The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-02-20
DEATH OF GEN. TOON.

Gen. Toon yesterday morning shocked
his 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 to resume his official duties. He
died suddenly. He was ready for DEATH,
He had looked it in the face many times
on the battlefield. and had never finch
ed In war, in peace, in society. in the
church, in the home he had lived the life
of q true man, and death could have
no terror for the gallant old soldier.
Cen Toon served with such gallantry
in the Confederate army as to win pro-
motion to brigadier generalship, and
TIC receive the warm praise of Gen. Robt.
E. Lee After the war he became
legislator, farmer, and afterwards a
school teacher In the country or village,
seeking merely to do his duty without
thought CT preferment to the high po
sition he held at the time of his death.
He accepted 1t gladly as call to duty
in 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 illit-
eracy of the children bore heavily upon
his heart, and he resolved to do every
thing in his power 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 administration had won
popular approval and evoked popular-ap-
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. He regretted deeply
his inability to attend, but wrote let
ter that may be said to have been tie
key note of the deliberations and the adj
dress issued. Here is his last letter:
Hon. C. D. MeIver, Raleigh, n. c.:
Seriously regretting my inability to be
present at the meeting Of the twin spirits
wing--poised over our State, Education
and Good Roads, guarding her best in
terests, and heartily concurring III every
effort for the Improvement OF our pub
lie schools l ask permission to welcome
this conference composed of the fore
most educators Of the State, into organi-
zed efforts especially directed to the bet
torment of our public schools. hope you
viii pardon suggestion from me- While
there is evident Improvement in the
schools all over the State in every par
tcnlar, we recognize as the peculiar
drawbacks 10 be: LIST. multiplication OF
small school districts; End, want of bet
ter houses; 3rd, a sad want of more
money. and 18th, indifference on the part
of patrons. The first and second can be
removed by consolidation of school dis
tricts. The third by local taxation. The
fourth by agitation. The School Law by
section ~ provides for the formation OF
SrecI2l ScnOOI TAX .NlStTictS, the Car
rying into effect OF which | believe 10
be the most important considerations OF
this conference embodying as ii does the
remedy for the present drawbacks to bet
ter schools, better houses, more money
together with the removal of that indif-
ference which paralyzes educational eff
fort in North Carolina. ] would then
earnestly recommend the establishment
of special school tax districts in the
country ana graded schools in our towns
Agitation, consolidation and local taxa
tion is cur hope.
Wishing you a successful meeting, ]
an. Very respectfully.
Your obedient servant,
r. f. TOON,
Surert0tendent Public Instruction.
Raleigh, ". c., February 49,
Let the last words of this noble SOL
dier, farmer, educator be the shibholeth
OF those battling for public schools
Agitation, Consolidation. and Local
Taxation 1t is the trinity that will
drive out illiteracy.
-----~---------~~-