The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1899-06-24
"Observer' Still Observing.
Mr.. Editor:

MI EultOT.
Somebody has said one should begin
love-letter without knowing what he is
going to say. and end it without know
ing what he has said. / shall not dis
cuss the wisdom of that assertion, but
will say never adopted that plan when
I was engaged in inditing such epistles.
But 1 am beginning this somewhat up
on the lines suggested above. without
knowing exactly what l shall say
hence do not be surprised If my remarks
should be Of desultory character. The
pen is very seductive instrument is
apt to draw out ones thoughts and ex-
pose them unless a tight rein is kept
upon it.
In this era of intelligence 1t needs no
argument to prove the necessity aud ad
vantage of an education. Those with
,o1t it are surrounded by 80 many diff
culties. subjected to SO many mOrtidca-
tons, and so often feel the need of it,
they know better than any one else the
misfortune OF not possessing it. UnfOr-
tunately this knowledge comes too late
in life to be of any value to the posses
sor; but 1t should urge him to make
every possible effort 10 give his children
an opportunity to acquire an education.
If this deficiency of common school
education is accompanied by 30 many
evils then 1t Is impossible to estimate
how many times the advantages are
multiplied when we contemplate the va
lue Of an Industrial School education.
Nothing but genius cali defy education,
and even that is aided and adorned by it.
Think Of an institution that gives q
common school, the essentials of collie
giats, and q part Of university educa-
ton and you have only portion Of
what an Industrial School cOnfers, for
in addition we have the industrial"
taught, consisting Of Painting, Telegra-
ply, Shorthand. Bookkeeping, HOrticul-
ture, Mechanics, Music. DairyiDg and
Domestic Science. 1t is impossible to
adequately comprehend by contempla-
ton the good which such an institution
confers, II every young men and young
lady who has any desire to rise above
the mental requirements of the cOlored
people, and every parent who has child
to educate would seriously cOnsidertheir
duty and obligations to self, society and
their race they would soon be working
to obtain that which may never be pre-.
scented again for their acceptance.
will impersonate st. Maftinyille and
let her indulge In little praise Of her
A attractions and censure of her'blemishes;
In point Of healthfullness, equal my
competitors; my moral atmosphere is
decidedly purer than theirs; my COM
mercial prospects are as promising, ]
have never encouraged hOoms as they
invariably react in detriment to both
private and public good, prefer to pay
as 60 and not insugurats fictitious va
lues, my material and that of the parish
/ In which / am located surpasses theirs,
though it may not all be- Immediately
available owing to the sluggish interest
in education that has prevailed here for
several years past, but doubtless the
superior facilities and opportunities
which an Industrial School affords,
would soon arouse an intellectual crav-
ing entirely satisfactory. Lest might
be considered altogether vain I will not
pass unnoticed my uninvitting features.
though l cannot assume the responsible
lily Of all the blame as some of my par =
simonious children hold the purse
strings. and when they see ut to loosen
them will deck myself In q more plea.
sing and attractive garb. To be frank
shall feel ashamed of my outward ap-
pearahce when the committee appointed
to make the selection of the location for
the Industrial School comes here to see
what attractions have; it is painful to
| refer to my deformities. but l cannot
hide them by not mentioning them, and
] know they appear much greater to
strangers than they do to my own chill
dren who are accustomed to seeing, as
we'll a. Indifferent to removing them, l
know that am already quite old, and
growing older daily and that Time Is
writing wrinkles on my aged brow" but
speaking Hguratively. my children ought
to inject little Of the Brown Sequard