The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-03-06
GOV. wOIFF's EARLY HISTORY.



, The House having had under con.
slderation the proposed amendment
to the State Constitution to restrict
the ages of educable children to only
embrace those between the ages OF
seven and eighteen, Mr.. Wolff said /;
Mr.. SPEAKER-With this restric-
ton the children in the rural districts
will be quite limited in their opportu-
mites tor gaining the benefits of an ed
ucation. Our children-no, "the chill
dren of the State" are compelled to
work upon the farm during the season
for cultivating the crop. After going
two months they again are compelled
| to return to the harvest. Then, only
| two or three months longer concludes
the scholastic year. Mr.. Speaker, l
| know feel the want of a liberal ed
ucation. My charge upon my parents
did not exceed one dollar and twenty
cents. When fatherless boy, / was
put in at Free School No. 2, in the the
city of Charleston, South Carolina,
where beauty and chivalry will ever
reside; Charleston, with her historic |
pages and heroic traditions Charles |
ton, with her charities and her hOspi-
talities Charleston, with her extend
ed battery, and in her port valves the
flags of Fort Moultrie, Fort Johnson,
Castle Pinckney and Fort Sumpter.
When in that city about three years
ago l had the good fortune to enjoy
the friendship and hospitality of John
Sydney Riggs; an old schoolmate and
now one of the richest men in the
city. AS we sat in the spacious sa-
looms of his elegant mansion we talked
over our boyish adventures reme-
nisenccs and stirred up the sweet
Of the past. His father was
a journeyman saddler under my father,
and | rejoice in "Sydney'sn prosperity.
There are several other gentlemen
who are known to fame who received
their first instruction at the same free ,
school. | allude to John c. Fremont ,
the great explorer and once the I'M |
candidate for the Presiden- r
cy. And there is the distinguished ,
gentleman from Claiborne Mr.. Lewis) i
III my left. He too went to the same .
school. On one occasion the school ,
house was rifted by lightning and out t
If the one hundred scholars not one I
vas killed. | and John Smallwood, d
Who was afterwards captain of a ship, /
we're the last to leave as we were enga- G
red in removing the debris of weather. /
boarding and ceiling that covered a
ONE of the girls who were shrieking s
or help-one Of these suplicants was II
he sister eff Mr.. Lewis, whose history d
5 marked with thrilling interest. He "
ommenced life as a sculptor in the il
Omb-stone business. After leaving 81
charleston he settled in Massachusetts +
nd was an honored member of the s
Legislature for twelve
ears. After gravitating down in
he went into the practice
law and has served his people and
he Democratic party with the highest
'edit for several sessions in the Mis- &C
ssippi Legislature, and if my friend r
ill allow the familiarity l might add d,
lat if Mr.. Fremont had been elected fir
he might have received the tr
lpointment as Minister to the Court OF
Versailles. Applause and laugh Is
r and your humble servant might kl
ave gotten live-oak agency in the al
ate of Flo-ri-day. [Great applause be
I'd laughter. co