The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-04-07
The following letter is from very inter-

Inc 1OilOWlUU ittttt 10 'iOh 'N''
Ilgept mechanic OF this city2
To the Editors Of the Dispatch
Sirs.-It NAV not be known to you tDat
the combined shops and factories OF hicn-
mond and Manchester are employing large
numbers OF children and youths OF Doth
sexes for whose education, even IN the pil-
mary branches, DO provision whatever Is
made by the respective cities. IL IS iaif
estimate TO say that at least three thousand
children in our midst are in this unioriu-
nate situation. Ii is very serious CONSUL
GRAFTON 10 think OF such a mass OF people
coming to maturity in our midst 10 STATE
of inter ignorance. Can the State aiord 10
have such dangerous element thrown INTO
the social problem:
Ignorance means weakness against the
wiles OF evil and sef-misIrust in any work
Of Good. Hence it is morally certain that
i'm addition to the ordinary hereditary or
predis posed criminals certain number OF
these persons will turn TO ways OF evii
purely through the Influence OF ignorance.
A few incendiarics, therefore, for instance
thus deyeloped, will do more injury tiiah
would nav for tue education OF the whole
mass. On the other baud, whatever Denen'
cent faculties Others may nave must lie
dormant aud OF no use either 10 the pos
so.sor ar the state for the want OF educa-
tiop. and the State will thus. perhaps, lose
the service of minds capable OF dong her
honor IN the fields OF virtue and enterprise.
Perhaps at this very moment we are
smothering in ignorance some LAD Wno'e
ENERGY and talent would tear the mineral
wealth from our mountains or send our
ships to every port. Perhaps we are
sinking in a sea OF be3stiality some
youth in whose pure soul the "pur-
ME hrht OF the Gods" has began
10 eI,mmer. say "perhaps in fact, we
are. The n0bler faculties developed oy
labor and practical life only are developed
in healthy moral atmosphere. rant the
soul. and not all the power OF vulcan can
forge in the hottest smithy OF lire man.
II Is The great evil OF our factory system ihal
while it carefully closes the door against
knowledge il opens the windows wide 10
vice. II has been the writer's experience 10
see, day by day, children sink down IN our
factories from the clear beauty OF infancy 10
the very depths Of youthful deprayily, ana
IL has been utterly impossible TO save them'
IL is probably one OF the most terrible eXpe-
riences to see such things, and am certain
that il my pen had the rugged license OF tne
last century it would tell things that might
well drape every church in our MIDST IN
sackcoth.
Nothing, Oh next to nothing, can be done
In this matter by private action. IL Is
question for the State. ln England tue Iac'
tory law provides that no child shall WORK
full time until he has received certain eie-
ments OF education. While such an ACT
might be passed TO take Ell, CT from this time
forward, its enforcement on the present EN-
blowers would almost close every one OF our
industrial establishments. The only practI-
cal remedy-and even that can be only par
tial-is the extension OF the common school
system to night sessions for the dement, OF
workiugmen and such of their children as
are employed by day. II would be no eX-
periment for such schools have existed Tor
wears in other cities. Humane employers
could then exercise their influence ov0
their charges TO enforce at least partial at
tendance.
II is quite probable that the Board OF
Public Instruction would very cheerluliy
aid in this matter II the public sentiment
required it, and trust that your readers
will not let the matter become cold, IL IL
meets their approval.
There Is another aspect OF this same ques-
| ton that deserves attention.
In the rapid development OF our indus.
trial enterprises there has arisen demand
for a higher grade OF mechanics, and hence
the effoits of several gentlemen to establish
a mechanics institute in our midst. Now,
mechanlc,' institute may he briefly defined
as school where applied mathematics, me-
chauical drawing, and physics are taught.
Would it not be possible while engaging
teachers for the night schools to engage suct
as had knowledge Of these things. and
thus draw to the schools the large class OF
ambitious mechanics in our midStI AS
suredly this would rebound very largely tC
the profit OF the State, and ought not to in
crease the taxes TO any appreclable extent.