Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-02-02
LETTER FROM MONTGOMERY TWP.
soHoo1s-roRu.rIoy OF CHARACTER.

sCHooLs-FoRMATIoN OF CHARACTER.
A traveller in sterile, rocky region Of New
Hampshire musng on the poverty of agrculu
raj resources, met rough looking Yankee farm
er. Psttng on an air of perplexity as he cast
his eye over the scanty patch of s.oney soil be
inquired, "What do you raise here, sir ?" The
farmer replied with emphasis as he caught the
strangers eye, "men, sir" Stranger still
musing, but in different train of thought) "a
pretty good kind OF stock and somewhat scarce
Farmer" Why-yes, in some sections. We
read Of a satircal philosopher who once it
candle to see if he could find "a man in the an
cent city Of Athens" Stranger -"Ah sup
pose he needed light on that subject ?" Farmer
VERY likely but men ought to be plenty
here in the United States when we need so many
to man the Ship of State" The traveller took
bis departure still muslnG.
II this story is true, they were engaged in a
very profitable kind of business away 10 the
rocky regions of New Hampshire, and If stoney
soil is favorable to this quality Of that crop, one
might wish there Were more stones. But that
kind Of stock depends very much upon the treat
rAent received in our schools. II boy can be
taught 10 be trusty, that is the corner stone OF
manhood. care not for the boy who can be
trusted only while under your eye. Give US a
good old-.ashinned honest boy who can neither
Rae bought, ror sold, nor scared. This education
for honesty must not be deferred to tho sphere oi
citizenship. We have a great deal of political
swearing In our courts of Justice, and a great
deal out side, IS to that matter. One would sup
pose at times that the popular opinion required
Of a candidate for Office the ability to swear out
r'undly and above boarl in all kinds of compa-
ny, as grand qualification. But let us inquire
alter all that is said and done about the form of
On oath, what is our security as a nation The
owners oftaxable property, the juror, the wit
n ,sS before the courts AID every ofIlce-hoder is
sworn. Something after this sort 'You SOL
emily swear that you will tell nothing but the
truth, or you will fulfill your trust to the best Of
your abilty-so help me God" Now do You
suppose any one can be found so beautifully in
nOoenttas to believe that fer the purpose Of ma
king men honest this form Of an oath is worth
as much as the paper on which 1t is written
Take sHeh a. case as that of His Excel lency, An
dy Johnson. He, probably, when under the
stimulus Of liquor, swore har3 blfore and after
he took the oath Of office. Yet majority of hi
people think that God did not help him much
Or take the case Of Boss Tweed, or his ring or
any others of like fame. But says one, if Ne is
caught swearing falsely twill be States Pris-
on offence. But perhaps you can not catch hun
Orif you can, the race may be too long and ex-
= i've. The dishonest man may run long
en- ugh to do the State immense mischief. The
court house is not the surest place TO teach hon
Osty. The State prison is poor and costly
place 10 which 30 teach honesty. The cheapest
Gnd best place is in the school house among the
boys. That 10 the best house OF orectOn
The State entrusts them to the care of the
teachers at the early age of Ave. Perhaps there
is no better period in which to iAculcae honest
principles. Here they come trooping into the
IcAool-room. Those are honest faces, honest eyes
mud honest hearts. Not one thief or robber
amang them--Go bless the little innocent ones
mot oae candidate for the States prison among
them all. Teacher! do your duty and no one o.
ihat happy group upon whom God has written
the image of purity will ever be found bending
dsya with shame aSd SORROW in felOn's cell
Do yoa say this is heaping burdens upon the
eacher Never fear. II is grand burden.
IAN honest ma b is the noblest work of God, ;
sie true to yourself, honest, noble, model teach
er. fyou are untrue, those little fellows will
quickly catch the infection. Never froKn upon
or punish boy for being tCathful. Many poor
fellow has been whipped and maddened, and
pushed into wckedness. Let the COURT that tries
tbe boys all along through school-boy days, be
= coupt Jf equity aud a court of appeal. II eVeJ
once wrong lot the teacher at once got right.
oh! dc not ever be ashamed to make confess
ion ko,the boys. Teach them { at The most
manly trs. is to get up out ofa wrong-"If to
err is human" to get out of an error is Divine
As the guardians Of the public virtues appointed
by the State invade ihe ONES and the heanhs
Of the BOYS, they are Uncle Sans boys. II
ihe parents are training them up 40 dishonesty
aud you can rot io any belt's, discharge a mur-
tar Of fre aud hrimst ne uTon these moral cor.
supiors of the youth and blow them mp The
sIrsis ., ihe sla.s lem nls III, sacrifice.
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