Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1895-07-17
PCdagogue Replies.

Mr.. EDITOR: il is custom OF
mine in the school room, when |
call upon my pupils for recitations,
if they begin with, "The boy stood
on the burning deck then and
there J take my hickory to them
Pitts reply to the illtimed reHec-
tions of Walpole is an older chest
nut and he, Semphronicus, de-
serves . t1agellation with words,
for its use. But we suppose he had
nothing better and in his despera-
tion TO break the force of argu-
ment he must resort to ridicule
but no sensible reader will be led
away by such diatribes. Semphron-
icus reminds meNf another youth,
Icarus, who, when his father had
their wings, secured upon each
with wax charged him to keep up
on a line with HIM in their flight
from Crete; if he should 60 too
near The sun the Wax would melt
and he would be hurled to destruc-
ton. Now, I;arus was as egotist-
ical as Semphronicus. He thought
he knew more than his father and
he departed fr.m the lines upon
which his father flew, The wax up
OH his wings was melted and the
hapless youth met watery grave
beneath the Icarion sea. Beware,
Semphrnnicus, of the fate of lca-
rus. Why l believe this presump-
tuous youth would essay to drive
the chariot of the sun-would dis
regard the directions of Apollo,
would sci the universe on fire and
destroy the whole realm of nature.
Semphronicus in his straits is
calling upon his friend Crouch by
flatterillg him, to come to bis aid.
Now l believe that Mr.. Crouch.'is
too sensible'to be led by flattery
into any such discussion as SEM
phro!:icus desires, vilifcatiou. He
can say us many fine things about
his friend as he desires, but | am
sure Mr.. Crouch is to, good Il critic
not to be able to decide who has
the argument and who has not III
the discussion. Noposition | have
taken Oh the school system, has
been successfully assailed. All
persons in their right mind, and
outside the asylum know that all de
nominational colleges and schools
are built and sustained to build UP
their respective churches. The
very names indicate that they ore
sects and if they are sects
they are sectarlan. The mere
fact that minister who engages
i'll secular pursuits, argues that he
is in it for the money; and he
has not enough faith in his Gods
promises to be teacher of any
body else.
We thought when the Advertiser
was patting Semphronicus on the
back that he would ruin him and
10! he has caused him to burst
with vanity. Mr.. Crouch learned
one thilg at school that Semphron-
icus failed to learn and that is
courtesy and we advise Semphroll-
icus to 90 back to school and learn
that one thing, for we assure HIM
| that he needs it very much.
One of tlle main reasons that we
attacked sectarianism in schools
was the editorial in the Cotton
Plant advocating the election of
Baptist as president of the Rock
Hill school was on account of sec
tarianism in the schools, and We
hope that the Advertiser will pub
lish it and we will be sustained il
our position. We entered into tht
discussion that good might evolve
out of it to the school system anc
for no other purpose. But unfort
unately some vain young men It
show off their learning, wit anc
sarcasm have diverted the discus
sion into other channels, all from
no fault of mine.
If he was as we'll versed in his
tory as he pretends he would kno"
that the French revolution broke
more chains of slavery thai
any other event which ever occur
re,l upon the continent and more
impetus to progressive civiliza.
ton. The catholic church was re.
sponsible for the dark ages, aud
had it not been for Luther or some
man like him, it would still be the
dark ages. In conclusion we
have this TO say we are willing to
discuss any live question in II gen
tlemanly way, but if the Advertiser
is to be the medium of mud fling
ing. we would rather wash our
hands of it. We can assure Sem
phronicus we can say just as saucy
things as he or any Of his friends
and if it is his purpose to degrade
the discussion to that level why I
am in for all the summer. So clay
on McDuff and id be he who
first cries hol | enough"
| DRD lc,,rIIE
prO,nut and GcnarouS