The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1886-04-17
GOOD WORK IN A GOOD CAUSE
DR.. Mayo's lecture on Education-yisit I.
Some OF Cur Public Schools.

| Dr.. Mayoss Lecture on Education visit to
Some OF Our Public Schools.
Rev. DIR. A. D. Mayo Of Massachusetts,
who is travelling through the State and de-
iiyering lectures on edncation at The in
stance Of the Louisiana Educational Soci-
ETY., arrived here Thursday afternoon, per
r. d P. railway, and was received by the
committee of prominent citizens appointed
for that purpose, who escorted him to the
residence of Prof. Z. G. Terrell, principal
Of Ascension Academy, where he was enter
tanned HOSPITALITY during his brief stay in
Donaldsonyille. The learned Doctor lee
tured at night, in Hook and Ladder Hall,
to a large, intelligent and appreciative an-
dience, and his discourse proved highly in
teresting and instructive, enchanting the
close attention of his hearers from opening
to close.
The lecturer man on the shady side Of
fifty, but exceedingly well preserved in fea-
ture, form and voice, withal of venerable
appearance by reason of his gray hair and
beard and the use of spectacles-was intro
duced by G. A. Gondran, Esq, Parish Su-
perintendent of Public Schools, and began
his discourse by complimenting the COM
munity upon the interest in the cause of
public education ettested by the beautiful
and commodious school house across the
way, with its admirable annex of a resi-
dence for the principal. He then proceeded
- and 70 bo nf fba
school-that is, the good school, conducted
by trained and skilled teachers in accord
ance with improved modern methodist
the elevation and welfare of society and its
connection with the influences of the church
and the home, those other great agencies in
advancing the social, moral and political
welfare of community, State and Nation.
He pictured universal education as the very
corner stone and foundation of our great
Republic and the sheet anchor Of the future
safety and maintenance Of our system of
government; as a.moral jack-screw which,
placed under the lower or basement
strata of society-to use homely meta
phor-gradually but surely raises all classes
and conditions, qualifying the poor, the
humble and the ignorant for the intelligent
exercise of the great responsibilities and
sovereign powers of American citizenship.
In European countries the privileged upper
classes are educated and refined to the COM
parative exclusion of the plebeian and poor
or elements of the population, and the fail
ure of the system is shown by the frequent
outbreaks Of war, anarchy and revolution
that have overturned governments, deluged
the land in blood and produced frequent
changes III the map of the continent during
the past century. In America a different
plan is pursued: we extend the blessings Of
of the rich and poor are placed on terms of
perfect equality in the public school, sub
jected to the same discipline and afforded
the same advantages. We begin the cree
ton of our social structure as builder does
that of house, at the bottom, while the
Europeans, as a rule, commence at the top
and neglect the all-important foundation.
The speaker contended that, besides the in
estimable moral benefits accruing from
good public schools, they actually pay cash
as an investment by attracting a desirable
class of immigration and enhancing the
value Of property.
Added to his fine voice and marked tai
ent as an elocutionist and logician, DR..
Mayo has rich fund of humor and anec-
dote, acquired and enlarged in the course
Of thirty-five years experience in the pull
pit and on the lecture platform, and he en-
bellished his address with occasional sto-
merriment and heightened the relish OF his
hearers for the intellectual treat-the feast
of reason-the more serious portions of his
lecture afforded them. We should not for
get to mention the presence of the hide
pendent Brass Band, whose musical over
ture enhanced the interest Of the occasion.
On Friday DR.. Mayo visited Ascension
Academy and the coored public schools of
Donaldsonville and Smoke Bend, accompa-
MED by Messrs. McGalliard, Vega, Brown
and Gondran of the School Board, and APP
peared pleased with the general condition
and signs of progress exhibited by those in
situations. He made short and delightful
addresses to the pupils, which were received
with evident interest and enjoyment. The
visitor left on the evening
train to fill appointments to lecture at
last night and at Baton Rouge
to-day and tomorrow.