The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-06-02

done to educate him Your editorial
seems In the nature OF reply ana crit
tcsm to an article from one OF your
correspondents In the same paper, when
Il have unfortunately not had the benefit
81 reading. and can, only infer that II
took ground in opposition to the educa-
ton Of the negro under the present sys-
TEN at least, and, as heartily agree IN
this. i wish to call attention to one point
especially which think has IN important
bearing on the question, and whicn :
have not seen mentioned hitherto. II IS
this: tho persistent idlencss brought about
by the attendance of the negro on III.
public schools IN the county districts at
least.
II the young negroes OF both sexes
we're not engaged in going through the
motions Of getting an education, beihs
nominally educated at the expense OF
tho white tax payers OF the state ana
really acquiring very little. II any, use
ful education or training. but growing
up systematically In utter idieness, -
It not reasonably probable that mar! OF
them at least would learn t. work on
farms or elsewhere, and undeI the te Ais!.
ing and training OF their white employ
Fers. become good laborers, house servants
or mechanics, and useful and respecttul
members OF their respective neighoor-
hoods. instead of being trained, so 10
speak. from early youth In habits o. ~
dolcnce and idleness, with all the evils
and vices resulting?" l, for one, thiHk
3d. and believe am by no means alone
In this opinion in this community arg
probably in many others. simlariy sla.1
uated. The writer Is far from being
prejudiced against the negro. but enter
talns the kindliest feelings toward them.
having been raised among them, inc
negro boys, his playmates and fr'enus.
the old men and women often exercising
an advisory control over him In the abb
sence OF his parents and asserting
measure of proprltorship In him. ana me
few of these classes still living are MS
staunch friends. as 40 Is theirs, but no
has been most reluctantly convinced py
personal observation that the great ma
jority OF the rising generation OF our
country negroes, the new Issue, tine az
PENDANTS, norminally or really. OF our pup,
lie schools, are. under the practical work
!ngs OF that system, being brought up
and trained. as 1t were, In habits OF per-
sistent idleness, from which all the
usual evils may be expected. and do re-.
suit as night follows day. III my neigh
borhood, believe In almost all country
communities, the only reliable laborers
are the few former slaves remaining anu
some OF their children who were brought
up under the old system and before the
successful establishment of the colored
free schools with their colored teach-
ers. The great majority of the public
school negroes are worthless and utterly
unreliable for any useful purpose, While
large portion are even worse. having
become, as result In great measure OF
heing encouraged to grow up In idleness
while heng nominally educated, proil-
clients ira lying. stealing, swearing, drlnK-
edncss and immortality, who neither fcAr
God nor regard man, and. sir, the worst
feature of 1t all Is that these cnnditlons
are growing steadily worse instead OF
better, and, as a rule, the younger So
called laborers and citizens, educated WI
der our present system are moro worm
less, unreliable and vicious than the Old
or ones, with whom there remains soma
small remnant OF the older training, and
under continuance OF these conditions
1t seems probable that In the next gen
GRAFTON there Will be no negro iapoFeEs
left in our country communities worthy
of the name, while the growth OF crllnl,
nails will have alarmingly Increased,
may seem to speak strongly. sir, IN some
respects bat this Is a question on WnlcN
] have strong convictions, based on closs
observation. and one which ] regard as
OF the greatest Importance. What rene,
dy then? you may ask, and ! am not
wise enough to propose any, save this;
let the time and money now spent and.
wasted In trying to give the negro llter,
AIRY and scientific education be devoted
to training them Ia labor work with their