Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1874-07-04
VIM. I. Wilson's Address.

practical address Of cur towusman, WM. l..
Wilson, Esq, delivered before the Board of
REGENTS, Trustees, &c, Of Shepherd College At
its late Commencement upon the subject Of
Popular Education aud Normal Schools. We
knoe uo one more capable Of discussing intel
H-euty The theme selected by him.
According 90 the census Of 1870 there were
nearly so 0g0 persons 10 this state over the age
of DO years unable 90 read, upwards Of $1,000
uuable 90 write. Think Of the startling and
melancholy Act.-one out of every SIX OF the
native white population OF The state above the
age OF 10. one cut ul every ten above The age
o. 81 wears, unable o. write Aud when it is
reeemtered how hit.e of actual education aud
intelligence may consist with the ability 10
scraUi ones maine. 10 viii De- seen how great the
ilGtcracy within oar borders aud what an III
luencc it wie'ls 10 our government. To meet
t.e educational wants OF tae state the same
ccusuS reports about 2500 sghnoS, 81 which
only a were private Schools. while over 23OO
were pr.mqrv district schools These facts
show couc.usNey that the hope and reliance
of our State Tor general education Is 10 her
primary schools, and that the work before Us
us people Is OBJ build up a thoroughly efficient
system Of primary schools la this our State
q, not peculiar Tor tbc [ $ Commissioner of
+ lucauon hooking over The whole country tells
Us that nineteen tWeuueths of our youth get
no other school education than that which Is
furnished iu the primary schools. They are
emphaucaIy the schools Of the people,
nurseries iu which the vast majority Of citizens
are trained 60 meet their political and social
duties. 10 raise the general intelligence we
must raise tae standard OF obstruction IN these
schools
am profoundly convinced that there is
great audi Cats. error iu the current idea as to
The dignity aui importance Of early instruction
AND ,he measure aud character of qualifications
requisite o. iupdrt %. With us
us elsewhere tuc notion has been Ton prevalent
chat very small amount of education sutlices
f.r the conduct Of a district school that these
schools are the legitimate support Of young
men aud women while preparing for some
other vocation. the natural and appropriate
asy.uus Tor iullleGt mechanics aud broken
down professional men, This idea takes uo
note of the .act already presented that these
schools are ,he s,lc reliance 0f SD vast q mainr-
ity OF oar youth Cor educational privileges, nor
ot tbe further act that the kind of instruction
Their, impaired decides in many individual
cases whether the young shall aspire Co further
education. acquiring thirst On. knowledge aud
an ambition or self ca tUTe, oY shall early inn
bte dis,as,c for learning and Gisiuciuation
lur mental effort For frequently the young
pupil is urneI ever 90 them just as the powers
~ isuud are beginning o. unfold. powers
ga rrrsr
summa,c skill aad knowledge Cor tbe devel.pe
meut. AMI bow often must we feel that the
e'oiousy expanding bud is forever blishted
through ignorance, incapacity and neglect
thlt chords from which the hands % @ master
could have evoked music that would have shed
It's blessings 900 through life are rendered tune
less aaj tiscoulaut forever under tie rude aud
hua-.iay touch ot igUoTant pre,eulers. To
every human breast IS implanted @ craving for
knowledge That may beQuickeucd and purified
.r jclleuci and depnyel forever. The thirst
tlat from tbe sou, duth rise demands . drink
divine. aud Instead oi this divine beverage,
pure asl sparkling from the living fountain,
only the nu. and upi>1me jregs ol the stag
uaut poo, De prudered 60 the thirstns pilgrim,
no wonder taat DE reject them With ioathiug
and disgust.
49, 80 A. ID . Ill =
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,.i,l. I'M I...,,a history b1v, b.en' ,l,v, in
-l..r l...pI. ,...,.-.t or tlat unusual Industry
a.i r.,uri vs.r d' frequently make up in
after hIs the early waste oi time aud want Of
cs.-rr,. t.ay.w without qualification that
every Geld of intellectual effort abouuds iu
aanes 90 meu whose subsequent greatness
vas emily iir,laIowej by ths most astuuish-
lug precocity. rera o. the orators aud see
Deme,tle.e gaining his first @urelS iu a lee
si contest with fraudulent guardians at the
age oi 1.-THE boy Cicero attracting The pa
reuts oi IBIS p.y.edaws to the village scho'l oi
Arpwum O. witness lbs marvellous brightness.
Recall Gle glorious success es 90 Alexander,
Hannibal, >-'Wo, Napoleon 900 tler opening
manhood. The greatest names 900 modern
philosophy are Bacon and ih-scUie- the hr>t
was Che wonderful boy os the Court OF
Elizabeth, who threw 90 the bonds Of the Arls-
t,cian system aui struck ont the seminal
ideas 10 his Novum orSsuHu nc thc age of Is
the latter 40 O. still earlier age was dubbed " the