The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-03-23
"A GARD FROM supr. prRR.

principle have invariably avoided
being drawn into q newspaper discussion
unless there was some proper interest
to be subserved thereby or public policy
promoted. In recent newspaper at
tack upon mo there appeared posi-.
bility of misleading the public by reason
of tho much mixed and muddled manner
OF the writer's statements, which only
required tho authorship OF the opinions
expressed to be known to fully deter
mino their value. The writer spoke as
If authorized to say certain things for
certain city officials and that is why /
dignified his utterances with response.
lie now avows that they are merely his
own humble opinions" which, had no
done first, would have rendered re.
sponse unnecessary, as opinions are val
liable according to the knowledge, in.
telligence and general capabilities of
him who opines.
AS to the public schools of this city
ana their management am constrained
to say that there are but few persons
within my knowledge capable OF ex-
pressing an Intelligent opinion upon
their needs as but very few are CON
versant at all with the matter. When
L first came into office l requested a
close CO. operation of Council. This 1
deemed would be beneficial to both the
schools and the Council because Council
would thus be made acquainted with
their workingsaud understand better tho
demands of the system and consequently
feel more interest in prompting its
welfare. / subsequently stated in sew.
eral reports submitted that closer super.
vision was necessary and set forth the
reasons therefor. The Council then
paid one hundred and fifty dollars (sl50)
per annum for supervision. Now this
appeared to mo to be manifest waste
Of money because the services required
could not be obtained for that sum-
Last year they increased the sim to
$500 year. This 1 stated was mis-.
taken economy also. because l thought
1t would have been better to pay moth
ing than to pay an amount insufficient
for the purpose In this opinion the
school board Of this city agreed with
me, and frequently submitted recon.
mendations to that effect Recently,
ON motion of Mr.. j. S. Pattie, one Of the
most observant and experienced NOM
bers of the City Council, school com.
mittee of that body was appointed
This was the first step in the direction
of placing Roanoke in line of analogy
this particular. After this was done
was the first time within my knowledge
that a member Of the City Council OF
Roanoke was ever inside of the public
schools OF this city. This committee
paid them cursory visit and satisfied
themselves as to their operations and
earliest needs. They reinforced tho
recommendation of tho school board bv
presenting an ordinance prescribing a
salary of $1,000 for the superintendent
of public schools and requiring similar
services as in other cities
Upon educational matters there arc
very few experts, and cannot believe
that intelligent men care to talk about
things outside of their range of know.
edge. have never, at any time, said
that did not discharge the duties of
my office. No one can truthfully say
such thing; but, on tho contrary, /
have performed great deal of gratuit-
Gus service because there has been
"malign influence" at work to stab the
public schools and cripple their eff7ci-
ency, yet avoid the responsibility of the
acts which injure. I have donated my
time and efforts largely in excess of the
State requirements because | knew the
schools needed more attention in their
formative state than at any other
period. No efforts of their enemies
have ever destroyed my enthusiasm in
this behalf nor lessened my zeal or
labors, although unpaid.
But, l was about to forget the Young
man who writes at the Evening World
office, and this should not be done since
he has labored SO diligently to attract
attention to himself. Now, am aware
that he may be young and giddy, and
not entirely free from tho tangling
verdure of Arcaiian innocence; and I
fancy him modestly trembling with
smiling simplicity, downcast eyes,
bated breath and listening ears, while
he chews his first finger and changes
feet, looking askance and eager, like
one of the "three little maids from
school," waiting for compliments to
come, and shall try to deal gently and
soothingly with him in the second per.
son singular.
You are Charles l. Ste wart, editor
of the Evening World, Office hours from
a. m. to p. m.," so you say. Now
when did it begin to affect you that
way-you had best take something for
it-take it quick and great deal OF
it-let it all operate on your head or
there arc no hopes for you. Don't got
irrit ated now because | did not send nv
article to you FOR publication; it NAV
have been consideration for your com
prehension; it may have been to bring
you into more extended circle of notice
than you could have acquired other
wise; 1t may have baen because did
not wish to have my article mingled
among your unexplained, tongued and
groovcd, barn yard rhetoric that did
not submit my article to you. These
may or may not havo been the reasons,
yet neither journalistic courtesy nor
ethics, nor any other of the many things
of which you are yet ignorant, re-
qIired such course. Certainly YOU