The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1879-04-23
Thoughts on Education.

MEssRs EDITORS Among the various dis
couraging items of news, such as wars, pes
thence. and famine brought us by the
never-failing, ever-welcome press, DIR. Naiden's
letter in reference to the education OF Missis-
sippi youths shines out like a beacon-light on
Il dark and stormy sea. And how natural that
his plan should have been laughed at, ridi-
culed and failure predicted" for when did
ever a man or woman think ahead OF his or her
contemporaries and not receive sneers? Even
our Saviour himself met with the same dis
couragement when prosecuting the sublime
work of salvation for a fallen race Surely
the Legislature cannot show evidences of its
craftsmanship greater than educating Its
youths, male and female :" unless, indeed, it
should pass law making either minors or
paupers of all nd-bodied, sane men and
women who have neither incomes to support
them. nor can show that they earn an honest
livelihood. Then, perhaps, the age OF false
pride" and foolish extravaganza would pass
away and an era of common sense and com
mon fairness such as an eminent divine justly
invokes, would bc inaugurated. o! this hydra
headed monster, False Pride, has killed or
crippled for life" his thousands in these
Southern States! | have heard intelligent
man who owned neither home, nor stock, nor
monied interests of any kind, with wife and
several children, remark that " if he was able
he would rather his two older ones would pay
SO a month to go to g select school than that
they should go to the neighborhood public
school for nothing" l have seen a boy four
teen and a girl twelve years old refuse to re-
when no school was accessible, and remain
idle day after day, and week after week,
because they preferred the pomp and show OF
neutrality-suspicious., where they would not have
learned more. | have known an intelligent
respectable young lady live from house to house
for years, as a dependent relative, when by the
exercise of a little moral courage, she ought
to have been comparatively independent for
life Then let us have our long-talked-of agri-
cultural schools for boys and girls, and teach
our children that labor Of mind and hand is not
only useful but also honorable and ereditGbte
and. il sufficiently prolonged, will eventuate
in a fortune. And riches thus obtained, do
not easily pass away. For the same care that
begets them win also nurture them-and those
who have thus been the architects of their
own fortunes, will the more readily sympa-
thize with and assist others in the same hon
orable career. Yes! by all means let us have
a Legislative appropriation OF several thous-
ands for the girls as we'll as the boys, and then
see, from the books, how much good can be
effected Twenty years ago we knew two poor
girls in this State, whose natural talents would
have been highly ereditabe to any family or
either sex. But they never had any but linn
tied day-school advantages; and if living to-
day they doubtless earning their liveli-
hoods by doing the homework for their hus-
bands and children. With such benefactor as
Dr. V or a noble Legislature, they might
have become accomplished teachers, and
easily have made $500 annually as they now
make $50, and reared intelligent families be-
sides. As for boys, what great arenas of use
fulness and honor open up before them in
consequence of this generous and sensible
plan! Did Andrew Jackson, or Andrew john
son. or Abraham Lincoln have half such
chance? Verify not?
The courageous ambitious students who
avail themselves of the mess system to Sc
highly respected both by fellow-studeuts and
Professors" For the same moral courage
which enabled them to do this cheerfuIly and
gratefully returning the funds used soon
as practicable), viii qualify them for dis
charging ii accessory, IN after life, the duties
of the highest offices, both of Church and
State God speed the good work; and may
the time soon come when al our youths will
Esehey elegant leisure" and fox-hunting or
bird-hunting procIivities for the more useful
and creditable business of obtaining thor
ouQh education, thereby securing for them
selves life-poIiey in an insurance Office which,
If the assets be properly managed, can never
fail them A SoUTHERN WOMAN.