Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1883-12-20


mother of Hon Joshua Bjggs, died at the
residence of her son, at Rocky Ridge at 2
o'clock on Tuesday morning last. Her
death was cain, and she passed away almost
imperceptibly from life. She had passed the
allotted age of three-scoge and ten by many
years, being SO yrs, mos, IA days old at the
time of her death. The funeral took place on
Wednesday at 10 o'clock m. The remains
were buried at Rocky Ridge.
THOSE SUNsETs.-Astronome editors,
correspondents and scientists generally have
striven for weeks to account for the unnat-
ural color Of the sky Immediately following
sunset and preceding sunrise. We have
read some very ingenious explanations and
some, utterly ridiculous. We find writers
making arbitrary assertions in reference
thereto, when they are as well qualified to
form an opinion on the subject as they are to
loose the Gprdian Knot and Alexander like,
they chop down through the subject and then
present the crude and ragged ends of their
opinions, that only serve to show how grand
and beautiful thing mysterious may be and
how it may be ruincd by an ignorant attempt
to reduce it by figures or logic. Science is
profound and scientific men have been able
to sound accurately, great depths of it's pro-
fundity, but it is far from valid to assume
that they stand ready at all times, to solve
t1af Nofuro ;tc infn tn
richness of resources may PROFOUND There
has not yet been q single theory advanced in
reference to the unusual light at sunset and
sunrise, that has not been proven to rest
upon one or more improbabilities and while
there is wisdom in the discussion, it is not in
that part Of it that contains much positive
assertion.
READJUsTED.--The trustees of the school
district, that embraces this town and a very
narrow belt lying outside of the borough
limits, made an official visit to the school
last week, having for their object the final
settlement Of question that has long been
most vcxatious one TO trustees, teachers
and parents.
We refer to the privileges that have for
years been accorded few families who live
outside of the school district, that Of sending
their children to the town schools.
1t has only been during the winter, term
that these privileges have worked to the Diet
riment of any one, or to the schools, but we
can safely say that during the winter term of
every year has come this trouble, VIZ: the
schools too full and children in the school
district met upon presenting themselves for
admission, with the statement there is no
room for you," either this, or an oyercrowd-
ing that rendered the efforts Of the best of
teachers positively futile.
For a number of years this complaint has
been made, but until recently there had
nothing been done to rectify the matter.
The trustees arrived at the following con
clusion in the matter that as soon as the
schools become filled to their utmost capac-
ity and ii becomes necessary that some one
shall be refused admission, then all who arc
in attendance that belong to other districts
will be required to withdraw from the
schools.
Inasmuch as the action of the trustees was
occasioned by fact that the pressure that had
already become too great, it is probable that
at the opening of the schools after the Holt
day Vacation, this step will become neccssa-
ry, or possibly at the beginning of the next
session.
That it was manifest injustice as we'll as
direct violation of the regulations, no one
has ever pretended to claim and there can be
no gansaying the fact that simple justice
has been done.
This is plain dispassionate statement of
the facts as we find them, but when we have
stated this much, we have by no means fully
stated the case.
This plain piece of duty has been perform
ed and every child and probably every par
ent that will thus be precluded from sending
to the town school will firmly believe tkat
an unjust requirement has been made of
them and that the trustees have been driven
to do ii against all sense of right and justice.
The trustees are bu1 the executives Of the
law and have but few discretionary powers,
not one of such moment as that that has
permitted the cause of the late reimbursement
to exist So far as the trustees are concern
ed, they have not only done no injustice by
this act, but in reality have been tardy in
rendering it.
The above applies to the law and the
school district, as zee find them.
Now, when we come to consider the sub
ject of the school district, as we find it,
different face is put upon the matter and we
are ready to cry out with the most disatfect-
ed
What is the condition of affairs in THE d.
rection
We find families in the Franklinville, Cen
tire or Catoctin Furnace districts, who do not
live one fourth the distance from the town
school building, as do Others who are within
the district; we find one family of children
who will be compelled to walk not less than
two miles who do not live over 500 yards
from our schoolhouse; we find further that
some walk over mile within this district
and in the three schools there are at least
fifty children who travel twice the distance
of the nearest families that will he shut out
in word, the present lines of the school dis.
trict are far from being properly located.
The school buildings nearest the one in
this town are at Franklinyile, Graceham,