The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1883-01-25
The Wrong Bull Gored.

>>eHsO'J
and Blind Institution for the past ten years, it
is rather amusing to read the Rockingham
Register TRADE against the action of the pres
ent Board of Visitors. In speaking of the cleo
ton of Principal, it kindly says, they (the
Board) have ignored every principle that
should have actuated them in the selection of
a person to fill that responsible place." 1t ac-
knowledges that Mr.. Roller is a clever gen.
tleman, capable of successfully managing a
school, but is Mortified at the idea that one
who lays no claim to knowledge of the sign
language should have been chosen as Princi-
pal of the Institution. In closing its very
calm and charitable statement our cote1n-
porary INDUCES in the pleasant prediction th at
the Board will "be remembered by the people,
who will see and appreciate their justine rs,
and these men, as the representatives of Ma
honism, who ignored the best interests of thu Sc
give place to one of their partizans will be
remembered in the day of reckoning that sou IN
must come" Now, we "reckon" the ''recko n
ings" will be had in the order of priority, al I'd
that being the case. it will be some time b e.
fore the score of these Representatives of M a.
honism" will be reached. Not for ten yea rs
prior TO 1882 has the Principal of the instt D.
ton at Staunton been a proficient in the sis N
language, and yet during all that time the sic
lection of that officer was in the hands of the
party with which the Register is aligned. In
1884, Capt. Chas. D. Mccoy, teacher in the
IND 10 Drsr
the death of Capt. Mccoy. Prof. L. Poyntz was
elected to the position, and in time succeeded
by Capt. Thos. s. Doyle. Not one of these
gentlemen professed knowledge of the sign
language at the time Of his selection nor wss
such knowledge deemed essential by the the n
Boards of Visitors. General scholarship, ex:-
perlence and success in teaching, and execul-
tive ability were regarded as paramount to
proficiency in the sign language We do not
remember to have heard those gentlemen char
acterized as vile partiZans because of their
action. Even that great representative OF the
people. the Rockingham Register, made MO
unfavorable comment, and certainly that paper
was under its present management when both
Mr.. Poyntz and Mr.. Doyle were elected. The
vigilant sentinel, so ready to give the alarm
now, must have been asleep then. 1t could
hardly have condoned in its friends what it
regards as SO outrageous in its political enc
mics. The present Board ara unfortunate in
deed if there is such danger TO- treadlng the way
so plainly marked out for them by their emf.
nent predecessors. We suppose, however,
they will be able to worry along for little
while even under the impending calamity 30
confidently predicted by the Register. In the
meantime, we respectfully commend to our
contemporary that interesting little story of
the mote and the beam, snd in connection
study ofits party's history.
That sleepless Watchdog of the peoples in.
terests No. 2, the Spectator, reproduces the
Registers article, and accompanies it by an
other CT similar import taken from the Deaf
Mute Journal. We presume that our neigh |
Dor endorses both, inasmuch as the two appear |
In its columns without comment. In view. |
then, OF its present position, it is refreshing to
mark the nimbleness of that venerable father i
Of the press. But two years ago, when Capt \
Doyle was elected Principal. the Epectator. con-
'cious of the fact that the new officer did moi;
profess familiarity with or an UNDERSTANDING
Of the sign language, extolled the selection
with Its wonted vigor, declaring that Capt. ID.
had the requisite for the impor.
'snt position to which he has been promotod -
Isn't it little strange that the duties of 1.-THE
position have SO radically changed within t. wo
short years Possibly the TRANSFORMED on
mas been brought about by the wrong b ull
being gored