Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-07-03

Young man can do no more than afford
him the opportunity Of instruction"
This 10 true. But its portals must be
opened or he cannot enter. The oppor-
tunity must be given him or he will
never rise. OF late years the county
has been doing this. Her colleges,
schools and seminaries have been throw
ing open their portals and there is not
a boy or GIRL care not how poor
that may not get an education.
When we look at their splendid OPP
portunities We feel like saying to our
children what our fathers said to us
"We almost envy you your advantages.
We longed to see your day but were not
permitted to see it," 1t is natural for
parents to feel thus and they should not
fail to remind their children Of these
golden oppoi tunitics. One long winter
evening, after my brothers and | had
gotten our lessons, father remarked
.that education makes the man" and
then repeated with great emphasis the
old saying, "What is worth doing at
all, is worth doing WE'LL" Putting on
his glasses and taking the candle, he
held it up near the stove and asked
whose names were cast OH there? We
answered Mcpherson and Brein. That
stove, said he, was cast at what is now
known as Brein's Furnace, which orig
inally belonged to Mcpherson. But l
must tell you how Rrein became mem
Der of the firm. One of the wood-chop-
pers, anxious to get note written to
Mcpherson, and hearing that Brein, a
brother wood-chopper, was good
scribe, got him to write it. On handing
it to Mcpherson, he was asked who
wrote it? One of your wood-choppers,
was the reply. 1t can't be possible
Send him to me, was the peremptory
order. The order was delivered. Brein
| went, he WAS made clerk, he soon got
into the good graces Of Mcpherson, and
then won the fair hand of his daughter,
and now, high up on the Blue Ridge
mountain where Brein once Kicked the
wood, stands his old summer residence,
commanding the most beautiful view
in all this country.
Among my first teachers was your
present County Superintendent, John
Hess. He was one of the pioneers of
education in jefferson county, and SO
long as "the schoolmaster Is abroad, F."
we hope he will keep moving. When
his work is done there will be many
who will rise and call him blessed.
The first classical school established
in the county-outside of the towns
was by those friends of education, the
McMurrans, the Molers and the Rey-
noldses, on the Reynolds farm, near
Levi Moler's. Here is where the first
president Of Shepherd College prepared
himself for Hampden-Sldney, where he
graduated with honor. Joe Nc. was
the largest boy and the best scholar in
Oak Dale Academy. Knowing his zeal
for learning, we predicted for him a
long and useful career. Nor have we
been disappointed. Shepherdstown and
its vicinity owes him debt Of gratitude
which their children and children's
children can hardly pay. Although he
is not now engaged in teaching we are
glad to see that he Is president of the
school board, where, with a good corps
of teachers-maay Of whom were train
ed by himself-he will do efficient
work.
1t is with no little pride we look upon
Shepherd College and think of the good
it has done to Shephcrdstown and the
surrounding country. Of the schools in
Charlestown and elsewhere in the coun-
| ty we know but little, but we are told
that they are inferior to none in the
State. All that is needed then Is a proper
enthusiasm on the part Of parent and
teacher and the people of Jefferson
county will become as celebrated for
their intellectual attainments as their
lands are for their agricultural products.
And now, Messrs. Editors, thanking
you for this indulgence and wishing
you great success in your efforts to ell
tighten the public, | am
Yours very truly,