Middletown transcript., 1897-01-09

When you send in your name for enroll
ment.y on should also send 25c to pay your
subscription till July 1st or 5oc for a year.
Teachers should always pay as they go.
Should any of the lady teachers, who
were examined in Wilmington, fail to gel
certificate. they can lay all the blame on
that mischievous little mouse that weni
about inspecting the several candidates un-
til he me-. .kis fate at the hands of the ex.
aminer.
Margaret B.-I thank you for your kind
letter. It was happily put, and judging
therefrom, would say that you are a
teacher who carries sunshine into the
school room.
The following letter, which was pub
lished in the Morning News" January 5,
is now given the members of the Round
Table for their consideration. If you favor
the introduction of military drill into our
schools.w shall be pleased to hear from you
AN ADVOCATE OF PEACE.
To the Editor of "The Morning News"
Sir: The persons who appeared recently
before the Board of Education of Wilm-
ington to enter their protest against the in
PRODUCTION of military drill into the public
schools of Delaware are the very best sold
iers of our country, for they are fighting
for principles which mean the greatest lib
erty to the most people.
The peacemaker is greater that the war
rior. The nation that settles question by
arbitration is more patriotic than the one
that settles its disputes by force of arms
Why teach nations arbitration and instruct
our children in military tactics? The whole
thing is inconsistent.
We do not want war. Even as much as
we love liberty, it is quite evident that the
thinking people of the United States are
opposed to war. The Cuban question is
sufficient proof.
We have no foreign enemy, and we are
unlikely to have SO long as our government
acts intelligently. But we have domestic
enemy and over II per cent. of the people
of Delaware belong to this brigade. The
leader of this mighty legion is General
Ignorance. When he is driven out of the
state and union this nation will forever be
at peace.
If a just cause ever comes to this nation
for war, the soldiers will not be lacking.
This is the verdict of history. And right
eous cause generally finds its leaders.
Maceo, Cuba's great patriot, who annoyed
over 100000 of Spain's soldiers for nearly
two years, was not trained in military tactics
in his youth; but the muleteer, carter and
day laborer learned enough. when occasion
presented itself, to outgeneral the trained
Weyler, who sat in his palatial residence in
Havana and attempted to surround the
willy rebel with "pin soldiers" on CARLOAD.
Have we not heard enough recently
about arraying the ''masses against the
classes?" Then shall we foster a system of
soldiery which is always repulsive and an
tagonistic to the agricultural. class of any
nation2 Do we wish to become Germany,
where an army officer may thrust citizen
through with his sword with impunity for
a trivial offense? Do our young men desire
to be taken from their homes to do army
duty for three years? OF course not
Then why military drills for our schools?
Many of our schools have sports, games,
drills and calisthenics in sufficient quantity
to make military drill unnecessary as an
exercise. We..want no uniformed instructors
in our public schools. The teachers of the
children of republic must wear the garb
of citizen. The sight of soldiers uni
form is sufficient to make boy forget his
lessons for half day. The brass buttons
on soldiers coat have caused more than
one foolish boy to join the army.
If our boys must learn war let them at
tend our military academies; if they must
wear soldiers uniform, let them enter a
college where such is required; but let the
minds of our children in the public schools
ever be free from though IS of war. The
boy who has well-trained mind knows
how to care for his body. He will also
make good soldier if occasion should de-
mand it. A. R. SPAID.
Wilmington, January q 1897.
Papers Used Jan. S97.
INSTRUCTIONS.