The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-01-29
Street Corner Notes.


Street Corner Notes.
When men and women, with great over
coats and furs go shivering through the
streets these bitter cold days, it might
arouse some of them to a sense OF then
neglect to see room full Of children DIS
missed from school. Many Of these little
ones are subjected to absolute cruelty fol
want of proper clothing. This IS especial
ly true with reference to the girls. The
coolest days they may seen with 10 COW
ering for their legs except stockings ana
not unfrequently half of the knee is en-
tirely bare. And yetthey may be dressed
in the height of fashion and the short
skirt which reaches halfway to the knee
may be the latest pattern from the bazaar
Those who are best qualified to speak de-
clare that there are three points OF the hui
man system which particularly need pro-
lection in cold and stormy weather. Ihese
are the wrists which should be protected
by pulse warmers the knees which should
have a knitted wooden covering. and the
neck. especially the back of it. which
should be kept warm by Il comfortable
wrap. With the possible exception OF the
latter, these are the yer, points which are
left most exposed with little girls. AS we
stated. the knees are often half bare, and
the sleeves IRE so short that they do not
meet the abbreviated mitten. If parents
would only give this question of proper
clothing for their children little more
thought, it would certainly contribute to
the health and comfort OF the little ones.
and in the eyes Of sensible people look far
more pleasing than the most ultra fash
ionable garb ever conceived in the mind of
a Worth. High-heeled shoes and scant
skirts may be the mode, but they are new
ertheless species of civilized balbarism.
-
Mr.. Arthur Macarthur has recently
written book which Oughtto if itdOes not,
attract widespread attention and result in
good. The subject he treats of is the es-
Enlistment of art a2d industrial schools,
and in the course of his discussion he
points out the advantages which have ac-
crued to France and England by the inter-
est that has hePn created and the practical
steps taken in this direction The subject
is one of peculiar Importance TO the people
of America and especially Of he south. In
this section there is a pressing demand Tor
mechanical education. Fec generations
past education in the South has meant the
cultivation and expanding of the mind.
The development Of the mental faculties
has been the only end aimed at the ulti-
mate design OF The student being en-
trance into the professional ranks. AS IA
Consequence. the professional ranks are
crowded. and competition among lawyers,
doctors and men Of letters has reduced the
average returns to Il minimum aud left un-
cultivated other fields where rich and sare
remuneration is promised The yas
natural wealth of this section. its water
power. its timber its mineral resources,
present an Inviting prospect 10 him whose
purpose it is to equip himself for their
necessary to utilization of their resources
cannot be extracted from books. The sue
cessful management of msnufactori es, Of
furnaces. and the: like. demand practical
as well as theoretical knowledge. And it
is through the schools where the hands as
well as the head find employment, that the
young men OF the Soatb must pass ere
they can hope TO reach up to the fruit that
so temptingly overhangs. The demand for
such institutions is present and pressing.
Not only should they he established, but
they should be so popularized that the un-
worthy and senseless prejudice against
mechanical pursuits which deseends to
us as a legacy from slavery, shall be
rooted out and buried forever with the
system which fostered it.