New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-06-23
MISS MORRIS.

This lady has, during the past month
hlled SO large space before the public
that no apology is needed for this per
sonal reference. In the short space O,
three weeks Miss Morris has, through the
efforts of her detractors, become more
widely known than otherwise she would
have been in years.
1t is but month since the lady reached
our State, coming at the invitation of the
State Superintendent of Education, to
assist in the series of teachers institutes
then about to be held in accordance with
the requirements of law.
Born and reared in the West, having
her home on the borders of our own
Southern land, descended on the paternal
side from an old Virginia family, and,
combining with the energy and ardor of
the stock from which she sprung the cul-
ture derived from thorough instruction in
the best training schools of the North,
she could not be blamed for expecting a
reception in this city such as would have
given her at least the justice of an i'm. ar
tial hearing A Christian lady, gentle
and unassuming in her manners, as far as
possible removed from the popular ideal
of ''strong minded woman" she needed
but to be known to be appreciated
But that portion of the press which
has hitherto antagonized every move
ment in the interests of popular edu-
cation determined that this should not be.
The hint was given to the Bohemians of
the press, and at the mere announcement
of her arrival the whole pack INDUCED in
a concerted cry Of Indignation and dis
may. She was woman (which was
enough to fire the valorous hearts of the
youngsters who do small writing for the
papers. She came from the North,-that
was an aggravation of the crime. She as
sumed to be fitted to assist at an institute
composed largely of teachers born and
educated at the South. This, to the mi
croscopic minds who deemed the circle of
their own sparse attainments the compass
of all knowledge, was thing not to be
borne, and the reportorial corps de-
termined to extinguish this Northern
light" ere their own wings should be
singed
They have done their best. All that
rather weak satire, ungenerous detraction
and inuendo could accomplish has been
attempted and failed to accomplish the
end intended. 1t is now past and forms
a portion of the current history of our
times.
Miss Morris has performed her work,
bearing up nobly under the senseless op-
position to which she has been exposed,
and before these lines will appear in print
she will be far on her way to her home,
carrying with her the affection and respect
of that large body of our teachers who !
met her in the institutes she has attended |
and who learned, by personal observation,
to appreciate her worth.
An old proverb declares that expert |
ence teaches; THIS, though received by |
sane men everywhere, seems to be in
applicable where prejudice rules the
mind.
Yet it remains truth that, in read
ing, thinking community, no person can
be permanently injured, far less de-
5troyed, by unmerited abuse. 1t will re-
act upon its authors, and awaken, as it
has IN the case of Miss Morris, the SYM
oathy and support of those whose coun-
5enance is Of the highest value; and
should this lady revisit our State she
will be greeted by hosts of friends, all
he truer and warmer because of the un-
provoked assaults to which she has been
subjected.