Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-09-17
Something More About Oar Barba-


WASHINGTON, ID. O., Sept. 18th, 1872.
Editor StGr:-Your correspondent. Z" O - on
" Barbarians in Our Midst" has touched on a
matter that deserves more than a passing u0tjce.
Agitatr! agitate! agitate! and this, with many
other evils. shall be corrected. Passing scFOgs
the AgTigu ltural grounds, 1 caught little fe.-
low blazing away with his rubber gun at happy
family of swallows. When I asked him 10 come
10 me he ran as hard as be could jump, and
after him. You would have laughed to see the
chase. l ascertained that he was a runaway
from school, just like thOuS .udS of children of
al nauonalities that no school law exists on tha
District statute books to relch. Ignorant. ire
spOnsible parents are allowed TO do as they like
about schooling their children. and the public
i perfectly pOwerless to protect ITSELF except -
fine OF inCarcerste these young renegades. Had
the police the n ght 20 put the psrent-the real
responsible party-tO the test a. u tie schooling
OF the child, and hEe OF needed, much EVIL
besides such as &C." mentions could be cor
rected. Let us have school Law, city fGIherS, At
once. One point will then be gained. Through
school hours business will be provided
tor idle heads and hands, and 1.-The DEVILS
workshop" turned over to rishttul tenants.
Have you taken a close look at the motley
crows that a passing band and procession VII,
turn up? What school are they out of, and who
is their teacher; what board looks after them?
Sir, that crowds q problem possible of solution;
and Washington, like every other community,
must solve IL for itself as an act of money saving
Now, then, word TO General Babcock as a
public teacher; and may be excused il give
my experience. The past summer il was my
from beach No. ] to beach No. 2 a beautiful
walk is laid out along the 'clifis," across the
private grounds of quite a number of wealthy
gentlemen. AT two places only signs were up
with reference to the grass. One was Z" Please 10
not scdLk on the grass, !" and the other ives keep
off the grass" The first sign made me feel like
a gentleman, that was regaI ded as such, and
was heartily welcome to the private grounds TO
drink in the ath-gying, cool breezes from
old ocean; TO refresh my soul in contemp alton
of the grandeur Of nature; to have my heart
softened-made CENTER by the deep gratitude
we owe to natures God for the gift. 1 took
look at that palatial seaside home, and seemed
to see the hearty good cheer shining forth from
its windows, and - Be at rest, friend written
everywhere. He is man, (I said,) and
caught a little of his regard for man.
But when the 80 Keep OF the grass" sign was
come TO, CONCENTRATIONS and refreshments OF
soul, and welcomes and good cheer were knocked
higher than kite. His whole place frowDet
Judging from my feelings, land am not mil Ike
everybody else,) il L had the generals power.
every 50 Keep or the grass" on the public grounds
should come down at once, and grand acknOwl-
edgment of " manhood in man" take its place,
like " Please do not walk on the gross" 90 BOYS,
please protect the birds" In cOntradistinction
with the aScribed civilization, our lrk0ls civil
ization must be ms de evident bv - c." Gen
B." you and /, Mr.. Editor, teachers, pre9Ch-
ers, citizens-i e, the highest first and the low
est afterwards.
May say something at another time throu IN
the potential STAR on the waste Of our social
forces? f,