Morning journal and courier., 1881-01-28

succeeded his father as president of Wash
ington-Lee University. General Jubc.i Early
is living quietly at Lynchburg in comfortable
circumstances. General J. g. Pemoerton has
become resident of Philadelphia, is an in
valid, and has written a book on vicksburg.
The Young Mems Christian Association of
St. Louis has done something towards the So
luton of the Chinese problem. There are
fifty Chinese in the city, and q Sabbath
school has been organized, at which, during
the year past, one-half Of this number have
regularly attended Each heathen has the
services of young lady teacher, and there
are now twenty-seven scholars and conse-
quentIy like number of teachers. During
the year one member of the school has died
and received Christian burial at the expense
of Methodist church, of which he had be-
come devoted member. Another removed
to Worcester, in Massachusetts,, where he has
been the means of converting his Sabbath
school teacher, an American.
The exporters of Maryland tobacco are in
fair way to find out that honesty is the best
policy. This tobacco is used principally for
the purpose of mixing with the lighter do
mestic growth raised in Germany 1t is the
law of Maryland that no tobacco grown on
its soil can leave its boundaries without in
spection The United States consul at Bre-
men complains that persons have been nam
ed inspectors, and have drawn the salary of
such for years, who scarcely know what a
hogshead of tobacco is and who rarely go to
the inspection warehouse. The samples
drawn" by these government inspectors are
nearly always greatly superior to the true
contents of the hogshead, when, on being
sold, they are properly sampled by experts.
And then, to crown all, there is no recourse,
no recovery possible. In all other inspee-
tions return of the samples, showing infe-
riority, compels the seller to refund. But,
in case of the warehouse Inspections of
Maryland, no redress whatever is given. An
appeal to the Governor even brings no salts
faction. The result is that it is exceedingly
difficult to make sales of Maryland tobac-
CO even when samples" are superior.
The teachers in the public schools of Bos-
ton are not satisfied with the uncertain ten
ure OF their places resulting from the system
OF yearly appointment, and three hundred and
ffty-three of them have petitioned the Leg
islature for o law allowing school committees
to elect teachers for term of years or dur
ing good behavior. The Boston Post rightly
believes this to be question worthy of more
respectful and honest consideration than
reference to the Committee on Education now
and to the next Legislature at the end of the
session The Post says further ''There are
frequently other considerations than posi-
lively bad behavior that make it desirable to
change teachers at times, and our school
committee should have an opportunity to
use their discretion in the matter at stated
times but to elect teachers for ten years
would meet all the requirements of prudence
in this respect and would put at the heads of
our departments men and women of compe-
tence and experience who would not feel that
they held their places at the pleasure of fick-
le committees, but because they were worthy
of the positions they occupied. The theory
of yearly elections is far above its practice
If it wesded out the incompetent and the reck-
less simply it would be above criticism per-
haps. but good teachers are about as likely to
be afflicted by it as poor ones, and real merit
is too frequently obliged to engage in an un-
equal struggle with favoritism or personal
considerations. The year of probation
might be very properly adopted, and that
would make long terms not only safe, but
desirable