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

Continued From First Page.)

Virginia were getting in the front ranks:
Ia referred cioquently tc the part that
Governors Montague ard ANcock We're
taking in favor OF a better system OF pun
1ic education. and said the bringing OF
e,ci, mon 10 the front meant better things
for the two old States. as they were
ST; tes.r,en rather than POLITICIANS
Coming to the subject of equipments
for schools in the rural districts, the
srcakcr said:
THE ordinary school-house in our rural
sections where the citizenship of this
corutr.v is supposed TO IN trained 10 high
and broad thinking is inferior to many
II the stables or COW barns in this city.
The average citizen who has seen CROUCH
OF the world to know the Importance OF
environment in the Development of chill
5iren into men and women has pcen too
busy with his or her own affairs to recog-
MIC the farce that is so frequently en-
acted in the little huts and shanties used
rs training schools fer citizenship The
great majority of this audience havo not
seen one of these little School-houses in
five or ten Years.
NOT PROPERLY FURNISHED.
SIT is very rare that one sees anywhere
outside of the cities school-houses pro-
nerly furnished and with strong, effective
teachers The truth is, ladies and gem
tlefncn we have played at education and
have triffed with the greatest problem of
civilization. There is not an article Of
furniture in an ordinary room which can
be made by labor that can be employed
ut eighty cents or a dollar a day. Yet
this is the pay OF the labor VIC employ to
work upon the minds and hearts of little
children. 1t is from lahorerS of this
class that we hone TO have inspiration
given to our citizenship. We seem to
hope that unskillful people can teach
others TO be skill rul; that nneducated
peonle can make others educated; that
weakness can beget strength. The
strongest, the most powerful. the most
cultured. the most tactfui. the most
Travelled. the most inueatial OF any citi-
zen of any Commonwealth o. CITY ought
10 he the leading teacher of that Com
rnonwealth or city. a public policy
which calls the strong and cultured of
society into Law. medicine, theology and
comm rce and leaves the weaklirgs TO
prepare the rising generation for its
duties is wrong. uapatriotic AMI suicidal.
The school teacher is societ.s agent for
rrnpagatirg the best that a generation
ran know ard see and Go and be. The
school teacher is the seed corn OF
civilization. and none hut the best and
strongest Is god 10 use
SHOULD NOT BE NEGLECTED.
After discussing ut some length and in
a very able manner the cost. of educat-
ing a child. DR.. Mclver said;
ut ought to be the highest ambition of
those of us who have power. by reason
of cur education or wealth or social or
political position, TO use that power to
give a chance in life to all little chill
yfren, and especially TO that masterful
class about which I have just spoken
and from which must come the leaders
IF The world Nor must the training of
ordinary individuals be neglected. 1T is
from high plateaus that the great moun-
lain peaks rise
,.I believe In the divine calling of mon
TO work in this world. The man who has
special ability In mechanical direc-
ton is just as truly called TO do the nee
essary work in his particular field as Is
the man whom God has endowed With
the peculiar sift of preaching the COS
pcl of the Prince of Peace to a dying
world. Fitness to do a piece OF work that
stumarity needs to have done constitutes
an un,nistakable call to that work. The
very possession Of power of any kind
whatsoever is a trumpet call from on
high to help The weak and the struggling
on Gods earth.
CAN. BE sR.sM,.LIt.D.
IT believe that The conditions to which
i have referred and which are neither
crcditable nor profitable TO our ciViliza-
ton can be rerncdled, and can be rome.
Hied. best by women. II 1t Is right, and