor Irresponsible dumb brute. Aud 10
thousands of cases these very men are the
fathers Jf families, who have resting u!~n
them the grave, moral responsibility Of strain
ing up child 10 the way he should go" w..
| would ask, are such men prepared or in
any way fitted 10 discharge 30 important a
duty! In some instances they even deny
that il il essential 70 educate their children or
allow them the privileges and advantages Of
fered shem by tho State to improve their in
telIect. because they, the parents. we're them
selves uneducated. and have. in some way or
other. gotten along through the world, as il
were per force th1Aamany little children are
forced t. grow uu The xrnssest iguorancy
.Chera, ara lha ~ faA..s -ssiiAAaassza,lI11l
their children y AMI, as s"'n as they
begin b. read and Write little and are b..
coming interested. Immediately take them
from sch"I and put them to s"ne sort of
drulgery und-r'.he prstext that they, the
children. cann"t be spared longer, they hav.
learned enough aud now they must he tansh
to work thus they. too often, grow up fitted
frr no business whatever except manual Ia
bm, and very often we find them too lazy fm
even that. or have no management il they
have the Industry, which conceive to he the
cause of our having in onr midst 81 man,
that are SO mlserahly poor and almost entire
~ destitute. and who can live only day
\ time, ~ it were. never being able t. 'ru
| muate and keep together anything for "l'i
aye or "a rainy day" While snch state .:
ignorance exists have we not its .ur mi's All
on .rau,s e,ii7 II does exist. and an. qn''
sure no prudent man. no man "f Infe:l'ge ce
or tx ,erience vii! dare contradict the ASST
LII.
light and knowledge? Is it folly t" be wise
Ii ignorance is bliss, then, aud only then, It's
folly tn be wise.
In my experience during the past twelve
N nths have been aud am still living
witness to just what have here stated, aud
| have had the opportunity ais" OF knowing
personally, that tnere are hundreds "f people
now residing ia this State aud near the CRY
Of Washins t,n, who though they are Ell
ell in the various pursuits If agriculture, h"r-
.iculture, trades and ,ratfi ., cruelty neser'
to avail themselves of the "pp"rtu titles offer
ed them 20 educate their children iecently. III
our public schools. We claim to be . fires
people, aud b,ast Of it,; but have We the RICH
to deny to our children the advantages AM
blessings Of an education, even though We be
ID free people? Does not every father ano
mother owe to their children, Their State. thel'
country and their God most responsible
duty, the first steps towards the discharge d
which devolves upon them the necessity o
developing all the powers OF the mIn'is +"
their little cues, SD that when they stall ar
rive at maturity, and their State or then
countryside land OF their nativity-sIial
call upon them to perform their pant Of TIT
drama 10 the theatre of the world, that they
then might 60 forth fully armed aud equip
ped. with minds well sucked with useu
knowledge. to combat successfully agaIus
the suorld if Deeds be.
Our State State Legislature has placed tn
means within the reach of all. We have I
grand system Of education which every man
yes, every little by, need well feel proud OF
Aud think, YES, will say know, that it i
the duty Of every man to accept the git
offered him for his children, which is FREE
education, and upon refusal or neglect on tn
part of any parent to accept the precious
priceless gift, the State Of Maryland shoul'
become ,nsolssd a. the disrerpect and con