The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-10-09

MON DAY MORNING. 4 : ! y Z \ G.. I
/. TIE LAfE JAMES n. BTNFORD. =
MEETING OF PUDLIc.sCHooL PRINCIPALS
AND. TEACHERS IBUTEs
TO THE LATE Observation-Disclosures
TAKEN TO ERECT a MONUMENT TO. HIS
MEMORY. ...4t3: u .a5s.75:.s5fi -
1t a general meeting OF the principals
and teachers Of the Richmond public
schools held on Saturday last at 10 a. n. at
the High-School Messrs. w. B. McGllYray,
w. f. Fox, and J. Fl. Peay, Jr., special
committee appointed at a previous meet
| ing to prepare suitable tribute ofrespect
to the memory Of j. III. Binford, late SUI
perintendent OF Schools, submitted the fol
lowing: ~ = z q asts5s
No man knoweth the time Of his going,
and no man knoweth when his work shall
cease: whether the shadow shall faIl on his
footprints at noon or lmger on his path till
evening come. The place OF toll, the way.
side rest, the health-giying fountains fall,
honors cannot stay, unfinished plans cannot
| delay-nor love, nor friends restrain-the
shadow. 1t follows all l. And we again
have felt its near approach- near Onr
head, our guide and leader, is gone. We
feel the loss, and would unite our sorrows.
in this simple tribute, which can find no
suitable form for its expression. ;.a,1 ,sia.i s
! The life which was so well wrought in
! the short period OF his public career gave
large promise Of more abundant yields But
the confident expectation OF his associates,
the high hopes OF his friends, and the pub
lie service Of his native city, have alike felt
Che shock; for the shadow fell ere his lie
had reached its noon. But the work to
which he committed his energies remains as
the legacy of the life it consumed, and the
public schools Of our city will for years to
come preserve the impulse OF his directing
hand.
a sense OF orr mutual loss prompts the
hope that this tribute OF respect for the
memory Of our late Superintendent may be
an assurance to his family and friends that
we deeply sympathize with them in the
great sorrow that has darkened their home
stead.
On motion of Mr.. e. W. Cone the report
was unanimously adopted. After which,
Mr.. w. +. Fox, in reference to the life and
character Of the deceased spoke rs follows:
We all deeply feel the great loss that we
have sustained. Let us improve this occa-
sion to call up some OF the characteristics Of
him who has gone.
The supreme moving motive-the con-
trolling principle of his life-was the inter-
ests OF the public schools. They seemed
ever present to his mind. No matter where,
no matter when, the schools were upper
most in his thoughts. All else was subser-
Went to them. Health, private interests,
pleasure, were all sacrificed to their advance
ment. All else was made tributary to their
improvement. He never went into any
assembly or into the company OF any teach
ers that he did not constantly ask how can
use this for the benefit Of my schools. lie
never read q book or q periodical that he
did not Gull out, If possible, some Thought
which could be made advantageous to them:
He was characterized by high sense OF
duty. In his official relations he knew no
man: he acted simply upon his conscien-
tious convictions Of the needs OF the Sys-
tenn. His ideas on this subject may be best
expressed by quoting a sentiment OF his
own: owe fail in our duty if we allow our
sympathies to warp our Judgment"
He was possessed OF a clear, cool ludg-
ment, He was not quick to express 1udg-
ment on any case, especially in the later
years of his life, till he knew al the circum-
stances that surrounded it, and then he
gave decision which rarely failed to COM
mand the appreciation Of oil parties.
The steady, tlnfaltering purpose with
which he pursued his ends was one OF his
marked characteristics. He formed a clear
conception OF the object he sought to reach,
and worked ceaselessly to, secure it. Ii it
could be obtained by direct means, he pre-
ferred to use them; but II opposition ar
rayed itself against him. he was skilful to
allay prejudice here, to arouse an interest
there, and step by step advance towards the
attainment OF his wishes.
He felt always deep interest in the wei
fare OF his teachers, and never failed to
advance their interests on every suitable
opportunity.
Into the privacy OF the domestic circle
we may not enter; but the characteristics
of his home life may be briefly expressed
in the words OF one intimate in his family,
"Oh, he made his home so happy"
| Let us sympathiZe with the living; let us
emulate his virtues and most truly honor
his memory by bringing up to his ideal the
system which he so successfully ylnaugurated.
Mr. McGilvray concluded with a lew
appropriate remarks, setting forth the high
| 1Qeal WHICH MI. uoo SSo oSAoA VAN
corps, and his happy facility in working up
his teachers to this standard.
On motion is was resolved to send copy
of the above to his family, and to ask the
School Board to have the same spread upon
! its records.
After the adoption Of this tribute Mr.
Pcay stated that it being the purpose OF the
principals and teachers to erect an appro'
pirate monument to the memory OF the late
Superintendent, permission is granted the
teachers to receive collections from those
scholars in their respective schools VINO may
desire to participate in this mark OF respect,
the teachers to report the sums collected a1
their meeting to be held 1st November next
TOURNAMENT AND BALL AT WASHINGTON
AND HENRY ACADEMY.-On Friday the semi
annual tournament and ball took place a'
Washington and Henry Academy, which Is
situated about six miles from the city. Ihe
bellies and beaux OF the county were there
in great numbers, and the young ladies
looking so beautiful ard sweet that it must
have been q hard task for the victorious
knight to decide in the selecting OF his
queen. The knights, seventeen in number,
did some handsome riding, and, as in the
days OF old, each We'd manfully with the
other to salute as queen the lady OF bis
heart The successful knight was Mr.
Tnhr How, ,,yho 40 KNIGHT of New Kent,