The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1902-04-10

minds us of what Artemus Ward SAID
about his public lectures, viz: that there
was SO much in the lecture that had abso
lutcly nothing to do with it. We must
protest against what seems to be the at
tempt to becl0ud the issue. Let's stick to
the question. We have the consciousness
that our motives are pure in agitatlng
this matter, and to intimate otherwise
does not help your side of the case. What
the public want is facts, not argument, so
that they can decide who is light and who
is wrong, for there are always two sides to
every question. Kind friend, there is
nothing to get warm over in this matter.
There is absolutely no use-nor excuse
for such epithets as 'malicious," 'stealthy
rogucry," and the like. But these were not
applied by this editor, but by Mr. Virgins
himself to his own people, he putting such
| a construction on our former editorials.
But, with all due respect to his unedr-
standing of the English language, We
contend that our words do not admit of
any such construction. If he 50 construed
them, we most kindly assert that it was
strained construction. This newspaper
has not impugned the characters and NOR
al judgment of the worthy officials who
conduct the school affairs of our sister
town, nor will we and our words should
not be misinterpreted. Far be it from US
to be Jealous of Denmark's success. In
truth, we glory in her progressiveness,
and, as our files will show, have held up
her pride in the matter of free schools as
a worthy example to this community.
That we have freely used the columns of
our paper to sustain his good work, we
are sure MIR. Virgins will bear ample tes-
timony AS to the incident to which he
alludes which would shock some of our
townsmen, we know nothing, and, as we
| have no earthly idea to what he alluhes,
cannot say whether it is germane to this
discussion. However, we think that, as
he did not divulge the nature of the Incl
| dent, the bare mention had best been left
| out of his communication. To come to
the real question at issue: Mr.. Virgins
does not attempt to explain or reply to the
facts and figures cited by US, except in the
matter of salaries paid the negro teach
ers. There the mistake is not ours, for
we took them from the official report, and
the difference is very slight anyway: a
total of only $50. The annual report of
the State Superintendent of Education
also gives the total negro population of
Denmark, of school age, (between six and
twenty-one years. as 225-100 boys and
1875 girls-yet it gives the total enrolment
of negroes in her schools as 56S-265 boys
and 303 girls-an enrolment of 343 more
pupils than there is children. He is right
when he says these figures perplex US, for
they do, and we cheerfully admit our ina
blity to understand how an enrolment of
5GS pupils can be returned when there are
only 225 children of school age. If these
| figures are wrong, who is to blame? The
| report is official, and was the best source
of information open to us. We admit all
our friend says about the good work of
Lizzie Wright, and the only question at
issue as to her school is: Is her enroll
ment of pupils, as returned to the school
authorities, made up solely of children
residing in the bounds of the Denmark
district? From the figures of the reports
we could not understand how they could
be- and do not yet. Either her enrolment
is not of purely local pupils Or the figures
are wrong. She says she takes boarders
and has them board in private families
out in town. If foreign pupils were re-
turned as basis for distribution of pub
lie funds, clearly that was an injustice to
every other school district, and We hardly
think our friend would contend other
wise. Our idea in bringing out the ques-
tion was to correct if possible seeming
injustice, for the Herald not only repre-
sents the people of Bamberg town, but all
the people of Bamberg county, and let US
say right here that the best interests OF
any section of this county do not come
second with US. Let US assure our friend
that there has not been any patting on the
shoulder of us by any citizen of Bamberg,
and in fact the only private discussion OF
this matter had with US at all was by the
very courteous and pleasant chairman of
| YOUR board. of trustees, with whom We
had pleasant conversation a few weeks
ago. Don't try to bring in anything about
i'll feeling between the towns, for there is
no such thing in Bamberg. In fact, the
people of this town seem utterly indiffer-
ent about free school matters, and in this
connection let us thank you for your Sc
we're but true comments on our school
situation. Faithful are the wounds of
friend" "But thou canst not shake thy
CORY locks at me and say l did it." We
have labored necessarily, in season and
out of season, for better free school facil-
tiles for Bamberg town: first, for a special
levy y-(where we finally succeeded in get
ting half loaf, and now we are working
for better building, or rather for build
ing-the present affair is not worthy the
name In conclusion, let US say that all
this discussion about incidental matters
does not settle the question. If the facts
and figures quoted by us are correct, our
position is OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. We
have simply tried to do our duty as we
saw it, for we could not see the equity and
| Justice in the distribution of funds based
on those figures. If other figures can be
brought forward showing the State Supt.
to be in error, we will freely accord to dis
trict No. 81 all she contends for.-Ed.
Herald.
Big Railroad Deal.
New YORK, April 4--Following a