The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-06-14

AS intimateu IN the eginning, whether
the reasoning IN favor OF ffsigh Schools be
logically conclusive or lot, the people near,
to have them. Thernle il that wherever
you find a city system OF public education
there Is o High School as the apex. The
extremely few exceptions to this are to be
accounted for by special reasons. Expe-
rience has shown that the higher branches
will be taught in city system In some form
or other, and thasshe,i Il has once assumed
the form OF High School, opposition To- 1t
is only a waste Of time and cause OF need
less; strife.
An illustration has Just occurred in the
city OF Lyncbburg, where the question Of
High School or no High School was made
a direct issue at the polls In the election OF
councilmen. The decision was overwhelm-
ingly in favor OF re6penibg and maiBtain-
ing the High School. Among the white
voters the majority was nearly three to
one.
One OF the chief characteristics OF this
age is that men and women are at length
| recognized as the great factors in public
| prosperity that whatever be the value Of
farms and factories, Of rivers and railroads,
| OF mines and merchants, Of city balls and city
parks. that beneath all, and around all, and
above oil, is the character Of the people, on
wbon, the community is to depend for all
these things. Men make cities; therefore
cities must make men.
The subject OF
DIR. LAFFERTY's ADDRESS
was "The Progress Made in the Last
Fifty Years. This be instanced in the
sciences, in railroad and telegraph commu-
nications, in morality, and many other
things. The address was departure from
the usual line Of commencement speeches,
and its novelty was, therefore, the more at
| tractiye. The comparisons be made between
things as they were Fifty years ago and are
to-day were very humorous, and his descrip-
lions vivid. At times the speaker was eX-
tremely witty, and at times again eloquent.
He kept the attention OF his audience
young as well as old-For fully nm hour, and
received their frequent applause. s,.
MIR. Lafferty impaired great deal of yalu-
able information and instruction to his au-
dicnce under his veil OF levity and bumor,
and exhibited much research and study.
DISTRIBUTION OF CERTIFICATES.
A large number OF certificates were dis
tributed for proficiency in studies, deport-
ment, and punctuality. The two gold me-
tlals voted by the School Board were given
to Miss Amy Rosenstock and Miss Emma
Bingham.
COURT MATTERS.
At. Halstead, OF this city, was Yesterday
convicted in the County Court of Prince
George OF unlawfully shooting Miles Muir
ply, and his term OF Imprisonment in the
penitentiary fixed at two years. His coun-
sci moved for new trial, and the Court re-
served its decision.
The Circuit Court has been engaged all
day 10 the examination OF witnesses in the
case OF VickerS Us. The City OF Manches-
ter. Three witnesses were on the stand
Messrs. Johnson, Perdue, and Walden, OF
Manchester. AT O'Clock this evening the
court adjourned until 10 O'Clock Monday
morning. The Court will not sit tomorrow
because OF the death OF near relative Of
one Of the jurors. Four or five more wit
nesses are to be examined. and the case will
probably be protrscted into Tuesday.
I r.. ROBIN ADAIR.