The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-05-11
THE SOUTH TO THE FRONT-POETS
BORN In LONDON-LENGTH OF SERMONS
BY DIR. Il. b. KINGSBt RY.

South prior to the great SectlOnal var
that one in these times may approach
the subject with a spirit of revolt II
not genuine contempt and abhOrrence.
1t was common in the North to speak
in contempt of what was understood TO
be the intense ignorance II not bar
barrie conditions of our section. indeed
there are people and sections that still
live in absolutely ignorance and abhor-
renee OF Southern whites. 1t was less
than a year ago or so since L saw IN
the leading daily newspaper in all New
England, the Boston Herald, a declara-
ton that las for the Southern whites
they were barbarians." While in the
South prior to the great conflict there
was really a great ignorance it was by
no means confined to our dear South
land. Ignorance abOunded IN the
North as we'll. and in spite of many
advantages. The South had four mil
lions of negroes to swell the difficult
ties of general education, while the
North had none Of this to contend
with. Now fortunately after f~orty-nlne
Years of peace since the great up
heaval ended, there is a change in the
views OF the North as to the real con-
ditiOns in the South prior to the ire
war of destruction n
more %inquiring and intelligent people
of New England and the wider North
are beginning to learn how mistaken
and laundering they have been in their
censure and general Judgment con-
corning the South. Education was
far more general and of a better kind
Than they had conceded to the South.
Some two years ago I was privileged
to read a small volume by an able
professor in Vanderbilt University,
Professor Dyer, in which he discussed
most clearly and satisfactorily the
condition of schools in the South be-
fore the war. l used some extracts from
the needed and informing volume.
and would be glad to do so again if I
had it by me. But it had been leant
me by a Virginian lady and was re-
turned to her. 1t showed up the blum
ders n ignorance of people in both
sections as to the real condition of
education in our divided and misrep-
resented section.
Now there is more enlightenment
and distinguished teachers in the
North are helping to correct the
plumbers as to the South n it's
schools in h past. EX-President
Eliot, the eminent Massachusetts
teacher of Harvard University. has
visited the South and delivered many
plain, clear, kind, apprecitive adj
dresses before it's schools, in which
he displayed ~broadness and Vigor and
commonsense. I co not attempt to
avail myself now of DR.. Eliot's in
forming addresses. but turn to some
figures at hand that will help on the
instance. how swift and needed.
Before the great wal the South had a
great many high schools, colleges and
universities. 1t compared not unfa-
more Dretentious North. I will give
some facts I find in the Baltimore
Sun, n of the best American news
papers Hon. John p. Poe furnishes
the satifiers which I will use in part.
Prior to the war the South led most
Northern States in regard to common
schools and other institutions of learn
ing. North Carolina let most North
ern States &C to common schools prior
to the war Mr.. Poe says that in 1860
there We're three times as many col
legiate institutions in the Southern
States as in the Middle and New Eng
land States combined, about twice as
many teachers n nearly twice as
many students. Of public schools
New England had 1913: the Middle
States, 23.999: the Southern States.
5000. Of academies and other
schools New England had 878: the
Middle States 1858, the Southern
States 2.445. Virginia had more pub
lie libraries than any other State in
the Union, but not more volumes.
New York had 1866 ill:terate whites
over 20 years of age, and Virginia
74.O55.
The exact figures as to colleges and
college students were as follows:
New England States
Collegiate institutions ..... q
Professors and teachers -. 222
Students . $500
Middle States
oolieses A.
Teachers $40
Western States
NotiSSeS n