The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-03-20
A Want supplied.

To tho Editors Of the 1ntelllgeneer.
The people Of Wheeling are SO engroes-
ed in the pursuit Of business, that many
issues Of high importance 10 tie commu-
nifty are concealed from view. Theman.
ufacturing interests Of the city receive the
impulse Of the highest energy and intelli.
gence, while questions Of popular educa.
ton, such as would find their solution In
q suitable Opera House, in u Reading
Room and Library adequate to the wants
OF twenty thousand people,-in well
organized High School, or in the placing
ola fund with which 10 found q Universal
~, where the benefits Of a liberal educa'
ton may be obtained--are hidden away,
and the issues involved arc postponed, in
imitation Of the policy pursued by Webster,
Clay and Calhoun, who ;toresaw the crlSis
of'6it To '65 In their day, but were afraid
to meet It. 30 the people Of Wheeling
fully appreciate to-day the urgent DC
mand existing for increase OF lacillles In
their midst, and yet take no steps 10
further the development OF system OF
higher education than the common
schools ofthe city at present afford. 81
We cannot refrain from expressing Our
deep conviction that the time Is not fur
distant when the professional men in the
city, the clergymen, the physicians, the
lawyers and all college graduates--for
upon oil these lies the heavier obligation
shall take the initiative in layingthe plans
Tor u scheme of education which shall
afford TO all young men In this locality,
the highest and most numerous facilities
for education consistent with wealth, the
intelligence and the population Of the city.
To-day, u young man nuOt be sent away
from homo to receive the instruction requi'
site to enter college. Inmany cases, young
nen-who have no intention Of taking q
collegiate course, yet, eager TO go just a
little further than the Public Schools take
them-are compelled 10 forego any add.
tional course Of study, through lack Of an
High School, IN Academy, or what not.
The Public Schools, for aught we
know, arc accomplishing their appointed
work, efficiently. What We say, is, that
the people OF Wheeling are certainly not
satisfedgto rest content with the highest
point reached by the Common Schools
as sufficient and always adequate for
their children for many that'it is, is un-
deniable for many that 1t Is insufficient
and inadequate, isalsO undeniable.
We conteAd, at this point, that the in.
telligence OF the community should be
not only alive to the serious import Of
these facts, but also quick and ready IA
extend encouragement and all possible
support, toall attempts to raise the stand.
ard oil education and to create facilities
for higher course Of study than is nov
pursued in the Free Schools. 8 a'aH
Another fact, and one which causes re-
greet to the thoughtful, and which is anat
ural and necessary result of the narrow
scope allowed TO education in our commu
nifty, is the exceedingly small number o.
professional men foremost in the pulpit, a
the bar, or in the practice of rmedicine
who have been trained up to their probes.
sion or even received a part Of their edu
cation in this city. This ID q manufacture
ing community. Everybody is not ex
pected, however, 10 acquire the rudiment
Of knowledge and then to take a seat at {
nail machine. What is there in the city
to foster q love for learning, for science, o.
for art! How many sons Of substantial
business men take up the study Of pro
lessionY Another pregnant fact is, tina
the higher intellectual wants of. society
are supplied and minlstered to in this cit
in almost every sphere by strangers. Gu
sons are all growing up business men.
An institution under private or public
patronage should be founded here, q
which young men in the pursuit of thei
studies shall become imbued with low
for letters in general, or for the law, tn
pulpit, or for civil engineering. .,
Let the thoughtful, atIeCtionate, and We
morally responsible fathers look back o.
the history Of Wheeling Tor the las
ten years, and they will see n
civil engineers, no bridge builders
no architects, no surveyors, no editors, n
machinists skilled and graduated-olthei
own raising. What young men hay
taken course in chemistry and metal
lurgy, that they might be better qualifiet
to take their fathers places in our mill
and furnacesP sl1 sd.e I'll b
Wheeling has not increased so rapidly
in. size and wealth as to be excused 70
allowing these high offices to be filled b,
men born and educated elsewhere. Thu
reason we do not raise up young mel
from among our own sous 10 step int
these high stations is obvious. The stat(
OF education is inadequate to the higheI
wants Of society. The system Of cduca
ton carries one through the rudiments o.
knowledge, and with outstrctched arm
and finger pointing TO our nail mills ant
wholesale houses, tells him-"Now, young
man, you are ready to go into business
Can We not hear the voice OF well. dc
fathers who have chosen for son another
calling than business? fave the heads
of families, tho pillars Of the churches, the
prominent leaders in society, leagueG
together toput every son into business
Is mercantlle 1lIr, with us distressing
failures, it's double dealings and its pre-
maturely old men--more lucrative thar
the practice oil medicine? or more hon.
ora6le or than the practice o(law More
lucrative or honorable than q position as
civil engineer,in chiefof q railway?
ADVANCE,