! 5
!
I
J.'TOOO IHITCllIXSON, Publisher.
VOLUME 7.
-pwIKEGTOIlY.
LIST OF POST OFFICES.
nfKru. Post Masters. Districts.
aW
Carolltown,
Chess Springe,
Conemaugh,
Cresson,
Kbensburg.
Fallen Timber,
G&Uitzin,
Hemlock,
Johnstown,
Loretto,
Munster,
Plattsville,
St. Augustine,
Scalp Level,
Sonman,
Sunimerliill,
Summit,
Wilniore,
Steven L. Evans, Carroll.
Henry Nutter,
A. G. Crooks,
J. Houston,
John Thompson,
C. Jeffries,
J. 11. Christy,
Wm Tiley, Jr.,
I. E. Chandler,
M. Adlesberger,
A. Durbin,
Chest.
Taylor.
Washint'n.
Ebensburg.
White.
Gallitzin.
Washt'n.
Johnst'wn.
Loretto.
Munster.
Andrew J Ferral, Susq'han.
Stan. Wharton, Clearfield.
George Berkey,
B. M'Colgan,
George B. YVike,
Wm. M'Connell,
J. K. Shryock,
Richland.
Washt'n.
Croyle.
Washt'n.
S'merhill.
CHURCHES, MINISTERS, &c.
Pr.,r,urian IUv. T. M. Wilson, Pastor.
reaching every aauuam muru.nB -
o'clock, and in tne evening m u
bath School at 9 o'clock, A. M. Prayer meet-
iutC every Thursday evening at 6 o clock.
Ucthodist Episcopal Church-K. A. Bamb,
Treacher in charge. Rev. J. rB?IUG' f"
tistant. Preaching every alternate babRth
morning, at 10J o'clock. Sabbath School at 9
o'clock, A. M. Prayer meeting every A edncs
d:iv evening, at 7 o'clock.
Welch Independent--Ret Ll. R. Towell
Pastor. Preaching every Sabbath morning at
10 o'clock, and in the evening at 6 o clock.
Sabbath School at 1 o'clock, P. M. Prayer
meeting on the first Monday evening of each
month I and on every Tuesday, Thursday and
Friday evening, excepting the first week in
each mouth.
Culvinislic Methodist TXr.v. Mokoan Llli3,
Pastor. Proaching every Sabbath evening at
2 nnd 6 o'clock. Sabbath School at K o'clock,
A. M. Piayer meeting every Friday evening,
at 7 o'clock. Society every Tuesday evening
at 7 o'clock.-
Disciples Rkv. W. Lloyd, Pastor. Preach
ing every Sabbath morning at 10 o'clock.
Particular JJaptists Rkv. David Evans,
Pantor. Preaching every Sabbath evening at
3 o'clock. Sabbath School at at I o'clock, P. M.
Catholic Ukv. R. C. Christy, Pastor.
Services every Sabbath morning at 10 o'clock
and Vespers ut 4 o'clock in the evening.
EBESBURG MAILS.
MAILS ARRIVE.
Eastern, daily, t 12.00 o'clock, noon.
Western, " at 12.00 o'clock, noon.
HAILS CLOSE.
Eastern, daily, at 8 o'clock, P. M.
Western, " at 8 o'clock, P. M-
ft-"3u The mails from Newman's Mills, Car-
ro'.Uown, &c, arrive on .vionuay, v cuucsuiij
ami Friday of each week, at a o'clock, P. M.
Leave Ebensburg on Tuesdays, Thursdays
p.ii i Suturdays, at 7 o'clock, A. 31.
RlIMtOll) SCHEDULE.
CRESSON STATION".
'n Rait. Express leaves at 0.17 A
M.
Phila. Expret-s
" Fast Line
' Mail Train
Pitt?. Erie Ex
14 Altoona Accom.
East Phila. Express
" Fast Line
4
10.07 A. M.
9.58 P. M.
8.38 P. M.
8.13 A. M.
4.30 P. M.
6.50 P. M.
1.43 A. II.
7.03 A. M.
12.03 P. M.
5.10 P. M.
11.10 A. M.
u
i
i
ii
i
i
ij
u
ti
ii
Day Express
Pitts, a Erie Ex.
Mail Train
AAtoona Accom.
COlTXTY OFFICERS.
Judjes of the Courts President Hon. Geo.
Taylor, Huntingdon ; Associates, George W.
LiuUy, Henry C. Devine.
l'rclhvnatart--Joseph M'Donali.
Rcyiztfr and Recorder James Grifiin.
Sheriff Jumc3 Myers.
Dhtrict Attorney. Philip S. Noon.
County Commissioners John Campbell, Ed
ward Glnss, K. R. Dunuegan.
Lurk to Commissioners William II. Sech
ltr. Treasurer Isaac Wike.
Clerk to Treasurer John Lloyd.
W House Directors George M'Cullough.
Ueorgc Deluny, Irwin Rutledge.
Tuor House Treasurer George C. K. Zahm.
Auditors Wiliiam J. Williams, Francis P.
Iierney, John A. Kennedy.
Cvuui; Surveyor. Henry Scanlan.
Coroner. -William Flattery.
Mercantile Appraiser John Cox.
a V- of Common Schools J. F. Condon.
KBCASBIRG XJOR. OFFICERS.
, , AT LARGE.
Justice, of the W-Harrison Kinkcad,
Ldiaund J. Waters
Yy7'TC- T' Aborts.
l a n 1.'rcctr' Ph i lip S. Noon, Acl
Ji,V.' . T,d J- Jcn-'s, Hugh Jones, Wm. M.
-jone.s, iv. Jonf?, Jr.
JSoroHjA Treasurer Geo. W. Oatman.
EAST WARD.
ntaMe Morris Peat.
twn Council K. Hughes, Evan Griffith,
J'i0- J- Kvans, Wm. D. Davis, Mai. John
trctort Richard R. Tibbott, Robert D.
J'jt of Election Daniel O. Erana.
Aisasor J. A. Moore.
WK8T WARD.
CmstalleThoa. J.Williams.
XfnV""1 Council Isaac Crawford, James P.
JJy, Wm. Kittell, II. Kinkead, Geor-e W.
batman.
JI'Jt f Election. John D. Thomas
Assessor. Capt. Murray.
SOCIETIES, &.C.
m4;.1' 'V:TSurntn5t Lodge No. 312 A. Y. M.
lJS. Kb.n.L0?f on tb
P. M J U1 vatu montn, at o'clock,
--7SeadayddcfeeQI0Dr, Ebensburg,
S. of r.if;i i. , ...
nsburir everv , lemPern! Hall, Kb-
TO-
'TIIEALLEGIIANIAN ."
?2.00 IN ADVANCE,
00 AT THE END OF THE YEAR.
EBENSBURG, PA., THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1865.
"At t lie Last."
The stream is calmest when it nears the tide,
And flowers are sweetest at the eventide,
And birds most musical at close of day,
And saints divincst when they pass away.
Morning is lovely, but a holier charm
Lies folded close in evening's robe of balm ;
And weary man must ever love her best,
For morning calls to toil, but night to rest.
Sho cojies from heaven, and on her winga
doth bear
A holy fragrance, like the breath of prayer ;
Footsteps of angels follow in her trace,
To shut the weary eyes of day in peace.
All things are hushed before her aa she throws
O'er earth and sky her mantle of repose ;
There is a calm, a beauty and a power,
That morning knows not, in the evening
hour.
"Until the Evening" we must" weep and toil,
Plough life's stern furrow, dig the weedy soil,
Tread with sad feet our rough and thorny
way,
And bear the heat and burden of the day.
Oh ! when our sun is setting, may we glide,
Like 6ummer evening, down the golden tide ;
And leave behind us, as we pass away,
Sweet, starry twilight round our sleep;ug day !
A Conversation witU President
Johnson Mis Policy on Re
constructionViews onlVegro
Suffrage.
Medford, Mass., Oct. 8, 18G5.
My Dear Sir : I was eo much im
pressed with our conversation of last
Tuesday, that I returned immediately to
my room and wrote down such of the
points made as I could remember, and
having poiidered them all the way home,
am to-day more than ever convinced that,
if corrected by you and returned to me
for either publio or piivate use. it will go
far to promote a good understanding be
tween you and our leading men.
It will also unite the public mind in
favor of your plan, bo far at least as you
would carry it out without modification.
You are aware that I do not associate
much with men in political life, but rather
with thopo who, representing the ad
vanced moral sense, ot tho country, earn
estly labor fur the good of our people,
without hope of, or even desire for office
or other immediate reward. The latter
class desire earnestly to understand your
puns, and, if possible, support your ad
ministration.
I think the publication of your process
of reconstruction, with the reasons for
your faith in it, will commend it?elf to
their candid judgment, aud, as I told you,
r i i v ,i , .,
laepire? uur wuuio orinern people Willi
confidence in your administration.
The report is meagre and unsatisfac
tory, but I think it conveys, lor the most
part, the spirit of our conversation.
Therefore, although the whole tenor of
your words led me to believe that it was
not intended to be kept private, I have
refrained from answering the specific in
quiries ot anxious mends, whom I met on
my way home, lest I might, in some way,
leave a wrong impression on their minds
Truly your friend,
Geouoe L. Stearns.
The President of the United States.
"Washington, D. C, Oct. 3.
I have just returned from an interview
with President Johnson, in which he
talked for an hour on the process of re
construction in tho Ilebei States. His
manner was as cordial, and his conversa
tion as free, as in 1SG3, when I met him
daily in Na&hviHe.
His countenance i3 healthy, even more
so than when I first know him.
1 remarked that the people of the North
were anxious that tho process ot recon
struction should be thorough and they
wished to support him in the arduous
work, but their ideas were confused by
the conflicting reports constantly circu
lated, and especially by tho present posi
tion of tho Democratic party. It is in
dustriously circulated in the Democratic
Clubs that he ia going over to them. He
laughingly replied: "Major, have you
never known a man who for many years
had differed from your views becauso you
were in advance of him, claim them as
his own when he came rp to your stand
point 7"
I replied, "I have often." lie said,
"So have I," and went on : the Demo
cratic party finds its old position untena
ble, and is coming to ours ; and it it has
come to our position, I am glad of it.
You and I need no preparation for this
conversation ; we can talk freely on this
subject, for the thoughts are familiar to
us j wo can be perfectly frank with each
other. He then commenced with saying
that the States are in tho Union, which
is wiio,A ani indivisible.
Individuals tnJu rrZ the out
but did not succeed, as a nian maT rv t0 ,
cut his throat and be prevented by the
bystanders ; and you cannot say he cut
his throat because he tried to do it.
Individuals may commit treason and be
punished, and a largo number of individ
uals may constitute a rebellion and be
puuished as traitors. Some States tried
to get out fif the Union, and we opposed
it honestly, becauso we believed it to be
wrong; aud we have succeeded ia putting
I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT
down the Rebellion. The power of these
persons who made the attempt lias been
crushed, and now we want to reconstruct
the State Governments, and have ! the
power to do it. The State institutions are
prostrated, laid out on the-ground, and
they must be taken up and adapted to the
progress of events; this cannot be done in
a moment. We are making rapid pro
gress, so rapid I sometimes cannot realize
it; it appears like a dream.
We must not be in too much of a hurry ;
it is better to let them reconstruct them
selves than to force them to it ; for if they
go wrong the power is in our lauds and
we can check them at any stage, to the
end, and oblige them to correct their er
rors; wo mast be patient with them. I
did not expect to keep out all who were
excluded from the Amnesty, or even a
large number of them, but I intended they
should sua for pardon, and realize the
enormity of the crime they had commit
ted. You could not have broached the sub
ject of equal suffrage at the North, seven
years ago, and we must remember that
the changes in the South have been more
rapid, and they have been obliged to ac
cept moro unpalatable truth than tho
North has; we must give them time to
digest a part, for we cannot expect that
such large allairs can bo comprehended
and digested at onoe. We must give
them time to understand their now posi
tion. I have nothing to conceal in these mat
ters, and have no desire or willingness to
take indirect course to obtain what wo
want.
Our Government is a grand and lofty
structure; in searching for its foundation
we find that it rests on the broad basis of
popular rights. The elective franchise is
uot a natural right, but a political right.
I am opposed t6 giving tho States too
much power, and also to a great consoli
dation of power in the Central Govern
ment. If I interfered with tho vote in the
Rebel States, to dictate that the negro
shall vote, I might do the same thing for
my own purposes in Pennsylvania. Our
only safety lies in allowing each State to
control the right of voting by its own
laws, and wo have the power to control
the Rebel States if they go wrong.-- If
they rebel, wo have the army, aud can
control them by it, and, if necessary, by
legislation also. If the General Govern
ment controls the rijrht to vote in th
States, it mav establish such
restrict the vote to a small number of
persons, and thus create a central des
potism. My position horo is different from what
it would bo in Tennessee.
There I should try to introduce negro
suffrage gradually: first those who had
served in the army; thoso who could
read aud write, and perhaps, a property
qualification for others, say $200 or $250.
It would not do to let tho negroes have
universal suffrage now; it would breed a
war of races.
There was a time in tho Southern
States when the slaves of large owners
looked down upon noc-slave owners be
cause they did not own slaves; tho larger
the number of slaves their masters owned
the prouder they were, and this has pro
duced hostility between the mass of the
whites and the negroeH. The outrages are
mostly from non-slaveholdin whites
against the negro, and from the nero
upon the non-sJaveholdinjr whites
The negro will vote for the lato master
whom he does not hate, rather than with
the non-slavcholding white, whom he does
nate. universal sun rage would create
another war, not against us, but a war of
races.
Auothcr thing. This Government is
tho freest and the best on the rarth, and
I feel sure is destined to last ; but to se
curo this we must elevate and purify the
ballot. I for many years contended at
the South that Slavery was a political
weakness, but others said it was political
strength ; they thought we gained three-
fifths representation by it ; I contended
that we lost two-fifths.
If we had no slaves, we should have
had twelve Representatives more, accord
ing to the ratio of representation. Con
gress apportions representation by States,
not districts, and the State apportions by
districts.
Many years ago, I moved in the Legis
lature that the apportionment of Repre
sentatives to Congress, in Tennessee, sho'd
be by qualified voters.
I he apportionment is now fixed until
1872 ; before that timo we might change
tho basis of representation from popula
tion to qualified voters, North as well as
South, and, in due course of time, the
States, without regard to color, might ex
tend the elective franchise to all who pos
sessed certain mental, moral, or such other
qualifications as might be determined by
an enlightened public judgment.
Boston, Oct. 18, 18G5.
The above rePort was returned to me
by President John "ith th following
indorsement. George L'- Stearns.
I HAVE READ THE WITHIN COMMUNI
CATION AND FIND IT SUBSTANTIALLV
CORRECT.
I HAVE MADE SOME VERBAL ALTERA
TIONS. v (Signed) A.J.
THAN PRESIDENT. Hekby Clay.
Interesting Correspondence be
tween Grant and Sucrman.
WHAT EACH THOUGHT OF IlIE OTnEB, WEEK THE
LIEUT. -GENERALSHIP WAS RE-CHE ATE1.
The following two hi5torica! letters are
taken from advance sheets of Col. Bow
man's history of "Sherman and his Cam
paigns," shortly to be published by C. B.
Richardson, of New York :
GEN. GRANT TO GEN. SHERMAN.
On the 4th of March, 18G4, at Nash
ville, Maj. Gen. Grant received telegraph
orders to report in person at Washington.
Congress had passed an act authorizing
the appointment of a Lieutenant-Gencral
to command the armies of the United
States, and the President had nominated
Gen. Grant for the appointment. Before
starting on hi9 journey, Grant seized his
pen, and in the very moment of his great
est elevation, filled with generosity toward
those others to whose exertions he mod
estly chose to ascribe his own deserved
reward, hastily wrote these touching
lines :
"Dear Sherman : Tho bill reviving
the grade of Lieutenant-Gencral in the
army has become a law, aud my name has
been sent to the Senate for the place. I
now receive orders to report to Washing
ton immediately in person, which indicates
a confirmation, or a likelihood cf confir
mation. "I start in the morning to comply with
the order.
"Whilst I have been eminently suc
cessful in this war, in at least gaining the
confidence of the public, no one feela more
than I how much of this success is due to
the energy, skill, and the harmonious put
ting forth of that energv and skill, of those
whom it has been my good fortune to have
occupying subordinate positious under me
lhere are many officers to whom these
remarks are applicable, to a greater or less
degree, proportionate to their ability as
soldiers ; but what I waut is to express
my thanks to you and McPherson, as the
men to whom, abovo all others, I feel in
debted for whatever I have had of euc
cess.
"How far your advice and assistance
have been of help to mo, you know. How
far your execution of whatever has been
given you to do entitles you to the reward
I aw receiving, you cannot know as wel
as I.
.fT II .1 1 .1 ,
a ice: an tno gratuuae tms letter
would express, giving it the most flatter
ing construction.
"The word 'you' I use -in the plural
intending it for McPherson also. I should
write to him, and will some day, but start
ing in tho morning, I do not know that I
will find time just now.
'Your friend, U. S. GRANT,
"Major-General."
GENERAL SHERMAN'S RErLY.
Sherman received this letter near Mem
phis on tho 10th of March, and immedi
ately replied :
, , r si -r-i
xeaii vjieekai: x nave your more
than kind and characteristic letter of tho
4th instant. I will eend a copy to Gen
eral McPherson at once.
"You do yourself injustico and us too
much honor in assigning to us too large
a share of the merits which have led to
your high advancement. 1 know you to
approve the friendship 1 have ever pro
fessed to you, and will permit me to con
tinue, as heretofore, to manifest it on all
occasions.
"You are now Washington's legitimate
successor, and occupy a position of almost
dangerous elevation ; but if you can con
tinue, as heretofore, to be yourself, eim
ple, honest, and unpretending, you will
enjoy through lifo the respect and love of
friends, and the homago of millions of
human beings that will award you a large
sharo in seouring to them and their de
scendants a government of law and sta
bility. "I repeat, you do General McPherson
and myself too much honor. At Belmont
you manifested your traits neither of us
being near. At Donelson, also, you illus
trated your whole character. I was not
near, and General McPherson in too sub
ordinate a capacity to influence you.
"Until you had won Donelson, I confess
I was almost cowed by the terrible array
of anarchical elements that presented
themselves at every point ; but that ad
mitted a ray of light I have followed
since.
"I believe you are as brave, patriotic,
and just as the great prototype, Washing
ton as unselfish, kind-hearted, and hon
est as a man should be but the chief
characteristic is the simple faith in suc
cess you have always manifested, which I
can liken to nothing else than the faith a
Christian has in the Savior.
"This faith gavo you victory at Shiloh
ana vicxsDurg. aiso, wnenjou nave
completed your preparations, you go into
the battle without hesitation, as at Chat
tanooga no doubts, no reserves; and I
tell you, it was this that made us act with
confidence. I knew, wherever I was, that
you thought of me, and if I got in a tight
place you would help me out, it alive.
"My only point of doubt wan, in your
knowledge of grand strategy, and of books
of science and history; but, I confess
your common sense seems to have sup-
1 plied all these.
"How as to the luture. JJon t stay in
Washington; come West; take to your-
self the whole Mississippi Valley. Let us
make it dead sure, and I tell you the At
lantic slopes and the Pacific shores will
follow its destiny, as sure as the limbs of
a tree livo or die with tho main trunk.
Wo have done much, but still much re
mains. Time and time's influences are
with us. We could almost afford to sit
still and let these influences work.
"Hero lies the seat of the coming em
pire ; and from the West, when our task
is done, we will make short work of Rich
mond and Chaileston, and the impover
ished coast of the Atlantic.
"Your sincere friend,
"W. T. SHERMAN."
m m m
execution of Champ Furgnson.
Champ Furguson, the notorious nnd
inhuman guerilla, was hung in Nashville
on the 20th of October. The Western
papers are full of accounts of the execu
tion. We make the following extracts :
The hour of eleven having arrived,
Champ was warned that the time had come
when he must prepare to die. "I am
ready when you are," he said to the offi
cer of the guard. He was then led out to
the scaffold. His step was firm, his car
riage erect, and his bearing bold and de
fiant as ever. On reaching the platform,
he faced the two or three hundred audi
tor and the guards without blenching,
but requested that Dr. Bunting should
pray for him. The Doctor complied with
the request, and implored the Throne of
Grace to have mercy on the prisoner.
During the prayer, the condemned wept
the first evidence of emotion which he
had yet given.
Tho charges and specifications against
him were then read, and the finding of
the Military Commission. After this had
been done, Col. Shafter turned to the
prisoner and said :
"Ia obedience to this order, Mr. Per
guson, it is my duty to execute you."
"I know it," respouded the prisoner.
"Do you censure me?" inquired the
Uoionel.
"Not particularly," was responded.
"Have you anything to say?"
"I can't speak much," said Furguson ;
"I did some cf the acts charged, but not
all. I desire, Colonel, not to have my
body cut up by the doctors, but I want to
have it put in that thing, (pointing to tho
colinj and taken to the graveyard in
White county, Tennessee, and laid there.
You won't have mo cut up, will you, Col
onel I"
"No," responded the Colonel; "you
shall not be cut up. Your body shall be
sent to your friends. Have you anything
more to say :
"Well, whenever you say stop, I'll
stop," said the doomed man; "I an under
your control; I wouldn t be hero if
could help it, but I must submit. What I
am, I am, and I can't help it; but you
would not havo my body cut up, would
you, Colonel V
The Col. assured him that his remains
should bo given to his family.
"I have," continued the prisoner, "some
as good friend? -as any man; but they
cau't help mo now. All I havo to say is
that I don't want to be cut up by tho doc
tors ; will you put my bod v in that thing"
again pointing to his coffin "and send
it to White county, Tenn., and have it
buried in the old grave-yard there V
The Colonel again assured him that he
would accede to his request.
lhe cap of death was then drawn down
over his face, and Col. Shafter said :
"Have you anything to say ? If you
have, say it now, and we will wait on you."
Raising his hand toward heaven, he
said in a solemn tono :
"Lord have mercy on ine, I pray you :"
and as his voice ceased, by a stroke of tho
axo, the support was severed, ana the
drop fell, and the prisoner was suspended
between Heaven aud earth.
The drop fall at precisely twenty min
utes before twelve, and ho remained
hanging twenty-five minutes, when the
body was cut down aud laid in the coffin,
and conveyed away. His neck was broken,
and he bld profusely at the nose. After
ho fell bis body moved but twice, and
that slightly, so great was the Bhock of
the descent.
Origin op ms God Hymen. Dan-
chet, tho French poet, tells us that Hy
men was a young man of Athens, ob
scurely born, but extremely handsome.
Falling ia love with a lady of rank, he
disguised himself in female attire, the
better to carry on his amour; and as he
was one day on the seashore celebrating
the rJeusiman rites with his mistress and
tier female companions, a gang of pirates
came upon them by surprise aud carried
them off to a distant land, where the
pirates got drunk for joy and fell asleep.
Hymen then armed the virgin, and des
patched the sleeping pirates ; when, loav
ine: the two women upon the island, ho
ped to Athens, told his adventure, and
demanded his beloved in marriage as her
ransom. His request wa3 granted ; and
so fortunate was the marriage, that the
name of Hymen was ever after invoked
on all future nuptials ; and in progress of
time the Greeks enrolled him
their gods.
among
Sgi,Good nature ia the most god-like
commendation of a man.
TERMS- 1 E R A X IV UJI .
S2.00 I IV ADVAXCI2.
NUMBER 8.
Educational Ieparttuciit.
All communications intended for this column
should It addressed to the Educational Editor
of The Alley hanian.2
Primary Teachers. A rant-are mind,
eager to obtain knowlcdgo for its own sake,
or comprehending tho necessity of obtain
ing it in order that certain ends may tc
reached, needs a teacher to direct, explain
and open to view things hidden from the
eyo of the learners. An industrious stu
dent, it is true, may master hi text with
out assistance, but in so doing will, often
retrace his Etcps, weary his eye, and rack
his brain in seeking to unfold some hidden
poiDt that a few words from one who had
previously threaded 'he mystic mafos b!
the page would strip of all ambiguity,
doubt, or mystery. But while a teacher
is thus useful and necessary for the lear
ner whose mind ist in its mature stages;
yet tho business of that teacher relates
more to tho text than the pupil, more to
conveying an idea as words from tho lips
can and words on paper can not convey if
than to waking up ideas perhaps for the
first timo or to presenting knowledge in
such a way and shape as will be under
stood and enjoyed Dy the mind just in tho
first stages of development.
A child will learn, nnd Icarn more and
with greater rapidity, than one of mature
years, though what it learns may be the
very knowledgo of which it should be ig
norant. In youth we are all eyes and
cars. Thought begins to assert its right
to reign after eyes have looked and elirs
have listened until things have lost their
novelty. The eye must seo or ear hear
before the mind has a subject for medita
tion. Hence those who first take chargp
of youth are like the gardener, who cares
for tho saplings of an orchard, upon whose'
wisdom and skill in training depend the
futuro symmetry and goodness ot the tree.
Yet in common acceptation, almost any
body is fit to teach a primary school. So
much indeed is the truth to the contrary;
that only comparatively few persons are
St to teach such a school. All tho quali
fications requisite for a teacher are needed
in a higher degree by one who has chargo
of children learning to read than by oco
having a school of higher grade. A
teacher of huh a school has not only to
explain difficulties, remove doubts, and
open mysteries to a greater extent than
with advanced pupils, but has in fact for
purposes of explanation to become, as it
were, a child, to think as a child in order
to speak as a child.
Yet what is our usual practice in rela
tion to such teachers ? Almost anybody
is chosen. Tho pay is put down to the
lowest notch. A badge of disgrace is
placed on every one who has charge of
such a school. These things ought not
to be. The very best teachers should he
obtained for the primary schools, teachers
of known skill aud success. Their labor
aro as severe as those of any ether, all
things considered, and their pay should be
the same. A teacher on entering such a
school should bo made to feel that as much
responsibility and honor are connected
with it as with a school of higher grade.
By the present practice, a successful
teacher avoids all primary schools, and
those who do havo chargo of them are apt
to bo devoid of all ambition, feelinf? a
they do that anybody is fit to teach a pri
mary school.
mot
Educatino Freedmen. In Texa3,'
they are going on in the work of "recon
structing" the Union in the right way.-
A Houston paper says that more than
half the 6pclling-books now sold in that
place go into tho hands of negroes. Sev
eral schools for colored persons havo been
established there and in Galveston. Many
planters buy a stock of school-books for
the schools upon tho neighboring planta
tions, of which there are net a few, aa they
would buy a stock of meal or bacon. The
Galveston JYeir says: "We saw a plan
ter in town buying a largo lot of books
for his frecdmon. It is his purpose to
establish a Sunday school and a night
school for them, and also to have them
taught on Wednesday and Saturday after
noons. This is the right spirit. We aro
glad to see it prevailing in one manifesta
tion or another to a very large extent. -7-.
Nothing should be dona to alienate our
former slaves, but everything to concili
ate and elevate them."
National Bureau of Education.
At the recent meeting of the Massachu
setts State Teach era' Association, a com
mittee of five was appointed to memorialixo
Congress in favor of organizing a Nation
al Bureau of Education, which, without
interfering with State educational sys
tems, would hold the same relation to
them which tho National Department of
Agriculture holds to State and couo
and be organized fnr thfl rnrfinft -
metmg tho. cause ot educat"
-"13 l
ot Pr0"
State vt the Union, wf ..on
in every
.aQirtTegara to lo-
catiou or.conau"
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