The weekly messenger., 1893-09-02
SATURDAY. SEPT. ?, 1893.
Whence The Astonishment? !?
st. Martinyille, La, Aug. %, 1898.


Mr.. Editor: .-
II / am trespassing upon your good
nature in again soliciting space In your
accommodating paper, you must share the
blame with me. IA your complimentary
allusiOn to teacher and pupil of the
St. Martinville public school has given
rise to few thoughts not heretofore
expressed. You, in common with many
Others, feel surprised that Master Paul
VOorhies should have passed a creditabIe
examination in contest with gradu-
ate of a neighboring school. will tell
the people OF ST.. Martinville what they
do not know but what they will not be-
lieve the New Iberia High School has
never turned out graduate that stands
upon as higher educational plain than
the one which Master Paul yOOrhies occu
pies. Now. why this SURPRISE? Is not
the air Of st. MartinyilIe az capable rs
any other Of imparting mental vigorY
and is it not as free for him to breathe
rs for as any one else? Who has right
to infer that the Almighty has not be-
slowed upon him mental gift of a high
Orderp I will answer the Qnery pro-
pounded above. 1t is because the people
havesnOt taken sufficient interest in our
public school to visit it to see for them
selves what the pupils and teachers
have been doing. A more prominent
reason is, because the teachers are paid
scarcely enough Ito keep body and soul
together" People seldom appreciate
what they get cheap, can think of but
OF one exception to this general rule.
An old Grecian cynic being asked, what
wine is the bestY" replied, that which
is drunk at anothers expense" This is
not so. with free education. The people
are getting their children educated too
cheap. II the public school system is to
DO made an eleemOsynary ins titutiOn,
why then the teachers are paid
enough. We cannot take up a paper,
afar or near, that does not mention the
date for the reopening of the schools in
their respective vicinities; but who can
answer the question, "When will the
st. Martinville public school open?" the
reply cannot be otherwise than the re-
frain, lin the sweet by and by" This
deplOrable apathy would be. in a mea-
sure. excusable II st. Martinville had
concluded to disobey in the future the
injunction. increase and multiply" or
II she were engaged in propagating no.
thing but dOlts; but the probability is,
she will, In the future. as 10 the past, do ,
her share of replenishing the earth for ,
the honor Of man and the "glory Of
|iOd." We have here an unusual mum.
ber OF children with bright minds.
which need only culture to make them I
sparkle with intelligence. We all know
hat the most productive soil. when un-
Iiffed is soon overrun with weeds; every
'bservant person also knows, that tho
brightest children are the most apt to
un into mischief when neglected. How
appropriately many Of our people might
xclaim in the language of the Grecian
philosopher. 20, that had friend to K
ell me Of my FAULTS" such friend h
VOuld say to YOU. IF you do not mani d
est more interest in the building up of o
our public school. and try TO make 1t o.
redit to your town and a blessing to your N
hildren. the school building will stand o
,ere as monument to ST. MartinyiIle's nj
lily and apathy" ci
Now, MIR. Editor. yon little thought q
lat when you penned those compliment NJ
Irp lines regarding teacher and pupil, NJ
"a were pointing moral" though. W
lot adorning tale" o,
PRECEPTOR.