Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1903-08-12
Forty-Five Years Ago!
Extracts from the Prairie News, a Paper
Published in Okolona before "a majority
of its present Citizenship we're born.
From the Prairie News of August 70. 1853.

PRINTED AT THE NORTH I've
have received a very nicely exc
cuted catalogue OF the Female In
stitute, located at Winchester, Va.
Accompanying it was a very soft
sUaping and pressing invitation to
attend the annual examination. or
eourse they expect a puff for this
Especial mark of favor. Well, we
give it. The Valley Institute has
many claims upon Southern pat
ronage ; first, because ii patronizes
the North with its printing, for
which it pays, and patrOnizes the
South with its putting, for which
it don't pay. Secondly, thirdly
and lastly, it is a hyfalutin trick,
and exhibit a cOmmendable pen
chant for uice iObs-therefore abO-
htiOnists 10 the paying and South.
erners the gratuitOus ones
OUR SCHOOLs.-In a short time
the fall sessions of our male and
female schools will commence, and
what, we ask, is the prospect Of
their opening aud continuing in a
prosperous condition I OkOlona
is a point at which hourishing
schools can, and will be built up,
if Our citizens act i'm concert. The
serious consideration of ali good
citizens is claimed, and is not only
required they should think, but
act. Education is the most i'm
pOrtant subject ever pressed upon
an enlightened people, and we
cannot be unaware of the great ad-
vantages that would RESULT to this
is tO-be city from the possession of
good schools, in which education
of high character could be obtain
ed. Some Of our citizens, we re
greet to see, are indispOsed to exert
that energy, that enthusiasm, we
may say, the occasion demands.
The people Of this country gen.
orally, are in the enjoyment of
liberties no age ever before realiz
ed, or country possessed, and it Is
with as to say whether we shall
have schools here that will reflect
credit to our town aud village
within our knowledge has fine
schools, and shall we not have at
least that can, with truth, be dom
mated a "High School," Ac-
cOrding to the educational advan-
tages OF a place, is the enlight
eminent Of its citizens estimated,
and il we neglect to avail our
selves Of those means the nature
of our situation, the wealth of the
community, and the public spirit
which ought to actuate our citi-
zens give US, we can never hope to
be otherwise than inhabitants of a
semi-ciVilized OkolOna. Cultiva-
ton Of the mind will hold up any
country to fame and power, and a
neglect of it will hurt it to dark
ness and iniamy. A neglect Of the
proper cultivation Of the mind
could not preserve even the re-
nOwned statuaries Of antiquity,
and how is the majestic structure
of our government to stand when
our children + reared up incapa.
BILE Of understanding OF guarding
their own blessings, and when the
weird finger Of ignorance taught
by stinginess and a contentious
spirit, points in mockery to those
whose only claim to future recOl-
lection will be because Of their hav-
ing been the culpable ancestry Of q
ruined. We must have schools
here at hOme-schOOls Of high or
der, and to build up which twill
take more pride, more effort, more
concert Of action than is now ex-
hibited and used. Let Us build up
schools which will add interest to
our town, and respectability to our
name abroad.