The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-09-03
ArLRInIrr poL1rroaLLY..i
The FaIrnOnt Normal school, 'he Beard
OF Regents, md the New Principal.

The FoIrrnOnt Normal school, ,IIe Board
OF Regents, md the New Principal.
ToMs Editor Of he Entatgeaea.
sIR:-I have great respect for the GENIAL
disposition and general good qualities Of
Prof. sipe, the lately elected Prlncipa! Of
the Fairmont Normal School, and sincerely
hope he may bring 10 the duties OF MS new
and untried sphere 4 degree OF talent ana
A fund OF information which shall more
than offset his lack Of experience. his
fitness for the place has yet to be tested
and no true friend Of the school will TecS'
leesly give utteranCe TO the doubts thai
NAV be entertained OF the new Principals
qualifications; ne should have fair chance
10 "proye himself" aud condemnation
should only follow complete failure.
But the new Principal lacks more than
experience; he needs Board OF Regents,
and the intelligent cooperation oil that
body, | think 1t would be wise first step
upon bis part to go on trip TO the WINE
Sulphur Springs, thence to North CaroIlh9
grrd over the route "down by the sea, ana
up the Mississippi to the nearest railroad
centre, thence to Ohio, in search Of q
Board OF Regents; he should avail himself
OF the telegraph lines and spare no pans
nor expense likely to afford success in the
venture; for Board Of Regents, especially
il "aIl right, politically" is valuable ac-
QUESTION and necessary part Of Prlncl-
pal's outfit. The late Board, whose span
| Of official life WIS 30 soon measured, may
be done up in cloths, and spices, and
musty bandages, and by shrewd manipu-
istion can be palmed of as q mummy upon
some unsuspecting dealer. But the new
Principal will not be able to supply
the loss, II it should be his degire to obtain
AN exact copy, for there is not such anoth-
or in existence; and he must content him
self with the most faithful imitation his
skill and research can produce. II by
chance he should accept, my advice,
would farther recommend that he purchase
for about $l.3S, a brief history Of the "Iate
llamented," bound in call, and kept han
DIV as a book Of ready reference. A visit
10 the auction shops, or the 99c stores, VIII
probably discover copy OF the dealred
work, with the words call Right, Political
| w." embIazoned in gilt letters on the title
Dsrc, 1t is to be regretted that our educa'
tionaI interests are in charge OF q party dis
iipQuished BY 80 many exploits 80 devoid
Of wisdom; but so it is. While it may be
said 10 his credit, that at least one member
Of the Board OF Regents-the evidently
well intentioned Superintendent Of Schools
was really anxious to subserye the inter.
eats OF the institution by jndicious sclec.
ton Of Principal, It has been demonstrated
(vreally to our regret) that he stood upon
weak legs, and that the undertow carried
him OIL his feet and out into the sea; with
the rest he was drowned.
have only to add, parenthetically, that
however deserving as man, and however
worthy in social, as well as in general
sense, the now Principal may be, he has
rot the prestige nor the reputation, al an
educator, which at this very important
iunCture should accompany all other re-
1uisites in the chief of the Faculty Of the
Fairment Normal School. But | doubt
not he is "all right politically" which in
certain circles, like charity in certain other
circles, is regarded as quite sufficient to
cover a multitude OF errors. should
really like to know just what governed the
Board in the selection. CAEDoR,
Fdirmo,t, September l, 1888.