The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1881-05-12

N4 uiiFA ettlN' IlC WIZ 5i titJ d kCiiO4'A4t-Ai
will dance, an Englishman will boast
Of ''ITold Hengland," but an Amcri-
can will make political speech.
In America, "eyery man is the
architect Of his own fortune" Else
where POVERTY is a barrier to success.
In this country, it IS a condition pre-
cedent. Some people pity pool boys.
pity rich ones. They are not to
blame, but their misfortune is none
the less. Fortunately, there are but
few who have this milestone tied
around their necks Now, take a
young man and place him among q
large number Of others, each one OF
whom expects a high position in the
world, and if it does not stimulate him
to do his utmost, it is because there is
nothing in him. Many of the wealthy
universities charge their students no
tuition, and some of them have fel-
lowships which support students de-
string to extend their course Of study
after graduation. Although in some
aspects we may look upon it as great
misfortune that there are so many IN
endowed colleges and universities in
our land, struggling for existence, and
lowering the standard Of scholarship
in order to invite students; yet in
other points o. view, there are adyan-
tages connected with the system.
Every college has a local influence,
and attracts to its walls many who
would never haye thought of it, but
for tae presence Of the college. There
are more colleges in the United States,
probably, than in the rest Of the world
combined.
Moreover, the expense of travelling
and Of living is greatly le5sened by
having hundreds of colleges. The sal
arie: Of the professors are very low in
them, but where would the thousands
of professors obtain places if there
were fewer institutions? Most of the
professors at the great universities
were trained by teaching in the strug-
CLING colleges; and most of the stu
dents there obtained their thirst for
finished education. Nor is the stand
ard of sch elarship in our best univer-
sites one whit behind that of the best
institutions in Europe. Some of the
textbooks used at Oxford and Cam
bridge were written by Americans
Webster and Worcester are considered
standards in England.
America originated the common
school system supported by the State
Only two other nations are rs well
educated among their masses as we
are, viz, Scotland, which has used
the parochial system for three hun
dred years, and Prussia, which has
adopted the system of compulsory
education. In the late war be-
tween France ana Prussia, the su-
periority Of the educated German
over the equally brave, but ignorant
Frenchman, was so apparent that
France has discarded her former
teachers, the Jesuits, and is now max
ing every effort in her power to edu-
cate her people, and thereby make
herself the equal of Great Britain, the
United States and Germany.
One OF the greatest evidences of pro-
gress among our people is their deter
mination to educate the masses.
Maine, the poorest State in the Union,
as regards soil and climate, pays her
teachers an average of 81 $50, which
is the highest average in the world
This is one of the effects of the Maine
/ liquor law. Many millions of dollars
arc expenced in this country annually
for education. The public school
buildings in some of our cities are
splendid works of art, furnished with
! appliances for acquiring finished
education by the poorest child without
cost. There are schools Of art, de-
sign, music, and polytechnic schools in
many of the large cities where a stu
dent can prepare for any business in
life.
Some of these schools, as the Cooper
Institute, are supported by endowment.
The only advantage that Europe has
over this country in art teaching is
in the possession of most of the pro
ductions OF the grand old masters.
But even this advantage Is decreasing
every year by their transfer TO the art
galleries Of our millionaires. In the
science of civil engineering and archi-
techture we have equalled the most
splendid achievements Of the past
True, we have not PRODUCT Il Pyra-
mid, a Parthenon, a Coliseum, St.
Peters, or a St. Paul's, and l hope We
never viii; but we have produced two
or three trans-continentaI railroads,
and hundreds Of others. We have
opened the Hoosac tunnel; have built
the bridge over Niagara, the bridge at
ST. Ionis. nt cincinnati. and hun.