Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-03-24
member Of the House OF Representatives for

gagement Ii the Supreme Court Of the United
States, and he suggested that the letters might
be read I'm the meantime.
The court took recess for one hour.
READING THE LETTERS.
ON the court reconvening at 1:5O O'Clock, MT.
Cook presented for inspection of PLAINTIFFS
counsel the memorandum from which Mr..
Oliver refreshed his memory. -
MI COX i 10 ssaa i9 of be rs
the hand writing of Mrs. oliver, most of them
written to Mr.. Cameron, and most OF which
have been published in THE STAR.
More About tho schools.
Editor .Star:-Does not the chief difficulty in
our school system arise from the custom OF as
My business engages me for several hours after
the school teacher reaches her home; yet as
even time to peruse The STAR, am called upon
to read, Illustrate and explain all the several
studies designated for the following day. /
eacher to Explain this or til tha The asa
invariably is" She is limited as to the number
of minutes to be devoted to each study, and IT
took the whole time tOday for the recitatlOns.'
The school referred to has upwards of 10 schol-
ars. all under one teacher, and do not wonder
that the Rotations consume so much of the
day. Yet am advised that this Is the average
attendance in many other localities. II q
teacher is worthy of her employment, she
should be more than mere machine; She
should be capable OF explaining every lesson SO
that even the dullest scholar could understand
1T. This, OF course would take time, and in
order to do it thoroughly, examine the copy
BOOKS, the compositions, the exercised books,
and have The necessary Rotations, no teacher
should be expected to attend to more than 30
or 40 pupils at one session. Do the trustees ever
think what amount OF tuition Is given to each
pupil when they crowd 10 scholars into
Single class? Let us suppose there are only four
studies for class OF that size. II equal time
were given TO each of the studies, and the
school days six hours long, can it not readily be
shown that scholar receives each day but
trifie over one minutes attention in each
branch? ], for one, am willing TO cooperate
with the teachers, because have considerable
interest in my chtlds welfare; but I do not
wish to do all the teaching and have the teach
ers time so engaged that all she Is able to do is
virtually to examine whether my mode OF in
struction has any good results. NORTHWEST.
Affairs Oh the Virginia Side.
MOUNT VERNON RAILRoAD.-Several gentle
men interested In the building Of the proposed
narrow gauge railroad from this city to Mt
Vernon rode over the route laid out on Thurs
day. They found that the ground was SO nearly
level that very little II any cutting or filling
whose lands the line passes are so thoroughly
In favor OF the scheme that they not only offer
the right OF way, but, in some instances, offer
to assist In the grading. A civil engineer will
be sent over the route next week.
FAIRFAX COURT.-The grand jury Of Fairfax
county court has found a true bill against Felix
Quandef, ST., Felix Quander, jr., and Julia Ann
Quander. for an assault on constable John H
Sartin, of Mount Vernon district, while in the
discharge Of his duties Constable Sartin was
cited before the court, to show cause why he
should not be removed from Office for charging
illegal fees. Judge Sangster decided that IL
legal fees must be refunded.
PETITION FOR REvIEw.-The recently deliv-
cred opinion of the U. s. Supreme Court, In re-
gard TO the payment Of wages due laborers and
employees Of insolvent railroads has caused a
futter in this city among the large number Of
those who hold such claims The counsel for
some Of these parties are now engaged in draw
ing up petition to Judge Keith to review his
former decision In regard to this point.
NARROW GUAGE X. R.-The contract for the
R. R., requires its completion from Georgetown
to Falls Church by April llth. The contractors
have large number OF men busily at work.
and the laying OF ties is progressing rapidly.
f4Ier En-1fte 21d