Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1881-03-17

college, neither the public schools nor
the suffering poor would ever receive
any benefit from il.
But il has also been objected. that free
scholarships have been bestowed on
those whose parents were able 10 edu-
cate their children without State aid
Now this il no argument against the
college in any respect; and those that
make it either show too much ignorance
to presume TO write for the enlightenment
OF the people on any subject, or would
| designedIy make a false impression.
For Il is well known that the appoints
ments 10 free scholarships are made by
the several county school boards. The
college has nothing whatever to do with
them, except 10 receive the sppointees
whoever they may be. Hence the
impression sough: 10 be made, that the
college is at fault in this matter, meets
its own discontinue in the intelligence
OF the people, who know how The APP
pointments are made. The charge,
however, 10 reflection on the County
Boards, who, n only four mistakes have
been made by them OF the kind alleged
since free scholarships came into exis-
tepce, viii. have an easy defence. More
Ilo&er, my Assertion bade in iformer
letter thatlthere Is no student at pres
ent in The college enjoying the benefits
Of free scholarship who would have
ever attended college without such aid
10 hereby affirmed beyond contradiction.
Thus answers, satisfactory to the un-
bias,ed reader, might be made to every
objection raised against the Colleges,
tor instance, that made by writer in
your last issue. He says that in 1S41
''ihere was an accommodating fund which,
IL the institution had been conducted
with the same economy" as formerly,
would have amounted by this time to a
sum that would make the college self.
sustaining. True, and IL the writer has
never had occasion to spend any money,
and has had reasonable business success,
he is doubtless very rich man. The fund
spoken of, however, was not an accu-
mutation arising from former economi-
cal management, but a lottery grant,
which, when it had gathered sufficient
~ and been added TO largely by private
contributors, was expended in the erec-
ton Of three buildings now constituting
the residences OF the professors and one
Of the main doTmitories. Perhaps the
writer thought these buildings grew
here like toad-stools in St. Mary's.
But Mr.. Holmes says: "The inter
est of the State, IN my opinion. would
be promoted by razing the institution 10
the ground" am happy to think that
| no such catastrophe is likely to befall 1t.
Il is more likely that the appropriation
will be made; that the institution. IN
der its present able management, will
be The recipient of the favor oil The Leg
islature and OF the confidence and pa
tronage of the public. ] would there
fore prefer TO see the people of my own
county put themselves In line with the
progressive element in educational as
well as in all othermat:ers-to be behind
their neighbors in no,hing-as in my
| opinion they will be, if following in the
wake OF mere ofpoliticians, they allow
themselves 10 be misled into opposition
to appropriations for educational purpo-
ses, whether Tor the benefit of st.
Johns College or other colleges in the
State. Aud now a word or two, as
brief as possible, in more direct reply
10 MIR. Holmes. II will be remembered
that that gentleman barely touches the
main subject at all. II may be because,
in his overweening confidence, he i'm
agined he had exhausted IL. The truth
| is that il he'd exhausted him. Utterly
incompetent to answer argument, how
ever, he descends to the extreme Of
personal detraction, but saying nothing
that rises TO the doubtful dignity of sar-
casm, though much that sinks to the
lowest level of defamation. Indeed, il
would be difficult 10 find elsewhere, in
so small a space. so much studied false
hood, malicious innuendo, wilful misrep-
resentation, and nauseous conceited-
ness. Everywhere the small head and
bad heart are seen. Without sufficient
manliness to make the assertion direct,
he calls rumor TO his aid 10 say that
had been rejected as teacher but prom
lsed the free scholarship in st. Johns
College. On both of these points, Mr..
Holmes could have obtained definite in
| formation, and would have done so, If
he had not known il would have de-
prived him OF the satisfaction Of the in
s,nuation. He would have found that
the reason did not receive the school
was because of insufficient age and that
| no one ever mentioned to me the free
scholarship until a week before the
| competitive examinatIve.
Again he insinuaies that am as
sisted in the preparation OF my articles.
I shall not retort on him by a similar in
situation in regard TO his. The evt-
dence of originality are striking. while
to attribute them 10 any other, would
be FAR from complimentary, whether
we consider their matter or style OF
composition. The fact, however. that
he tries to make the impression in ques-
ton Is no less contemplate. Does he
suppose that any professor in st. Johns
| College would rondescend to reply, or
even aid in replying. to anything he
could says Truly, Mr.. Holmes con-
ceitedness in this instance over-reaches
itself. and becomes the very sublimity
of impudence. Surprising that ! re-
quired help. the professors oil ST. Johns
College have too much dignity and char
acter TO engage 10 such questionable
L