davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1902-10-07
Wedding Bells.

Miss Clara NJ. Upton and Roy Y. Fer
ner were married last night at the home
OF the formers parents, 340S Morgan
Avenue, Columbia Heights.
The Rev. Mr.. Ferner, of Chicago. the
grooms father, officiated. The guests
present at the ceremony were limited TO
relatives and close personal friends
MIR. Frederick E. Upton gave his
daughter in marriage and the attend
ants were younger sister of the bride.
Miss Katharine Upton, and Mr.. Hermon
Cooper. of Syracuse, N. Y, who acted
the best man.
The bride wore white creme de chine
and tulle veil and carried a bouquet
of white roses. Her maid was in blue
crgandie and lace Her flowers were
pink roses.
The parlor was tastefully arranged
with palms and white flowers and in the
dining room the color scheme was green
and pink. Upon their return from their
honeymoon trip Mr.. and Mrs. Ferner
will be at home in their apartments at
1445 Meridian Street.
Miss Mary knight Bradford. daughter
of Rev. j. H. Bradford. will be married.
this evening, at O'Clock, to Mr.. George
Winchester Jones, Of Boston. The cere-
mony will take place at the First Con-
gregational Church.
The Washington times., 1902-10-07

Baron Gevers has again taken up the
strands of diplomatic work after a
three months vacation tour spent al
most entirely abroad.
The Washington times., 1902-10-07
For si.4s and si.es.

The last chance on our Picture sale
Tor this day only: all pictures will be
sold at half the regular price.
The Washington times., 1902-10-07
GOOD coRsETs,

There are many graceful models in
stock. You cannot help being perfectly
fitted-if you take a little time. There's
fitting room here and attentive ex-
perts to give you help and advice.
c. B. Corset. made of English coutil.
medium bust. long dip hip. heavily
hfans DGnsd' pn,o IN white, drab. and ST 90
American Lady Corset. made of coutil
and batiste. in all the very newest
shapes. Prices ranging from ~ 20
81 to Sk.JV
Thompson's Glove fitting Corset, made
OF coutil, high and low bust. short and
long dip hip. Prices ranging "a m
AiOm "a TO-. ssVV
w. B. Corset, made Of coutil. high
and low bust. long dip hip; bones guar
anteed not to push through e1 m
Sizes, is to 36. Price wv
The Washington times., 1902-10-07
Specials from the An Dent.

A new line Of Pillow Shams, with
drawnwork borders; regular size. A0c
81 and 36-inch Scarfs. with 1sc
drawnwork borders, for. each...... Id
beautiful line Of new Pillow Tops.
in silk and velour.
large assortment of Pillow nc
Tops. for this day only.......... 81
A large assortment Of fine Linens.
with finished scalloped edges In All
sizes. at very low prices.
beautiful assortment OF silk Pill.
lows, completed,
The Washington times., 1902-10-07

~ REAT ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC TEA
co. Nam store. corner Ith and Sta
~ Branches al ov9 the city and n all
markets
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-02
Hampden Sidney. Wit.
Mind CuItnre.

Editor OF This Times:
Sir:-Man's mind is his guiding star,
hence the Importance of its being rightly
trained that it may guide him in right
ways His success or failure depends
largely upon the training received. A
huge unsishtly mass Of granite would
not be a. very desirable headstone, bur
after having undergone process of pol
ishing. it would be q. most fitting posses
sion to mark the final resting place OF
heroes exalted and those fondly beloved.
The same is true of mind; before man
can enter into profound thought, MS
mind must essentially be cultured. The
worlds most worthy achievements are
products of those who have adhered to
the adage that Mental culture is the
food of humanity and that tits the nina
that makes the body rich" Let one en-
gage in whatever vocation he may, With
out a certain degree of mind culture, his
schemes will fail of success. The nations
Who stand highest in the scale of ciVil1za-
ton are those who have put special erne
phasis on mind culture.
Mans intellect, sensiblllty, ana Will
n,,,st be awakened, if the best IN hum IS
10 be developed. If these remain undevel-
oped. he is mere cipher in civilized
soc:ety-"A becalraed ship that moves
only hy the wind Of other mems breath !"
A. H. WYNN.
crewe Va, February %.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-02

Let the county superintendent and
trustees call together the people IN eacn
neighborhood once a year to tax over
and discuss what is for the best interest
OF their schools Have the people to e1-
rress their preference for teachers; II
there is no reasonable objection let trus-
tees appoint these az teachers; the peo-
pie will then feel they have q. personal
interest in their schools, will visit schools
and send their children more regularly.
Build good, warm houses, dry wood,
&c. so one can easily and quickly make
q fire; make children and teacher com
Portable.
Teachers of each school district should
meet regularly once each month during
the session to talk over school work and
recommend plans for the betterment OF
the schools. Whenever possible the coun-
ty superintendent should attend these
meetings.
The teacher seems to be blamed for
everything which goes wrong in educa-
ton. Can a. person in any occupation
do her best work feeling the pay will
not support her, and she must think of
and arrange for work to be done when
school closes?
Give the schools nine or ten-monthE'
sessions and make the pay such as she
can live for twelve months, so that she
can plan and study during vacation for
next session.
Select some boy or girl from each school
who has the natural fitness to teach
teachers are not made by trainingj and
help this one to go to a. school for teach
ers. Returning home, she will do more
to xecite an interest in education than
any public speaker passing through the
country. THOMAS W. CRAWLEY.
Prospect, Va, Feb 18th
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-02
Better Superintendents Needed.

EDITOR of The Times:
sir.-NIuch has been said about the
country schools OF the State when tends
to lessen their value in the eyes O. The
public.
These things are not true Of all coun-
try schools: some are doing good WORK
others very poor work. What is the
remedy? / think to a large extent IN the
appointment OF county superlntehdehts.
Act in a business way. Appoint men
Who have taught in the public SCHOOLS.
thereby knowing their needs and how TO
guide teachers Alright in conducting them
1t is now the duty of county super1n-
tcndents to visit every neighborhood to
STIR up the people to the importance OF
educating their children. Does he do 1t:
lie does not visit the schools more than
once session. and many schools not
once He Is appointed on the recon-
mendation Of leaders Of his political
party. Will the plan adopted by the con-
vention avoid this? think not. The
information upon which he will be APP
pointed will come from the same source.
let the people elect. know some say
he will be more in politics. think all
the people know who will best suit them
hettsn than q law politician
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-02
A Teachers Protest,

Editor of The TlEleS:{
Sr-Wil; you allow me to say word
in vindication Of our town and its excel
lent pubic schools 1.-THE Times of Febru-
airy 10th publishes an article from DR..
Kline on education in the South, in which
he makes sweeping denunciation of all
schools in Virginia He knows far better
than about many of these, but let me
say for our Stanton schools that they
are excellent The pupils who have gone
from here to B1acksburg, Virginia Mill-
tary Institute, Washington and Lee, and
the University Of Virginia have, almost
without exception, taken an enviable
stand. and have been an honor to our
town.
Those pupils who have come up into
the Virginia Female Institute for adj
vanced work, have always been among
our brightest students, all showing ex-
cellent training in the public schools, and
among the teachers of these schools will
be found many who are graduates and
former pupils of this Institute. whose
work as pupils or teachers I know to be
good. We have also had well prepared
pupils come to us from the Jynchburg
schools
Pardon this defense Of our town school
and its excellent mana cement. Being il
a position to say this. felt impetled to
do So
MARIA SPENDLEToN DUvAL.
Staunton, Va, Feb. 22d, 1902
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-02
e The Times:

Editor OF The Times:
ssir,-While the subject of education Is
being discussed, [ would lAe to say that
in my twenty years of experience in
school work T am OF opinion that one, Of
the greatest evils results from the
method of appointing teachers. AS
rule. the trustees are not educated men
and have but little real interest in the
schools-are easily influenced, and hence
favorites, sycop1ants and those who VIII
belittle their calling and beg most ear
nestly, get the schools Many of these
are young girls who should be going to
school. but whose only ambition is to
teach (?) a willie and then get married.
T could give many illustration, but VIII
give cnly one: There is a. teacher not far
from me who gives an order for the cut
ting Of a. whole cord OF wood Tor every
half cord that is cut and the cutter draws
the nav. (Nood is cut and piled 2x4xSo
Right in that same vicinity are some
good tea chers who would willingly teach
this school, but cannot get 1t without
playing the sycophant. which they WI!
not do. In the same vicinity are several
families, who though they can I'LL afford
II. hire a. private teacher. and still others
who can't pay keep their children at
home
NV remedy Is this: Abolish the board
If trustees and let the patrons elect the
teacher vIATOFs
sunnvside, va. February oath.
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-02
A Sugge stiou From Dlnwlddie.

Editor of The Times:
Sir,-lour editorial comments on educa-
ton are so In harmony with my ideas
that / cannot help from adding my little
mite to the good work. In the first place
the public school system. especially in
Dinwidde county. Is rotten to the core.
Take the district here. where live, for
example. The teacher--well perhaps I had
better not say anything about her, she
not been. a. stick of wood furnished the
school this winter and the little boys have
had to skirmish around and gather UP
9. few fragments here and there to keep
from freezing to death while they should
be in the school-room studying, and the
school -house is no better than a barn.
OF things do not pretend to say. but I
do say that a, system that will show such
a, CONDITION OF things IS certainly rotten
ana 9GW while ad we an are havng
is in session. why not have a. new syn:
tenn either engrafted in the Constitution
or by legislative enactment, the abuses
which I have named above will never
cease under the present condition Of
things and this has been the whole cause
of the disrepute into which the public
1t is Just the easiest thing In the world
to change this rotten system to one thar
will be a pride and a. joy to the patrons
and Taxpayers and be no more expensive
than the present one.
Let every district elect Its own trustees
to serve without pay and let this trustee
nave the Whole mana cement of that dis
trict aInenable only to the county super.
1ntendent. Let him hire the teachers and
see that the wood is supplied and the
house in proper repair an1 everything else
needful. In this may you have a head
in every district that is responsible for
the good conduct of the school. whereas
It now is no one seems to be responsible
The teacher runs the school just as she
has a. mind to. She gets to the school
house any time between Q and u o'clock
and if q. young man comes along that
she wants to go riding with. she closes
school. no matter what the time is and
the scholars are cheated out of their
honest dues. But YOU cannot expect
anything better under the present sys-
tenn. you cannot run any branch of gov
eminent without a system that makes
performance of duty.
AMOS BOLSTER.
Dinwiddie County, Feb. o. 1909
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-02
Or, Frayser's Criticism.

The comments of DR.. Fraser. the late
president of tho Farmyile Female Nor
NAL School, upon the public schools OF
the State are not understood BY his
many friends in Accomac. His display
irE photograp hS of some rural schoois
from this or that section OF virginia
and his position therein to class the
schools as contemplate. or the work be-
ing ACCOMPLISHED failure, finds no place
in the Judgment of sensible men over
here. who are the friends of public edu-
cation.
We have in this county ono hundred
and fifty schools, counting each room a
school. OF course this gives a. large NUM-
Der of buildings. About six of these
buildings no doubt would be fit objects
for Dr. Frasers camera But to display
these and say nothing of the excellent
schools regularly graded. carrying two.
three and four teachers. and many OF
these teachers from the Normal School
over which DR.. Fraser presided, would
be unjust to the present system, unfair
to the walkers in the schools. and show
lack Of consideration In the person at
the head of such a parade. 1t is a very
easy thing TO theorize In educauonal
matters. to say this is not right. or some
other is the thing to do. 1t is not SO
easy to get in the work and labor to at
tain the desired results. This Is prac-
teal age a man and his opinions amount
to nothing unless they are OF some prac-
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-02
VIEWS OF THE PRESS.
What the Newspapers Think Of the Pablo
School System.

The Richmond Times has been giving
for some time a large amount of time
and space to the discussion of the public
free school system of the State. Dur
ing the course of the discussion it has
been clearly shown by The Times and
confirmed by the Virginia School Jour
nal, DIR. FRAZIER and others, that in many
instances the public schools are abso
lutte failures and a disgrace The school
buildings, says The Times, in many coun-
ties are ''wretched," that the merit "sys-
tenn does not obtain, generally speaking,
in the selection of the public school teach.
ers, that there is a great deal of poll
tics and favoritism in the selections of
teachers and qualification does not al
ways count. The Times will give the
names and addresses OF county super
intendents, in Virginia, or men who have
occupied that position, who will testify
on this point"
The Times goes on to say:
Dr. Southau intimates that the STATE.
is doing about as well as could be ex-.
pected with the money which she ex-
Ponds upon public education. With due
despect to DR.. SouthalTs opinion, we do
not believe it. We believe that the
schools can be vastly improved without
any additional expenditure, by getting a.
better class of teachers, and we believe
that If. the taxpayers could see better
results for the money thus expended, 1t
would be but a little while before the
appropriation would be increased
ss AS we have said before, the best proof.
that many of our schools are almostsut-z
ter ailures IS the pupils themselves Let
a little time and trouble be taken to ex-
anime the pupils from these schools, on
reading. spelling, etc, and It will be APP
parent at a glance that they have not
been taught. OF course there are some
notable. exceptions. The fault is with the
teachers. They themselves are deficient,
woefullys SO, in correct elementary knowl-
ledge. Many of these teachers are EN- ,
Moved on the princip that a half loaf
is be ter than no bread, Tiers through
|favorItisnr and a few because of their.
|fqualifcati tons. Among The colored schools
4 the ition. IS even worse. The Times
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-02
vhv echcc, 7e,c hers Are Not Successful.

Editor of The Times:
Sir.-Since this is question ag1tating SO
many minds of to-day, a. dlscouraG1ns
problem, which meets so many teachers
with empty benches in their school-rooms
and is notifying thought which Is well
ventilated by evil tongues 70 be heard
at every turn. whilst teaching, 1t seems
that we ought to give these Thoughts
some consideration. 1t is a well known
fact that teachers are not altogether to
blame for this status of affairs. Then
let all who are interested. superintendent,
trustees, parents and children who are
to blame for this wave of dissatisfaction
cooperate and shoulder each ones share
of the responsibility, SO this misunder>
standing can be removed in a measure
and everybody can be encouraged and
benefited by this great work of school
reformation. After ten years labor in
public school work I ought to be pre-
pared to point out some of the obstacles
in the way of success as far as our
public schools are concerned. The most
Of my Tabor has been confined to my own
native county, Greene, which would be
who nourished me III her bosom or guided
my wandering feet into the path of
rectitude.
AS to my own individual work, taught
sixty-f7ve pupils ungraded one session in
a. small school-house, with no help. My
work was not altogether satisfactory.
How could it be? AS sickness or bad
weather only helped me out, when I was
nearly broken down, could not blame
the trustees for not assigning me an as
sistant, as the teacher who preceded ma
averaged three pupils and a half IN SIX
weeks. The compensation for this over
work was twenty-five dollars and han.
If the county was not able to- pay more
AT that time, that could not be helped
either. Since then T have taught an-
other school with one sessions enroll
meme Of forty-two and another sessions
enrolment Of forty-hve, with no help
assigned me, yet know I am doing a
good work, as one of my pupils took the
same grade in the public school at Wash
ington as her cousin did, who had at
tended Hollins Institute one or more
sessions. She not only took the same
grade, but has held it through this ses-
sion with ease. IF the GROWERS would
look cut for the good and correct the
evils in our public school system anew
era would dawn for our over-Worked
teachers. II scurrilous and unjust ac-
cusations are brought against asteacher
let them be inv estigated. and If true let
the person be suspended from WORK. Tor
a season: IF false let the lnstlga tor SUI
fer. for the rnfsdem amer, and let the
worker go on with her labor, and the
falsehood will. be apt to rebound to the
instigator, and no one will be injured ,a' y by
such an accusation.
our superintendent do all IN their
power to prevent fl aud In teachers secur-
ing higher standards than they areSen n
titled to. and If they do this they arr:
finally caugh t up nj tn and banished from
school work II a teacher is AassignedSa
sc1loos which she neither has the expert
<anna nor, the capacity ia teach she ta
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-02

Editor Of The Times:
Sir,-The school talks in your paper
have given rise to a great dea! of thought
IN the mind Of one who has been engaged
in teaching since lSS4-cne Who has per-
haps seen more Of the EVERYDAY work
sngs Of the schools than higher school
officials could.
Knowing full well her own tmperfec-
Hons as q teacher, as Well as that Of
others-observing for many years the
schools and its teachers, not in one county
alone, but in number Of therl-she has
long felt that there was need for reform.
The State has had heavy burdens to
bear. and perhaps has expended all the
money that ii could spare Whether il
can do more seems a question for the
legislators to decide and not the teacher.
A vast number Of school trustees can
but be commended for their faithful,
ness In n-renuneratiye work. OF school
officials and lack of proper legislation
do not speak, but unless the teachers
of yirsinia-the country teachers espec-
salIy-rise fror, their Indifference ans. be-
stir themselves to do better work, to
elevate themselves by self-culturc, by q
daily education TO better Things, r'1ent''tr,
and morally, n closer study of the child
entrusted to his or her care. often at a
tender age despite tha fact that siren
,lous efforts are being made in various
wavs for the elevation OF the schools, our
schools will be retrogressive instead OF
progressive.
There has heen too much sentimental
ism about the meagre salary Of the teach
or. too much said of their being naid no
more than laundry women or cooks. The
good cook, the laundry woman, the stone
breaker the wood s.hoprer. or whatsoever,
he or she may be that does faithfully the
work God puts into his hands. corr
riands Infinitely more respect than the
poor teacher. teaching alone for salary.
who oftontimes dwarfs the minds of the
pupils.
Few callings-or, might say. none
bring with them such mighty response
t,ilities as that Of the teacher.
The good or evil effects of the school
room is felt through life and revcrber-
ates an echo IN Eternity. From this cen
ter there arc Inn,i1ss. able raids with linn
ttisss nlttsnsaesaas - sssA's s7ss @
The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-02

teal value. A man who discusses scheN
business and is unable to point out any
helps, unable to show how to make il
less expensive to educate our people;
unable to tell how to- make the rural
school-houses better than IS being done
under the present system. with tho
amount of money expended, is OF no
value to the schools
The local school boards OF Accomac
county are six In number. They are conf
posed of level-headsd business men, who
have the interest of the schools in their
respective districts. at heart They spend
the money at their command. after due
consideration. for what in their judy
ment is for the best interests OF the
schools.
They are In touch with the policy as
outlined by the State Superintendent in
The Richmond Times of last Friday az
to weak schools. Each of these boards
will welcome any man to their meetings
who can figure from the funds availabls
q more rapid and permanent improve
ment than has been and is being wrought
in these parts under the present system
It takes money to build school-houses,
and many of the rural school districts
have very little mosey.
The following figures taken from tn.
official reports from this county show q
healthy growth:
School
Tear. Pop.
Total enrolment OF pupils
in Acconac ......-..--..--.-- 1sS3 4Ssf
Total enrolment OF pupils
in AcComac .................. 1901 i,"4,
Average number OF pupils to
Il teacher ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1888 81
Average number of pupils to
a teacher ......-.........--.. lNi s.
Total number of schools, CALI
ing each room a. school. in. 1883 81
Total number of schools. CALI
ing each room a. school. in. 1901 1Sf
-Accomac News.