The Virginia star., 1882-12-09
STUB PEN LETTER.
a. nEpIy TO sTRB PEN"

In the Lancet of the I'd inst. is an artc e
under the above heading from Rev. j. FL.
NJ. Pollard. / notice it to show the aninns
of the replier, Notwithstanding he claims 10
be a NEGRO OF Negroes In reply he says Il
am fully persuaded that there are not one
hundred Negroes ia Virginia now qualified
to read Roman literature. From April 1865
over seventeen years ago, the colored people
OF Virginia have been tree and surrounded
with all the blessings of freedom. and yet is
=t1,e-l- -s-.,.>-. -. enc hysrr4 - %
them competent to read the productions of
Roman poets, sages, senators etc., though
translated from the Latin into the English?
For more than ten years Latin has been,
and is now. a text book In some OF our col
ored schools.
He says: "There are not ten Negro cler-
gymen, in all denominations in Virginia,
qualified to read the classics in the original
or are even good English scholars" If such
be the case why seek to remove white
rectors, or pastors, from colored churches or
parishes, and INSTALL colosed ministers In
their placei 1 did not know that 1t is essen
tial TO read the classics in their original for
the ministry. Does be who reads the class
les In the original obtain any more informa
ton therefrom than he who reads the
correct translation into English thereoff
To be good English scholar is cssent
Mark We, according to Mr.. Polard's logic,
the colored Episcopalians, Baptists, Metho-
dists, and Presbyterians of this State, there
are not forty colored clergymen. good, Eng
lish scholars, notwithstanding the reign OF
freedom for seventeen years. That speaks
badly for the colored Divinity school con.
nected with Mr.. Pollard's. church.
"There are not he says, Zone hundred
thoroughly competent Negro teasners IN
| Virginia. According to the official report
Nov. 1882 there are 1882 public schools In
| this State. 1t is reaso liable TO suppose tha
one>fiflh of them are cOlored. Ii there are
not one hundred thoroughly competent col
ored teachers in the State, why contend fot
colored teachersp We surely do not want
| incompetency in our schools. If"the ma
jority of Negroes lead double liyes.' 1t Is
clear that competent teachers cannot be
brought from other States, for they have
none to spare.
"There are not /" he says twenty teachers
qualified to read the classics in the original
and may sum up the grand total by stating
there are not tlly good English Negro schoi'
ars now in Virginia among all classes" Il
such be the case, what IL the matter and
where are all the Virginia students of Lin
coin University. Howard University, Way
land Seminary. Richmond Institute. Hamp-
ton Normal School, OF the parochial schoo
OF which AIR. Pollard Is teacher aud oil the
Public schools OF Virginia? think the Rev
Pollard's idea OF scholar Is too high, like
i Apostles. From the unsophisticated stand
point, u scholar Ii one engaged In the pur'
suits of learning, a learned person, ont
yersed In any braach of knowledge Ill
saws; at is q notorious fact that compare.
lively few of the teachers or preachers Cal
write an ordinary letter correctly" Do Yol
judge them by yourself, because YOU use th'
terms "are.s ard ..now" in the same sentenc'
when one of them would suffice! ''Englsl
i Negro Scholar The Ninth United State
Census, gives only three Negroes In Virgins
born IN England. Perhaps he means a col
ored person, that Is good scholar in th
English language.
The reasons that Mr. Pollard gives for no
crossing the James and confronting DR.
II Tucker aud others 10 said Congress, wh
Il were greeted with wild burst Of applaus
long continued. with erie Of, Go on mad