The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-08-05
OUR ROlINEY LETTER.
RostSEY, W. Va, August 3

RoNtSEY, ". Va, August 3.
Editors Of tho Intelligence:
have now spent more than q week in
Romney, and when not engaged inmy reg
Mar labors Of the day l have had the
privilege Of freely mingling among the
people Of the village, and think ! know
some little Of their feelings on the subject
Of popular education. On the subject OF
education in the abstract all agree as to
it's importance, and indeed, prior TO the
war, Romney boosted Of her schools, /. e.,
private schools, and the children OF those
parents who were able to send 10 those
schools received even more than an ordi-
nary education; but since the war these
schools have been almost u failure, and
the public schools are now depended on
for the training OF the youth. But 1t
stands as fact that the public schools OF
Hampshire county have not met the
wants OF the people-in many instances
they have proved miserable failures. The
causes OF this arc numerous, but natural.
There were but few young men and ladies
in the county capable OF teaching
who would engage in the occupation,
from The fact that the public school sys-
TEN itself was repugnant 10 the mass Of
people. Hence, class Of young ladies
and gentlemen must be educated for the
work. This has not, as yet, been accom-.
plished entirely and the consequence is
that at the head OF these schools in many
instances are those who are incompetent.
MANY OF these teachers are now in at.
tendance at our Institute and are in earn.
est and very anxious to learn, and look
for great impetus TO be given to the
schools during the coming winter from
the inspiration received by our meetings
together. But another good omen is Wis
ible. The strong predjudice OF the masses
against the school system Is giving way
and the bitter opposition 10 it is
ceasing, and as one Of the prominent citi.
zens expresses it, they at least are "catch'
ing the tune Of the times, "and the future
OF Hampshire county on the school ques-
ton will be quite different from what il
has been in tie past. The Romney school
has already done good work although it
has been in operation but four months in
tile year, butwhen thegraded school talked
OF, is established and the real advantage
Of the system is seen and felt all opposi-
ton will disappear and the people will
be a. jealous and earnest in its support
~ they have heretofore been bitter in
their opposition.
Romney, although isolated somewhat
from the want Of railroad commune
cation is q place Of some note. It Ia
surprising the amount done by the mer.
chants, but it is accounted for easily
when we consider tho large area Of coun-
try, the inhabitants OF which have no
other place for the transaction Of bust.
ness. Hence we find Romney the market
for a large area ofcountry someot which
is very productive, and could the rail.
road now in process Of erection be finish
ed we can see in 1t a great help to not on.
" the place, bat the entire country.
Hacks run from this place to Green
Spring Run, Keyser and Winchester, and
the travel in each direction seems to be
considerable, and from the rates charged
the proprietors are no doubt doing a thriv-
ing business and these gentlemen may
not be 80 jealous as some others in push
ing forward the completion Of the rail-
road.
Last evening our Institute was ad.
dressed by Maj. Covell, Principal Of the
Institution for the Deaf, Dumb and
Blind. The meeting was held in the NJ.
E. Church, and large and appreciative
audience was in attendance. His subject
was "The restoration OF the sign language
10 the dignity Of a spoken language 1t
was ably handled and practical illus.
trations Of the subject were given BY
Prof. ChidiSter, mute and teacher OF
the institution. The whole performance
was well received by the audience. The
points made by the speaker were that the
sign language was the first language used,
and that all language Is made much more
effective blythe use ofsigns or gestures
that especfallyis this the case with Ian.
guage in It's crude state. The Chinese
languages was referred to, showing that
as Il consists almost entirely OF monoSylEI
Liable expressions, signs are used to show
the meaning that the senseless jargon OF
the language itself cannot convey. He
closed by urging the restoration OF this
sign language in its perfection In the
education Of the mute!
ourIInstitute has greatly increased this
week both in numbers and in interest.
About fifty are enrolled, nearly all being
teachers. A motion was made yester-
day TO form q county Institute of the |