The age-herald., 1898-03-13
 MYSTERY OF POLITICS
 MIXED WITH EDUCATION
zu>sY THOMAS HINDEE-

It was my good fortune to have had the opportunity, few months ago, of travel ling through a large part of the agricultu- ral districts of Alabama, and in doing so, it was my double fortune to have visited a portion of the country which may be termed ''remote." I say that I had the double fortune'' to visit this section The majority of people would not think they were playing in the best of luck were they compelled to travel as l was compelled to do, and to go where I was compelled to go, but with me it was different, for l saw many things which interested me- for l, like a great many other people, take an interest in almost everything which oc- cure around me.
 A vast portion of the state of Alabama is made up of remote" territory, inasmuch as few railroads and all other Stimulators of progress and higher civilization pene- trate these districts. This being the case, the territory must necessarily be lso9ateu to a great extent when compared with ehe more populous and civilized communities.
 In the course of my journey through the regions above mentioned, chanced to visit the town of-well, we'll call it, Brandy town'-and I had occasion to remain there several weeks.
 Being possessed of certain amount of spare time each week, it was only natural that I should fall into an association Wlth the inhabitants of the place, ana enter iiiuo the spirit of their affairs of life.
 had. not been long in BrandytoWn pe- fore I learned that the people Of that sec ton were experiencing what they tefuheo their "school trouble"
 Upon incidental inquiry ascertained that the school affairs were badly mixed, caused by the injection of too much pontlcs iii.o the educational interests of the district.
 Twin of 1O1iticS with educat1On IS not confined to Brandytown, but 1t is a common failure of and terrible curse 10 the people in scores of communities In this etate
 I have always taken an interest in ed- ucation and this interest led me to inquire into the status of the "school trouble in this particular locality.
 The county in which Brandytown IS slt- uated was up to two years ago, dlstihctiy democratic and when the attempt at gen eral political revolt occurred in this state two or three years ago, it became rellglous- ly poplllistic except in spots here and there which does not effect the general tone of the situation, and so 1t is today In this county, as well as in all others the question of politics is carried into everything, even into the private lives or the individuals; the democrats striving to recover their lost ground, and the populsts endeavoring to maintain their present prestige; all of which is working out great evil upon the coming generation. The contest goes on, however regardless or consequences or the influence for evil it may carry with it.
 In Brandytown is situated the district school, the principal of which is 0 we'll meaning and fairly well-educated demo- crat, and one who, to a considerable ox- tent, understands how to teach a country school; for think not that there is any similarity in the science of teaching coun- frv nd a ri school
 A city school teacher would be ignomi nious failure as an instructor in a country school, notwithstanding his superior edu- cation, and his superior knowledge of the science of school teaching.
 The teacher of Q country school in Ala bama dares not wear a standing collar, or change shirts oftener than twice per month, and must not shave more frequent ly than once during each two weeks. If he conducts himself otherwise, his pa- irons will think he is ''city man" and putin on airs" and will ostracize him and withdraw their patronage from the school if they cannot secure his discharge. This is no idle talk I know it to be fact because have seen it with my own eyes. It is true that it does not speak well of the intelligence of the community, but these people actually do not care for intellectual advancement, and 1t is a very great pity that they cannot be brought to realize the importance of progress before it is too late.
 On one occasion I had business mat terxin hand with farmer, and during my conversation with him, l broached the subject of education to him, and asked him as to what provision he was making for the future in order that he might edu- cate his children. His reply was Well, my parents died when was young man, and left me with forty acres of land. Since then have added hundred acres to the