The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-03-02
publlc Schools in Chesterfield.

Publle Schools in Chesterfield.
Editor OF The Times:
S.r.-Ti1e public schools have been kept
opea most of the time, and the attend
ance has been fairly good. notWlthstand-
inr the weather has been so severe and
the roads bad.
We IN in this nook OF the old county
feel a great interest in the discussion
n Mich is going on in regard TO the con-
dition of the schools throughout the rural
districts of the State, and sincerely trust
It may result IN improving Inc pune
schoo, system.
If Il be true. as stated in your editorial
al Yesterday. that qualification does not
by any means, always count in the selec-
ton and appointment of teachers. then
your last statement is true, viz: that
1.-The whole system j: at fault and needs
to be thoroughly reformed and put upon
a basis of merit and efficiency.
While there VIII always 10 tnEe OIL
politics In the management OF the public
school system, and no ore will dare say
that under the conditions which exist IN
our dear Southland it should meet win
wholesome condemnation and denuncia~
lion, still al! lovers of justice VIII agree
that all nepstism and favor1t1Sm snonla
De discontinued end eliminated, and that
the system of rae.1nert Shouid OBTAIN al
ways and everywhere.
We feel that we are exccehinEiy 1or-
tix,ate in having teachers who are splend-
tdly equipped, both by moral and mental
endo4ments as well as by intellectual
training. culture and experience. TO teach
our children Many of our teachers were
educated at the best male and female
colleges of the Stata and some OF them
would fiji with credit positions In the
higher institutions of earnings, in which
o4cr fyI,a
lectual ability and q thorough college
and university education are held to be
,bsoliaely necessary for the higher train
ing of the young men and women OF
the present day. With the resources
which we at present have at hand, our
schools are doing excellent work; but
,,nder the ef1Icient leadership of our pop
MAR county superintendent and with our
superior corps OF teachers and with al
StionaI equipments we nra tfoni7shlhs ana
xvorking for better things N the not
distant as,taIre The patriotic spirit and
1,cble purpose which have animated the
true mon and women of the SCUM
snd led them to put forth their pest
efforts to rebuild the shattered fortunes
OF this country aFsf contribute oil tneir
time. energies and means Tor tho gen
eral uplifting Of the people along every
limo Of material. social intellectual. moral
and religious development are worthy OF
the admiration and commeldatlon OF an
10 have +he sbi,i4v to recognize true
worth and self-sacrificing devotion ana
effort.
Tho rrosrects for good crops of wheat
and corn in this section are not very
promising. but it is rather too early TO
make calculations as to yield In these
cereals.
There has been a great deal of sick
Ia ySrif 1,ty
lew weeks Pneumonia has been the
nrovaiIinr- disease and IN a number of
cases il has proved fatal.
Among those who have recently dteo
were MIR John Rudd, who left WHO"
and three children: Mr.. Arthur MARX
lam who left a, widow and SIX chlioren.
His widow has been quito Ill for some
days. and there has been little nope OF
her recovery but at this writing her
condition is thought to be more hopeful
a more recent death was that of Mr.
A. A. Kudd In his death this COM
Inunty has sustained a great Joss. one
could scarcely pick out =. man in tins
whole section of country who would ne
more missed by all classes of our people
Han he will be by the young and old.
He has been prominent among us Tor
a long series of years and was highly
respected as q. man of sterling worm
He was mustered int into the s9n,edSr ATE ,e
.'oId flag until it was furled at Apo
,nattox Courthouse.
At the time Of his death he was a mem
bcr of the SkinquaTter Baptist Church,
of which he had been an active and con-
sistent member for many years. lie was
also a member of Captain Woodbridge
Camo of Confederate Veterans and look
a lively interest in everything that per
tanned to the cid Confederates. He was
recognized by all who knew him as a
true and valuable citizen a devoted huS-
band, an affectionate father and a, loyal
Christian man.
He leaves widow. two daughters-Nliss
Generieve Rudd. of IIol1ins Institute: Mrs.
William Bagwe1l Jr. of Hamlet, n. c.;
Rev. r. &. Rudd. of Amelia; Messrs.
worlley Rudd Aston Rudd, of Rich
.nond, and Rev. a. Barton Rudd, of
Porto Rico. who is laboring there under
the auspices of the Northern Board of
Baptist Missions. and large number OF
relatives and friends to mourn their
loss. All the members of the family
were will. their loved one and watched the
flame of life flicker and grow DINNER
and DINNER and then die out forever on
earth, but to be rekindIed in the eternal
home. People from all the adjoining
country came to pay their last tribute of
respect and help lay him to rest in the
client grave.
How true is It that in the midst of life
we are in the midst of death, that The
death angel is abroad In the land and
that he comes with equal step and impair
tial tread to the hovel of the poor and the
1890 CHRoNICLER.
Skinquarter. Va, Feb. "a, 1909.