Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-07
Senators EIIyson and iOyenstein Eu-
dOrsed-The Question OF Free Books
and How ~ VIII Work. &c. e..


To the Editor Of the Dispatch:
The senator's from Richmond have
taken the true position upon the Ques-
ton of Pupils from distant counties
and towns attending the public schools
in our cities"
As a nonresident Of Richmond, re-
siding in an adjacent county, hence not
influenced by local considerations, lun-
hesitatingly endorse and warmly COM
mend the views of Senator'S EllysOn and
Lovenstein. | draw no imaginary PIC
ture. ! state facts; one of many will
suffice to prove the injustice of propo-
sition to permit pupils from various
counties to enter the graded or other
public schools Of Richmond, Lynch
burg. etc. Not long ago young lady
from the county of N, far away
from Richmond, was sent to that city
to be educated. The father of this girl
had ample means to educate her at any
one of the frst-class female schools IN
Virginia. lie was then, and is now,
prosperous gentleman, farmer, and mer-
chant: but economy and ruling prlncl-
ple to save all hecould led him topasS by
excellent female institutions and place
his daughter with a near relative in
Richmond. at perhaps a nominal or
small expense for board, etc, and enter
her a. pupil of the public schools,
session after session, until she passed
through all grades. She became a
pro iempore resident, residing only
nine months in a year with her friends
or relatives. Is this right? If the
parents had been too poor to educate
the girl, and her friends had taken her
a. a bone-fde member Of their families
for an indefinite period, the case might
be viewed in different aspect. This
illustrates many similar cases. If the
people of the cities can stand 1t, OF
course those Of the rural districts can
-. snap their fingers" and say, Go on
The above illustration leads to
another point. | refer to free school,
books. All girls or boys going to the
cities to enter the public schools-re-
siding with their uncles, aunts, sisters,
brothers, or friends-children Of we'll
to-do.parents, will have books furnished
them free. Why not
If$SG0,00O or 100000 are to be
given to this object annually, it APP
pears that these pupils from outside
districts will come in for their share.
The young lady above referred to,
whose father never paid one dollar OF
tax into the treasury Of Richmond
like many others-not only received her
tuition free, but with such law on
our statute-books as that now proposed
would have received in five years, or
during her course of study, twenty dol
lars worth Of books.
In sight of the spot where these lines
are penned is a free school-house.
know of children who have entered the
school this scholastic year, and perhaps
have not been in attendance thirty
times, and may not go there again until
/ next CepltLlDcls II a. HAA' w. 49,.
"free.book BILL" and the result will
simply be giving away tens Of thousands
of dollars of books annually to children
who enter the schools, remain few
days or weeks, and in the mean time are
supplied, each one, with two or foul
dollars worth of books. They retire
to their homes. called away by their
parents. and are heard of no more a,
pupils.
With the negroes this appears espc-
cially to be a rule; but thousands o.
dollars will be thrown away likewise
upon white pupils. 1t may seem TO Of
strong language, but such law as thai
proposed appears a premium to fraud
Our legislators must look well into thi'
matter, or they will make fatal mis-
take. Never mind about the "Conyen
ton platforms. LooKER-ON.