The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-01-26
AnsMsr 20 GA Woman.v
Mr.. EnITnR.

n medium through which to ventilate
their peculiar ideas, Is deserving of
but little consideration, but the COM
munication published in your last
issue, furnished bv a gentleman who
seeks to conceal his indentity by en-
sconcing himself behind the gauzy
skirts of IA Woman" from which to
fulminte his denunciations of the late
County Institute, and about all in any
way connected with it, occurs to the
liberal and fair-minded of this COM
munity as II somewhat remarkable
production, requiring more than u
passing notice. In his introduction
he exhibits a simplicity that is charm
ing 10y recording his ettire willing
ness to be corrected in any views
of his that may erroneous, then pro-
pounds certain conundruIns, follow
ing up with his idea of County
Institute. and in this connection, sug-
gests comparison between an Elk
County Institute held IL score or
more years ago and the one held The
carly part of this month, deducing
therefrom conclusions which he
evidently imagined would cause this
last to hide its Insignificant head for
very shame.
Next Mr.. - Woman, ,nin a spasm
of virtuous Indignation, iuvoluntarily
throws up his hands in holy horror at
his stated proposition that we, the
people, 'had to pay for the privilege
Of eij0ying the evening musical and
literary entertainments of the late in
stitute, n feature by the way which
has become an almost Indispensable
concomitant of school Institutes in
other states Us well as Pennsylvania,
he misstnting the fact however that
the aforesaid nc virtually have paid
the bsi' three separate times, a bril-
liant idea that it Is believed did not
occur TO any one except the astute
gentleman referred to. Now as a dis
clainer to the iIiisstatements upon the
financial aspects of this matter, it Is
only necessary to refer to the itcmised
statement of 'Supt. Dixon, Which op-
portuncly appeared in the same issue
OF the ADVOCATE as the communica-
ton under tcnsderation, as a COM
plete refutation of the gentlman's =
charges in this respect--it might be
proper to suggest ris LIT here however,
in parcnthcsis, that if it be true, as
| & n rod thnt tlln hnn,,l.. l,ai ~
swindled by "side shows, dearly paid
for" then these unsophisticated souls
seemed delighted with the process
aye, and with the swindlcrs too for
the spacious auditorium of the Court
House was filled, the second night
packed and the last literally crowded.
But enough nf this, from the fore
going ana much more contained in
the communication OF the gentleman,
might bc deducted tho conclusion that
the great brotherhood Of cranks are
not yet all gathered in at Washington,
that this cynical critic who so mani
featiy assumes to be an oracle in
matters educational and literary in
this community, evidently stiil clin2s
fondly to some of the obsolete ideas OF
the era of the slow going stage coach,
the pony EXPRESS mail service, the I'M
: decorated schnol room and the ancient
iit!la team ihethcd4 Of doing things
generally, bat it won't do, Mr.. Woman,
in these day ut the lightning cX-
press, the althGst incomprchensihle
accomplished facts in telegraphy and
telephony, the electric light, and the
improved methods and facilities de-
vised ana utilized in general educl.
tional matters, it is surprising that SC
intelligent II gentleman as this idio-
syncratic individual, would be found
in this enlightened community to III
institute a comparison between the
: Common School System of Pennsyl-
vania, and the manner in which
it is executed at the present day in Elk
E County and the systems and methods
+ in vogue II quarter of "a century ago
- awarding, - does the gentleman, thC
. palm of efficiency and superiority t,
, that ancient and old fogy way o.
o doing things.
! Now 7 will only suggest In conclus
ion, that Notwithstanding the grace
q full and telicit"us manner in which
q the teachers institute croaks and
- cranks get in their work in Ridgway
- the system and methods of conducting
, it by competent, industrious and en-
o tcrprsi:s County Superintendcnts
!, will continue to be satisfactory anc
y beneficial to the scholars and teachers
r popular with The masses of the people
: and will be heartily aided and sus
h tanned in Elk County.
4 Now Mr.. Editor I do not approve o
+ the ambush style OF firing upon al
adversary. but as Mr.. "A Woman ba
= adopted this method of warfare will
Z for the nOnce, assume the Nom a.
Guerre of
~ A MAN.