The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-03-31

The Philadelphia Press contains letter of
Mr.. F. A. Burr, who accompanied Gen. Cam
eron and Col. Duffy on their recent visit to the
South and the West India Islands, the follow
ing extracts from which will be read with in
terest:
A GOOD DINNER.
II found on this island system of education
which l would apply to the free schools of the
United States were | TO formulate the plan and
extent of education for our own people" said
General Cameron to Governor Callahan, Gov
ernor o. the Bahamas, as they and their friends
sat about an eleganlly-spread table. A dinner
was being given to General Cameron by the
Governor, and was surrounded by all the dig
nifty and elegance which a trained diplomat
in the English service could give it. There
was the usual display OF heavy plate and a
dinner which would have done credit to any
English Lord. Great bowers of tropical plants
and fruits added their fragrance and beauty to
the flicker Of candles in ali parts Of the dining
room The building where the Governor
lives and the dinner took place overlooks the
beautiful bay as well as the City of Nassau,
which | have described A great staircase
leads from the house in its bower of roses and
beautiful shrubbery down to the heart OF the
town, and the statue OF Columbus half way
down the walk notifies the visitor that it was
he who first discovered the island OF New
Providence. Governor Callahan is round,
full faced, full-habited man, who has been for
many years in the diplomatic service OF his
country. His wife is fitting companion for
such husband and does the honors of the
household with ease and grace. He gets
$4,000 year and this beautiful residence as
well as several officials to carry on the Gov
eminent, which is in no wise financially I'M
portant to England. 1t is doubtful if the Ba-
namas pay the expenses Of their Government.
and yet the mother country gives her officials,
even at our doors, all the rank, dignity and
pay we accord to frst-class foreign mis-
sion.
MODEL EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.
"Yes, our system OF education, replied Gov.
Callahan, lis, to my mind, the simplest as
well as the best that intelligence could devise.
We give the elementary branches to perfection
and leave the rest TO the scholar" The con-
versation turned upon the education OF the
coored peop.e in the Bahamas from the fact
that General Cameron, III his course OF travel
trough the island and investigation OF the
condition of the race there had accidentally
stopped at aschoolhouse at a little place called
Sandilands, an out-ot-the-way Congo-negro
town some distance back on the island 1t
was inhabited entirely by negroes, many spec
linens of the original importations from Afri-
stone, with matched roof made of palm leaves,
and the school-house was of the same mate
rial. Every building in the town was re-
markable for its rude simplicity and cleanli-
ness The school-house, which had one hun
bred and thirty children, ranging from to IL
years, was model of cleanliness and preser-
walton. 1t cost nothing to build it except the
labor of those whose children were educated
there The stone was picked up from the
10 h,,ilt and fbn mi mo w
made its roof were gathered from an adjoln-
ing field. The walls, outside and in, were
perfectly white and clean the floor was neat
iy swept, and the desks unstained by even an
ink spot, although most of them had been in
use for many years.
A coLoRED SCHOOL.
We accidentally stopped at the school just
as it was being called and saw, without prepar-
alton, the everyday exercises OF the scholars.
When school was called they ranged upon
either side of the schoolhouse and at the tap
of the teachers stick marched in military Or
der, girls on one side, boys on the other, both
keeping perfect time to the tap of the mas
ter's rule. When all were inside the build
ing hymn was sung, then the Lords prayer
rected by the school, a few verses OF Scrip
tore read first by the master and then by the
scholars, and then the regular exercises in ge-
ography, reading and writing were gone
through with A colored boy not over twelve
or fifteen years old, assisted the master in
teaching the school. The proficiency of the
scholars was simply marvellous, the eldest not
being over twelve years OF age, and the
youngest not over six, yet not one OF the, one
hundred and more children but could make
capital and small letters in writing and could
read with greater or less fluency.
1--WE teach, said the colored schoolmaster to
General Cameron. "only the rudiments OF an
English education-geography, arlthmetlc,
writing, spelling and hstory-all OF which
the children are required to learn. | am
paid by the Government OF England $500
year. l have been in the English civil service
tor seventeen years"
COMPULSORY EDUCATION.
AS the teacher was giving us this lnforma-
ton large, portly man came IN, Whisper
ed moment to the teacher, took several
inquired Col. Duffy "That is the School
Constable" replied the school teacher, "aE
officer unknown in your country or to your
people. He visits the different schools every
morning and takes down the names of the peo
pie whose children are not present. and they
are called before Magistrate and fined for non
attendance of their children" What COM
mentary this system and the school is upon
our American system of education. The
English government gives its citizens such
learning as will be useful to them in the indus
trial pursuits of life. This much it requires
them all to acquire; more they can get if they
have the resources and the inclination. This
school furnishes a striking example of the
value and wisdom of the law which compels
this Not one white school out of a dozen in
America can present such degree CT cleanli-
ness in it's school hous, tidiness in its children,
or proficiency in studeis as was shown in this
colored school.
GENERAL CAMERoN's SPEECH TO THE SCHOOL,
After spending half hour hearing the
children say their lessons General Cameron
arose and said Il am surprised at what have
seen here to-day and to say that | am gratified
would family describe the impressions these
exercises have left upon my mind. The pro-