The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-02-25
DE ATH OF GEN TOON.

The announcement of the death OF
Gen. Toon yesterday morning shocked
IS family and friends and will be heard
with surprise and regret throughout the
State. He had been sick since Novem-
Der, and at one time it was feared he
could not recover but he was thought
to be nearly we'll and expected next
week te resume his official duties. He
died suddenly. He was ready for death.
He had looked 1t in the face many times
on the battlefield. and had never finch
cd. In war, in peace, in society, in the
church, IN the home he had ived the life
of q true man, and death could have
no terror for the gallant old soldier.
Gen. Toon served with such gallantry
in the Confederate army as to win pro-
motion to a brigadier generalship, and
to receive the warm praise of Gen. Rob-.
Z. Lee. After the war he became a
legislator, farmer. and afterwards a
school teacher, in the country or village.
seeking merely to do his duty without
thought Of p~referment to the high 20
.ition. he, held at the time of his death.
He accepted it gladly as d call to duty
in a larger field. He entered Upon that
work with the zeal and enthusiasm of a
young man, End was stricken down
while eloquently pleading for the edu-
cation of the children in an Eastern ru-
raj community. The burden Of the Hit
eracy Of the children bore heavily upon
his heart, and he resolved to do every
thing in his to carry the blessings
of education into the humblest homes.
He had more than met public expecta-
ton. and. more than justified the faith Of
his friends. HIS administrator had won
popular approval and evoked popular-ap-
plause. ffe fell in the harness, in touch
with The new educational awakening that
has come upon the State. Gen. Toon was
deeply interested in the work of the
Educational Conference that met in
Raleigh last week. lie regretted deeply
his inability to attend, but wrote a let
t1I tAel INDY w ot1io l nave bccE liIc
key note Of the deliberations and the ad-
dress issued. Here is his last letter:
Hon. c.. D. NcIver, Raleigh, n. c.:
Seriously regretting my inability to be
~1fesent at the meeting Of the twin spirits
~Wing-poised over our State. Education
and Good Roads, guarding her best in
terests, and heartily concurring in every
effort for the Improvement OF our pub
lie schools, / ask permission to welcome
this conference, composed OF the fore
most educators Of the State, into organi-
zed efforts especially directed TO the bet
terment Of our public schools. hope you
will pardon a suggestion from me. While
there is evident Improvement in the
schools all over the State in every par
ticular, we recognize as the peculiar
drawbacks to be: 1st, a multiplication OF
small school DISTRICTS; End. a want OF bet
ter houses; 3rd, a sad want OF more
money and Attn, Indifference on the part
Of patrons. The first and second can be
removed by a consolidation OF school dis
tTicts. The third by local taxation. The
fourth by agitation. The School Law by
section = provides Tor the formation OF
special school tax districts" the car
rying into effect Of which ] believe to
be the most important considerations Of
this conference embodying as it does the
remedy for the present drawbacks to bet
ter schools. better houses, more money
together witt the removal Of hat indif-
ference which paralyzes educational ef-
fort in North Carolina. ! would then
earnestly recommend the establishment
OF special. school tay districts IN the
country ana graded schools in our towns.
Agitation, consolidation and local taxa
ton IS our hone.
Wishing you q successful meeting. !
am, Very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
r. +. TOON,
Superintendent Public Instruction.
Raleigh, \. c., February Is.
Let the last words of this noble sol
der, farmer, educator be the shihboletl
of these battling for public schools:
agitation, Consolidation, and Loca
Taxation" 1t Is the trinity that viii
drive out illiteracy.