The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-12-30
PRINCE EDWARD.
THE MAILS WHO'S At FAULT!-C0UNTY ST.
PERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.

PERlNTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.l
WORsHAM, December 26, 1881.
We are all little curious TO know
whether we really are living IN the shank
OF the very glorious Nineteenth century.
Our grave doubts arise in thiswise: We
read the Dispatch about thirty-siX hours
ON after the Richmond people are reading
their morning journals, and some hours
later than the Enquirer and Wing were
read here q half century ago.! We hear
that this grievance occurs thusly: The mail
matter for this region, Uid Richmond and
Danyille railroad, leaves Richmond mt $3.50
i. M.-say twelve hours after your news
boys receive the Dispatch from your office.
That's pretty good evidence OF Progress
with biz ~ in this glorious Nineteenth
Then the W0rsham and Hampden-Sidney
mails remain in Farmvile only eighteen OF
twenty hours, and then come our mails
Please readjust the mails OF abate this first
class nuisance.
And recently, when the Dispatch did
come, il told us some news OF this kind,
that the nomination of Rev. DIR. Smith 10y
the State Board a. our county Superlnten-
dent of schools has been rejected by the
Senate OF Virginia, and that he must be-
long to the noble army OF martyrs. On
inquiry we further learn that his rejection
is due to the fact that the worthy Doctor is
an enemy to free schools. 1t is little re-
markable that forty-odd years ago DR.
Smith, while in Europe. made himself
thoroughly acquainted with the Prussiar
system OF public instruction. BY the way
New England and the northern States die
not originate the public-school system. In
Prussia was its early home, before it wa,
adopted in New York and New Eng
land. When DR.. Smith returned home
with the encouragement OF Governor
/ Campbell and other friends Of edu
cation, he wrote a series OF papers Of
much practical value, and OF so much merit
that Governor Campbell communicated DR.
Smiths views 10 the General Assembly
and these papers will be found among the
/ Executive documents Of that period. Wher
the Virginia Legislature. under a constitu
I tional requirement which the people (by ;
vote OF 2l0,5S5 for to 1876 againsD en-
! dOrsed, put in operation the existing pub
! lic-school system. DR.. Smith, without any
agency, direct or indirect, OF his, wa,
appointed county experimentation Prince
/ Edward, position for which every man
woman, and child in Prince Edward be
lieves he is eminently qualified by scholar
ship, rare administrative talent, practi
cal, hard, hghtwood-knot plantation
sense, and has since his first appoint
ment faithfully discharged the difficult du
ties Of the office TO the satisfaction Of every
teacher and trustee, as is believed. 1t i,
doubtful whether any man in Virginia hai
exhibited more intelligent zeal, fidelity
and integrity in this cause. And yet he i
counted rs an enemy TO free schools
Rumor till the last few days had IL tina
an intelligent and worthy ReSdiuster'
name was on the slate as DIR. Smiths sac
ccssor, who, il is hoped, would realize tn,
responsibility and importance Of tn,
position and perform the duties wei
and faithfully. But one from Richmond
who knows, or has had opportunitie
70 know, the secrets not told 10 tn,
uninstructed. brings The intelligenc,
that another is the favoriie Of a statesman
whose voice is potential in Readjuste
councils. OF course, much interest is fel
in the expected utterances of this gentle
man, who il a representative man OF III,
people Of this Old county. But whoeve
shall be Or. Smiths successor, we hope h,
will "follow IN the footsteps OF his illus
| trious predecessor III.