Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1879-01-09

discharged by the County Superintendent.
Fees arising from these duties could ap-
ply. The additional salary would not be
large.
On comparing the average cost of tut
ton in Ohio with those States that have
County Supervision, we find that we are
paying more per capita than they are.
The universal testimony coming from
those States where County Superintend-
ents is in vogue, is that intelligent super
vision lowers the cost of education. The
same law applies here as in other busi-
ness. True economy in education is prac-
teal when we get the best that can be had
and pay fair remuneration for it.
1t would require too much space to
speak of all the advantages arising from
having an earnest, enthusiastic, capable,
kind, sympathetic. God-fearing man in
every County at the head of school af-
fairs. Hundreds of failures would be
prevented every year, many timid teach
er would be strengthened, and eneour-
aged by timely advice. Bitter quarrels
and divided districts would often be har-
monized. Hundreds of suspensions
would be obyiated The best methods of
instruction would be in every teachers
possession. In short, chaos would yield
sway to law and order. How shall this
County Superintendent be chosen? By
all means it should not be political office.
When schools go into politics they go
down. In the first place a County Super
intendent should have five years. sue
cessful experince as a teacher. He should
be thoroughly posted in the science and
art of teaching. Should have knowl-
edge of school architecture. He should
hold certificate of qualifications from
| the State Board of Examiners.
Lastly he should be elected by a Coun-
ty Board, consisting of the President of
each Township Board. These safeguards
would insure the employment of compe-
tent men.
At the meeting of the State Grange at
Columbus last week, a resolution was
adopted asking the Legislature to grant
County Supervision of Schools. No one,
who understands the intent of this move
ment and practical working of Supervis-
ion, and who has the good of the schools
at heart, will oppose the passage of this
bill. Thousands throughout the State are
demanding its immediate enactment.
On the 10th and 11th of January, 1879,
there will be held at Columbus a General
Educational Meeting; to this meeting all
friends of popular instruction are invited.
Petitions from all points of the State will
then be presented asking for the Super
vision of the Ungraded Schools, as well as
for the Graded Schools.
CIV. OAkEs.
How the "Ntgger King" of Cairo Es-
| capped a DEOb.
Cincinnati Enquirer.
Jim Burtts was one of the rough demi-
gods of the Mississippi during the old
time of thirty years ago, when the banks
of the great river were infested from st.
Louis to New Orleans with pirates and
ruffans and the semi-brotherhood of
gamblers. He lived at Cairo for some
time, and kept a gambling boat at the
levee. He was the terror not only of the
ignorant negroes and white gamblers,
but of all order-loving people. He was
invincible in gam bling, and knew every
device for cheating. He was coal-black
! bullet-headed negro, who had bought his
freedom, and, from his terrorized rule OF
other negroes, was called the sFNiggel
King" The King had a popularity fire.
qnently observed in the fraternity OF
gamblers-he was strictly honest in bus
! frov Aod a
bill but once. On the memorable occa-
sion when he refused to pay bill he
swore that the claim was unjust, and he
was sued. The fact that Jim Burtis was
to be sued and brought into Court called
out big crowd of roughs. Through
them all the f'nigger'' marched into the
'Squire's office, smoking cigar calmly
with little tin cask under his arm. Thil
ne set down before him and removed the
cork. Then, addressing the Court, h,
said:
esquire, that bill amt just, and
don't owe it. This case is already decided
in my mind. 1 know you are prejudiced
against me, but if the case goes agains
me I'll stick this cigar into this keg o
powder, so help me God 20
There was a sensation but nobody dareC
intefere, and Jim smoked his cigar calm
lily. They knew he would do it. Th
''King'' never ''fooled.'' There was 4
sort of trial, and the Justice decided il
the negro's favor. AS the ''King'' wen
: to his boat with the keg of powder unde
: his arm, the mob began to gather an
: threaten. All whom he had cheated a
cards and terrorized by force joined il
: and Jim was told that he would be hum
or burned. He retreated to his boat, an
taking down. his gun, said he would xii
the first man who entered. They. kne7
: he would do it, and he lay entrenched i
i safety. When darkness came, however
I the mob procured oil and threw it owe
: the sides of the boat, and setting the WOO
afire, cut the cables. Then they drew IL
with guns ready to shoot their victim {
l. he came out on deck to escape the fire.
F The flames licked the structure rapidly
Shortly the ''King" appeared, cautiousl!
d bearing something in his arms. The me
'e watched curiously to see what he was @,
l. ing to do. He had his kitchen-stove
his arms, and stout rope was attache
Y from the stove to his neck. He turned
a the mob and cried out:
IL "oh, curse you, you'll never ketc
= Jim Burtis." Then leaped over the sit
into the water, and went to the botto
- with the stove about his neck.
- The negroes up and down the Missi
~ ~ sippi for years swore that the ''Kins
uS uS was not dead. He was too sharp for tt
u white folks they argued, and that W
| just one of his tricks. For years aft
20 they would now and then claim to ha
W W,I seen him alive. But there was no pro
- -, that he escaped from the Cairo harb
III | A., !, 1 d,