The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-11-04

for Compulsory Education al Mounds
riAe and ElssThsre.
NoUNDsvILLE, November ., 1874.
sll;Ors CT the Intelligercer.
halloween was enjoyed hugely by the
li,letolks in Moundsville, and the usual
amount Of cabbage was thrown Bgainst
doors, boxes piled in the streets, wagons
hauled in out.oi.the.WAy places, &c. II
seems TO me that the good Old times OF
Halloween are done away with, when the
young folks used 10 to meet and try to
read their future destinies in various
ways, which, although 1t may have been
very foolish, was OF times very enjoyable,
sud have not doubt that the destiny OF
many a-swain and many fair damsel has
been shaped 10 greater or less degree st
those pleasant meetings. We don't hear
Of these good times any more, but as we
sre not young folks now, we may not
know all that Is taking plsce among that
class, as we once did. 30, for fear we are
not posted, We will say no more on this
subject.
We were glad to see your editorial Of
Friday morning on the subject Of com.
pllsOry education. have been an sd-
vocatC Of the measure for yesrs, and at
times have spoken in its favor when It
was very unpopular to do SO. l hope
that your remarks my awaken an inter-
est on the subject In different parts Of the
State, and that 1t may be sgitated 80
til at our Legislators will be compelled to
consider the matter. Alter years OF care.
tul consideration Of the subject / have
reached the conclusion, that the only way
10 which we as nation will be permit
ted TO reap all the great results that may
dow from our common schools Is TO have
a.law compelling attendance, In Mounds
vile we have a school population Of
about geo. About 400 OF these are at
present on our school rolls-parhaps no!
over 500 will be enrolled during the year.
At least 100 Of these do not attend
oitenor than one or two days per week.
10 some instances parents allow them 10
remain away, but there are con-
siderable number who seem 10
be- beyond parental authority or
are hAbitual truants and are thus grow
ing up in worse thsn ignorance. Iwoud
venture the assertion that there are at
least fifty children at present running the
streets that could be, and should be, at
school. There may be twice that num-
Der, but know am safe IN the number
mentioned. Something should be done
when we have such abundant provisions
made for the education Of all ofthe proper
school age. II has almost passed into an
axiom that au uneduCated ballot is the
winding sheet OF liberty. a Monarchy
may exist for ages with the masses in ig-
norance, but We contend that q Republic
cannot, and It behooves US as a nation, II
we wish to stand the changes Of time
and outlive the wreck Of empires
and Kingdoms, to see TO It that
there are lot only provisions made
tor the education Of all the masses, but
also thst all the masses receive the benefits
of the same. We now have II, 900 voters
in chr State who can neither read nor
write-Guough to hold the balance Of
power in their hands. What Is true Of
West Virginia is true OF nearly every
other state. This is not happy comment
upon our system OF public instruction,
but it is true and we cant disguise the
TACT il we would. This 10 not the fault
Of the system, but it is to be found in the
fact that great many Of our people will
not become the recipients Of the advan.
tages offered. say let US reap the full
benefit even il we are compelled to resort
- compulsory law. Y.