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11 1! I II I V S I I A
XTeu, Editor and Proprietor.
.lRJ.rri iulilllicr.
I WOULD RATHER BE RIGHT THAN PRESIDENT. Hekbt Clay.
TERMS
S3.00 PElLAXSl'Mf
S2.00 IK AIXVAISCK.
I mi) niv-" -
EBENSBURG, PA., THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 186.6.
NUMBER 46.
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41
toflur
L,T OF POST OFFICES,
Annual Report ofllie superin
tendent or Common Schools
Mof Cambria County.
A
Post Hasten
Steven L. Evans,
M. D. Wagner,
A. G. Crooks,
R. II. Brown,
John Thompson,
C. Jeffries,
pXets.
Itown,
j Spring,
.3UT(.
1 Tlrnhr.
I- ..... rft . - rnwman
JlllU, ret"
J. M. Christy,
Wm Tiler, Jr.,
E. Roberta,
M. Adlesberger,
A. Durbin,
V. J. Piatt,
Stan. Wharton,
George Berkey,
A. Shoemaker,
r.. r.
Win. M'Connell,
J. K. Shryock,
Districts.
Carroll.
Chest.
Taylor.
Wa3hint'n.
Ebensburg.
White.
Susq'han.
Gallitzin.
Waaht'n.
Johnst'wn.
Loretto.
Munster.
Susq'han.
Clearfield.
Richland.
Washt'n.
Croyle.
Washt'n.
S'merhill.
U'l
i.in,
ck,
on,
o,
it.
Wile, .
ugutin,
Level,
Jan,
ierhill,
Bit,
lore,
WnCIIES, MINISTERS, &C.
i, yUrian-nv. T.M. Wiisos, Pastor.
lL every Sabbath morning at 10
I. La in the evening at 7 o'clock. Sab-
V ... vi.l- x T Pravermeet-
.rv Thursday evening itt u v
'distEpicopalChurehV.zv. A. Baker,
",r in charge. Rev. J. Persuing, Ap-
l'reacuinj etti
u 104 o'clock. Sabbath School at 9
. M. Prayer meeting every Wedncs
vt, at 7 o'clock.
T'M.pen.lent-nzy I'L. R. Powell
-Preaching every Sabbath morning at
(.,k aua in the evening at 6 o clock.
! School Kt 1 o'clock, P. M. Prayer
on the first Monday evening of c ch
" i ,.n ,vPrv Tuesday. Thursday and
.
Methodist llsv. .morgan i.li.13,.
-preaching every Sabbath evening at
..r K-ihV.nth School at i o cxock,
IPiaver meetinz every Friday evening,
.!ek. Society every Tuesday evening
lock.
.'c Rev. W. I.loyp, Pastor. Preach
:v Si.bl.ath mon:inz at 10 o'clock.
r'ul.ir JlrpthtsTx. David Evans,
'reaching every abbaih evening iU
V S;J.batirScbool at at 1 o'clock.!'. M.
Prv T? C. Cnr.isTT, Pastor. t
.very SiiL-b.Hth morning at 10 v ciol.v
K'.i at 4 o'c!ocI: in the evening.
MAILS AKRI E.
trough, daily.
Hon. C. R. Colurn, Sujaerintendent Com
mon Schools:
Sir In compliance with the require
ments of the Act of Assembly, I have
the honor to transmit to vou my annual
report for the year ending June 4th, 1866.
HOUSES.
The Dumber of houses built during
the year is greater than that for the two
former years next preceding. While it
must be admitted that these new houses
are much superior to many now in use,
and perhaps above the average, it i9 to be
regretted that they are not still better
adapted to school purposes. Iu their
construction three very important points
have been overlooked. I refer to location,
ventilation and furnishing. A number
ot the new houses have not sufficient play
grounds, and are- located too near the
loadsidcs, thus compelling the children,
if they play at all, to appropriate the
public highways for that purpose, to the
great inconvenience of travelers and dan
ger to themselves. In many cases our
directors, in the construction of school
houses, eceui to have ignored the fact that
air is essential to human life; and have
made no arrangements for
lusurmsc
after the age of fifteen years, the entire
inadequacy of the present length of term
will more clearly appear.
Many ot the evils under which the
system labors, arise from a lack of inter
est on tbe part of parents.
Of course my remarks in regard to the
negligence of parents, must be understood
in a general sense, as there are many
creditable exceptiDns many fathers and
mothers who are laboring faithfully and
efficiently for the cause of education, by
co-operating with the teachers and pro
moting home instruction and discipline.
It cannot, however, be denied that with
many the injunction "Train up a child in
the way heshould go" seems to have become
obsolete; and, though they readily admit
the propriety, if not the necessity of edu
cation yet they habitually detain thoir
children from school for trifling causes.
Iu the southern portion of the county,
our population is engaged in developing
the immense deposits of coal and iron
which underlie that region and in the
northern parts, the business of lumbering
claims much of the attention of the peo
pie. And therefore, as laborers were
scarce, employment for boys plenty and
compensation good, the result has been,
that in many cases, young men and boys
have been sent to work who should have
a i continued attending school. Such is yet
at
;, at
it
MAILS TLObE.
AV.t . Kt
:i, t.:ruU
iyuy,
P. 3 5 P.
I 35 P.
:.:5 a.
0.2ro A
M.
M.
M.
1L
-I The ffiiiiN
1 Sm: Jays (
M.
P. CO P
at a. 00 P
from Carrolltown nrrive
r.c.r)t-d. The mails Irom
1 . . r 1 .
:: vi ur.d Fridays.
i u'r CatTolitoTvn leave daily, Sun-
i'nMil. .Mail tor riaiicviue, umm,
ive on Tuvfdays,
iIM30AI sti3i:sric.
CUKSSON STATIU.V
Mvii. l-Lxpross leaves at
f.ila. I.xnreFS "
8trongl3' urged
Nvv Y k K.xp.
l'.-.sV l.i::e
l'ny F.xpress
A'.iocua Acoom.
IPlnU. V.n.ir-.-s
Fait l.'u.e
! Ti. .. t.- -
i "fc7 I.AlirttH
Cincinnati Fx.
ALoona Accom.
S.25 A.
0.23 A.
M.
M.
A. M.
P. M.
7.30 P. M.
4.15 P. M.
P.40 P. M.
2.30 A. M.
7.10 A. JI.
1.55 P. M.
1.21 P. M.
of
fvery Saturday
supply, thus leaving the children to inhale,
over and over again, a vitiated atmos
phere, poisoned by the exhalations from
the skins and lungs of a l?.rge number of
(in some caes) not over cleanly children,
to the great detriment of their health.
In the matter of furniture, there has been,
perhaps, more improvement in thft new
houses thau in either of the other partic
ulars referred to. In the furniture of
the old houses thero has been but littls
improvement. In many of these the seats
and de.ks are entirely too high and with-
cut supports for the backs of the pupils.
APPARATUS. ; i . : .
Tl'ere have bten but few accessions to
the apparatus of the schools. A large
number is supplied with outline maps
and a lew have globes. There are still a
few without blackboards ; and there is
also a ni'Diber of others whose amount of
blackboard turfaci ii very limited.
The necessity of providing suitable
apparatus cauoot be too
upon director.-1.
There is one point in connection with
this fiubjee', that I can not refrain from
noticing here. It is the almost entire
abs-ence of "dictionaries from the schools.
There is not a sing'e school in the county
" ' 'i..t:..v.:, l-i -i.i-- r.i
Thursdays and Sat- which is suppneu, at inc expenst oi me
1 district with a dictionary. A few teachers
j were leund to have and use the dictionary
! as a part of the machinery of the school
! room, tut tlicir number was very limited.
) Every t-chool should be supplied, at the
j exneiitc of the district, with a cony of
tome good unabridged dictionary, for the
use of the school j and the teacher should
encour:ige the use of it both by precept
and example. xo one, not versed in
educational matters, can comprehend the
amount of time wasted by a parrot-like
and unintelligible method of stud' and
recitation, caused by the waut of a knowl
edge of the meanings of cur common
Knghfch words ; and none, perhaps, knows
better than the experienced teacher, how
serious an obstacle to mental improvement
is presented by this tendency to ignore
the use of the dictionary as an aid iQ the
school room.
SCHOOLS.
The advancement made during the'
year, whilo it was perhaps as good as that
lor any former year, was less than should
have been expected. This i'ailure to ful
ly meet the want of the public in this
respect, was due to the following causes :
1st. Wantof a sufficient number of well
qualified teachers.
2d. Shortness of school terms.
od. Waut ol parental co-operation.
These, it must be admitted, are serious
obstacles, though by no means new one,
they having alwayj been the chief difS
culties'in the way of the complete success
of the system, not only here, but else
where. We must not, however, ignore
their existence because they are common
and of long standing, but rather make
more vigorous exertion to overcome
them.
The Grst ot theso evils will be noticed
under the head of "teachers."
It gives me pleasure to state that there
has been some improvement in attend
ance during the year, the percentage for
the whole county being 68, to CO last
year.
I may hero remark that great pains
have been taken to ascertain, with accu
racy, the attendance and average age of
pupils. The increase in the percentage
of attendance, as before remarked, was
satisfactory; though there is still room
for improvement j and particularly is this
the case when we take into consideration
the fact that, after excepting a few of the
boroughs, our districts have but four
months school annually. Sixty-eight per
cent, ot lour months attendance (about
months) is by far too little time annually,
in which to secure a common education j
and when it is taken into consideration
tbat the average age of pupils, as ascer
tained from a careful examination of the
monthly reports of nearly every 6chool in
the county, is only ten years : and that
comparatively few of the children attend
and four-tenths (2 4,)
is supported, in some
COIWri' OFFICERS.
j of the Courts President lion. Geo.
.IiiiitiMjrdon ; Associates, George W.
iivriry C. Dcvine.
notary Geo. C. K. Zahni.
tr and Recorder mes Griffin.
'r -l.uaf-3 Mvers.
:t At'orney. John F. Barnes.
v Curnmissioners John Campbell, F.d-
S5, L H. Dunncgan.
rn Barnabas M'Dennit.
llmse Directors George M'Cullough,
f)rri, Joseph Dailey.
ZLujf Treasurer George C. K. Zahm.
'jTI Frnn P riorrn-T- Inn A Kpn.
VvituH Brallier.
l- .s'un-(or. Henry Scanlan.
''" lVj;jittin Flattery.
"J.'.-. j Appraiser John Cox.
of Common Schools J. F. Condon.
iIJlRG DOR. OFFICERS.
AT LARGE.
i! James A. Moore.
'i of the Peace Harrison Kinkead,
i 5. Waters.
Erectors D.W. Evans, J. A.Moore,
J- Davis, David J. Jones, Tilliam II.
t. Jones, jr.
jh Treasurer Geo. W. Oatman.
to Council Saml. Singleton.
: Commissioner David Davis.
EAST WARD.
Council A. i. Jones, John O. Evan?.
Davis, Charles Ovrcns, R. Jones, jr.
t Thomas Todd.
Hection Wm. D. Davis.
David E. Evans, Danl. J. Davis.
;scr Thomas J. Davis.
WEST WARD.
Lc'i.eil John Lloyd
- Kiukcad, Johr. E
Samuel Stiles,
Scanlan, George
liJe 15arnaba3 M'TWmit
" Election. John D. Thomas.
tors. William ii. Sechler, George W.
'-r -Jos'uua D. Tarrish.
SOCIETIES, &c.
Summit Lodge No. 312 A. Y. M.
? Masonic Hall, Ebensburg, on the
-csday of each month, at 7J o'clock,
0. Highland Lcdire Ko i-r t n
2 in,dd Fellows' UaII Ebensburg',
. Highland Divirlon No. 84 Sons f
'CP H'.PPt in Tfi.nr r..n.n TT -1 1 t..
evening.
5 OF SUBSCRIPTION
,,THE ALLEGHANIAN
$2.00 IK ADVANCE.
the case at Johnstown and vicinity.
Many of the boys of this locality are sent
to work in the mines or some department
of the immense iron manufactory located
here, at about the age of fourteen ; and
not a few even before that age, who sel
dom have an opportunity o? education
afterwards.
The evils consequent upon this state of
affairs were in some measure mitigated, by
the establishment of two niaht schools
here last winter one in Johnstown by
the directors and the other in Millville
borough by the Cambria Iron Company.
These efforts to improve the mental con
dition of the juvenile employees of the
works here, were attended with success ;
and the community owes a debt of grati
tude to the originators and supporters of
these sehools.
In concluding this subject, allow me to
remark, that it is absolutely essential to
the complete success of the system, . that,
parents should properly understand and
appreciate that one great duty of the pa
rental relation that duty which includes
and overshadows all others the duty of
giving to their children a complete moral,
mental and physical education.
TEACHERS.
There has been an increase cf eleven
(11) male teachers during the year" and a
corresponding decrease in the number of
females employed. It was expected that
the number ot male teachers would mate
rially iucrease after the close of the war.
This expectation was not realized, as but
few of the teachers who entered the army
returned to the profession of teaching
after coming back. This result was, in
some measure, accomplished by the inad
equacy cf the salaries offered for teaching.
A class was established last summer
for. the improvement of the young teach
ers and the preparation of those intending
to enter the profession. It was attended
with a reasonable degree of success.
In some districts there is a prejudice
tigainst female teachers which has done
much to retard the progress of the schools.
This has, to some extent, increased
duriug the year, most likely for the fol
lowing reason : When the male teachers
loft the profession to join the army, in
the first years of the war, it became nec
essary to employ a large number of fe
males. These, unfortunately, could not
be obtained without admitting into the
profession a large number of entir3ly
inexperienced and not over well qualified
yo&ng ladies. Some of these failed, not
because they were females, but because
the' were not properly qualified. Had
an equal number of males of like ages
and qualifications been employed, it is
highly probable tbat the result, so far as
actual success is concerned, would have
been the same.
It must, however, .be admitted, that
there is some cause to be dissatisfied with
our teachers. This remark must of course
be understood with many particular excep
tions. We have some good and faithful
teachers, ten (10) ot whom received pro
fessional certificates during the year.
31 any others made creditable improve
ment. We have, however, a large class
who make no effort to improve. It is to
be hoped that the services of the latter
can soon rje aispensea wun.
The principal points of deficiency on
the part of our teachers arc the follow
ing :
Want of age.
Want of experience.
Deficient education.
Incorrect ideas of education.
In proof of the first point, I need only
vefer lo the fact, that there were employed
during the year, 23 teachers who were
under 18 year3 of age and 77 who were
under 21 years. The average age of
teachers was 24$ years.
In regard to the second, the statistical
report shows that thirty-four (34) teach
ers were employed who had no previous
experience and fifty-five (55) whose expe
rienca was less than one year.
The third point is shown by the faot,
that th average grade of provisional cer
tificates wa3 two
and the fourth
measure, by the fact that only about one
hundred (100,) out of one hundred and
seventy (170) teachers, have read any
educational works whatever; and that
there are very few indeed, whose peda
gogical reading has extended beyond two
or three volumes.
EXAMINATIONS.
Our examinations were principally oral.
The number ot private examinations was
much larger than usual, from the fact,
that, in many localities, there war-much
difficulty experienced in securing teachers.
In some cases I examined publicly a sec
ond time. I also held two special exam
inations in Johnstown, to fill vacancies in
various districts; but, after all, I was
forced to hold seventeen private examina
tions. ;
VISITATIONS.
In visiting, my first object was to as
certain, as well as the limited time would
admit, the measure of success attending
the efforts of the teacher. This was as
certained from a general inspection of the
usual operations of the school. I then
gave such instructions to the teacher and
made such remarks to the pupils as the
circumstances seemed to require. I also
etamined the teacher's reports, and I may
here state that I found a large number of
them incorrect. These inaccuracies, I am
inclined to think, were caused, generally,
by carelessness and inattention to the in
structions to be fouud in the report books.
Much trouble might be saved, to school
officers, it more care were taken by teach
ers in the preparation of their reports.
No teacher should be employed who
habitually fails to make correct reports.
GRADED SCHOOLS.
There are but few well graded schools
in the county. Want of sufficient and
suitable huildiogs and a non-appreciation
of the advantages of Mich schools may be
mentioned ns the principal causes of this
fctato of things. .
SUGGESTIONS.
It must be admitted that the Common
School System, in its present state of de
velopment, in our county, does pot afford
to the children sufficient opportunities to
enable them ti secure a proper education.
JTo theee who have carefully watched the
course of educational events, it has become
evident, that, iu the thiuiy populated and
less wealthy portions of the State, the
present system is inadequate to the wants
of the people. The caue of this inade
quacy is not to be ascribed to the system
iu itself but to the fact that it is not prop
erly adapted to the localities referred to.
It is highly probable that when the
poorer and more thinly settled counties
increase in population and wealth, the
difficulties now encountered will diminish
And it can not, even now, be denied that
we are making some progress towarus
perfection. This progress 13, however,
slow : aud must of necessity so continue.
The law should be so modified as to relieve
the localities referred to, of the obstacles
which now impede their progress.
The greatest amount ot funds which
can be raised, at the highest rate allowed
by law, is, in many districts,-barely suffi
cient to keep the schools in operation
tour montns annually ; ana to ao even
this, directors are compelled, to pay low
salaries and, as a natural consequence,
secure poor teachers; whereas, in the
more populous and wealthy counties, the
schools can be made effective by a tax of
less than one-haif the maximum rate
allowed by law. The following figures
taken from the last annual report, will
serve to show tho inequalities, in taxation
and length of terms.
3 2
.-- "x fs rn
Counties. 1 H
i c. 2 " 0
O f
Cambria .TT.Ti.V. 10.75 4.50
ClearSeld 10 35 4.33
McKean ..10.(0 5.64
Jefferson 8.85 4.55
Indiana 8.70 4 34
Forest 8.50 4.25
Delawars 3.45 8.83
Alleghany 7.20 7.70
Chester 3.20 7.70
Schuylkill. 7.31 7.6l
Bucks 3.00 7.54
Montgomery j 3.52 7.02
4(
it
it
u
Aod in making provisions for education,
it is the duty of the State to furnish
means of education, to a:i equal degree,
to the children of all its parts, since it is
upon the virtue and intelligence of the
whole, and not upon a part, merely, of
its citizens, that the prosperity and safety
of the State depend. Therefore the hum
blest child in the poorest district ought
to have facilities for elementary instruc
tion equal to those resident iu the most
favored section of the State.
Respectfully and Truly fours.
J. PRANK CONDON,
County Superintendent.
ABSTRACT OF TIIE STATISTICAL REPORT
OF THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF
CAMBRIA COUNTY.
HOUSES.
Whole number in county 150
Number of frame 125
of brick 4
of log 21
built during the year 9
unfit for use 31
having no outhouses 84
with sufficient grounds 43
with grounds suitably improved.. C
well ventilated 18
FURNITURE.
Number with suitable furniture 37
with inpufticient furniture 9
with injurious furniture M 95
supplied with suitable furniture
during the year 7
supplied with unsuitable furni
ture during tbe year 6
A PPARATUS.
Number well supplied with apparatus 21
wholly without apparatus 8
supplied during th year 4
having outline maps 61
SCHOOLS.
Whole number of schools 1C7
Number graded 2G
graded during the year 7
well classified 1 IS
in which uniform books are adop
ted 113
in which the Bible is read 31
KXA.MIXATIO.N3
Number of public examinations held 23
of Directors present 113
receiving provisional certincates..l74
receiving professional certif... . .. 10
of applicants rejected 14
" examined privately 17
Average grade of certificates ; 2.4
TEACHERS.
Number of males employed 43
' of females employed 127
Avetnge age of teachers 24.5
Numbtr who have had no experience .... .34
who taught less than one year.... 55
' who attended a Normal School... 33
" who have read any profes. books..l04
" of total failures 4
VISITATIONS.
No. visits by County Superintendent 20
Average time spent in each 1.7 hrs.
Visits made with Directors 27
n
tt
tt
may easily and ought to take befoto
breakfast every morning, vre attain an
eminence from which I yesterday looked
out upon a miniature empire. Hock
ribbed and iron-jointed Cambria stretched
immediately around, and in the reaioter
view, parts of Blair, Bedford, Somerset,
Westmoreland, Indiana and Clearfield
counties were distinctly visible, with nu'
merous towns end village?, prominent
among which may be mentioned Ebens.
burg and Loretto.
Tbo latter of these is a qtfaint old"
Catholic town with several prominent in
stitutions peculiar to "Mother Church."'
It is said, in illustration of the rigid mor
ality of its inhabitants, thai they fine a
man twenty-five cents forswearing, and
five dollars for driving a horse through
the town faster than a walk ! From an
hour's experience in Loretto, I cannot
voucn ror the truth or untruth of this
statement, having violated neither of
these statutes, my horae haviug carried
his circumspection in ?oing through the
town almost to a dead halt, for which, a
his object was evidently drink, he certain
ly did not need to be sworn at.
The ride to Loretto, by way of Munster,
auorus tlie most favorable and satisfantnrw
view of the "agricultural" scenerv on the
In-
tt
t
Glimpses
of Cambria
Scenery.
County
You may cross the Alleghenie? as of
ten as the moon changes, ays a corre
spondent of the Philadelphia Press,
writing from Crcssoo, August 2lt, but
you will know little of their inviting
grandeur and sublimity uuless you ttop at
Cresson to examine them. I have cros
sed them repeatedly, but nmt confess
that, until yestday, I had a very errone
ous impression as to the top of the Alle
gheny mountains. Indeed, I think it
essential to every Pennsylvanian to make
his porch, at least once in a life-time,
upon these "heaven-kissing hills," survey
their serried ridges, and bresthe their
free, invigorating air. The journey hith
er, also, whether made from the Kast or
from the West, will more than repay its
pains. For observation and enjoyment,
the trip from Philadelphia should be made
by the train which. leaves Thirtieth and
Market streets at 10 a. m., arriving here
at 7:30 tbe same evening. Uy this line
you get the full benefit of a daylight
view of an immense and varied area of our
great State. You lunch at Downingtown,
look with interest and pride upon the fer
tile valleys of Chester, Lancaster and
Dauphin, with countless thrifty villages
and an intelligent population ne-tling in
their bosoms : dine at Harrisburg, and
soon after cross the broad Susquehanna,
Alleghenies, to be found anywhere
1 t . 1
steau or seeing tins mountain region an
unbroken succession of sterile peaks, baf
ren ridges and useless ravines, I found tho
undulating apex of this eastern Sierra so
recently the homo of the red man and the
territory of savage beasts literally cov
ered with well-tilled fields, the hillsides
waving with promising crops of corn, and
the air fragrant with tiie blossom of
buckwheat. The temperature was pliarm-
iug for a. horseback ride on the mountains,
and there was a crystal purity in the at
mosphere that cannot be described.
What untold toil it has required to
render these once thickly wooded summits
what they now are I Our return to Cres
son was by the more direct road through
a forest of pines, where traees of the axe
men were seen at intervals id the great
prostrate tree, which, like bold sentinels,
have braved the 6torms of centuries, to
fall at last before the hand of civilization
and become ministers to the convenienco
and comfort of man in building his habi
tation, and yield their native acres to
agricultural uses.
How much we are indebted to these
sturdy men of the forest for the develops
merit of our country ! How poorly they
are paid ! I believe, however, that id
this re.pect they fare as well as da the
world's pioneers in other departments,
from the inventor of a steam engiue to
the discoverer of a continent. Indeed it
rarely happens that they who originate
and lead are the ones to reap the richest
return for their labor and their talents.
Hovr Our Government Obtained
Rebel Information.
The country will remember that during
the last winter of the rebellion, our Gov
ernment obtained assurance of the hope
lessness of the Confederate cause by
coming into possession of Gen. Lee's tes
timony before a committee of the rebel
Congress, whose' sessions were strictly
private, and whose report was made in
secresy to the Congress during an execu
tive session. How the evidence fell iutd
Mr. Lincoln's hand is told b' a corres
pondent of tbe New York Times. He says:
"In the room where the committee met
was a closet, and from that closet, imme
diately after their adjournment,- came tho
priceless information. Outside the hou?e
it at once changed hands, and a second
party walked leisurely through the streets
of Richmond with it, until upon the envi
rons he eucountered one of the common
country carts of this section proceeding
with the half of a newly killed beef to
ward the rebel lines in General Uutler's
front. No communication that the most
Ijnx-cycd could perceive, passed between
the man and the cart, but the former
charmed with its limpid water, it- ihou- j gradually changed his direction and was
1st.
2d.
3d.
4th.
Thus it will be seen that Cambria
couuty, paying more tax lor school pur
poses, iu proportion to her valuation, than
any other county in the State, (the rate
being 10J mills), has but 4 months
school j while Delaware, paying according
to her valuation, less thau one-third as
much tax as Cambria, has nearly twice
as many months school The remedy for
the inequalities which now weigh so heavi
ly upon the less weilthy counties, is to be
sought in an amendment to the school
law, making the tax for school purposes
equal throughout the State and providing
for its distribution among the districts, iu
proportion to the number of children to
be educated therein. As the safety and
prosperity of a free State depend upon
the intelligence and virtue of its citizens;
and as these qualities can only exist by
being propagated, by means of a virtuous
education, it becomes the duty of the
State to make provision for the education
of those who are to be ita future citirena.
sand roeu islets, its irrotesoue bills and
frowning bluffs. Soou you strike the
meandering Juniata, leup its cay banks
at frequent intervals, arrive at Altoona in
time for tarly tea, and, as already stated
at the Cresson Springs Mountain House
at 7 30 p. tn.
I might write a long enough letter in
simply describing Cresson as a popular
resort its superior situation, its ambient,
health-giving atmosphere, its wiidand no
less beautiful surroundings, its fine ho'el,
and its retinue of cottages, its medicinal
springs, and equally medicinal drives, and
not less than these, the excellence of its
society. Rut all this has already been
done in the columns of the Press.
For so late in the reason the company
is unusually large, numbering neatly four
hundred men, women and children, and
representing a degreeof wealth, refinement,
intelligence and good behavior that
strikes a casual visitor favorably, and
makes him wish that he were able to pro
long his "lodge in thi vast wilderness
this boundless contiguity of shade."
The immediate situation of this house
docs not command so extcusive a view as
1 expected, or as might be considered de
sirable for a structure boasting an eleva
tion of some twenty-five hundred feet
above tido water. Rut within just such a
walk ns every sojourner hero in health
.oon walking b
ck in the direction he had
come. l lie cart went on, ana passea
through the rebel camps without molesta
tion, and reached tho pickets, where it
halted. The beef was destined for tho
house of a planter just beyond the rebel
lines and in plain sight of their outposts.
These explanations made and a careless
search of the cart by the rebel sentry, it
proceeded on its way. J u-t as it neared tha
house a small party of our cavalry made a
dish a-t it, and to the utter Furpri?e of the
rebel pickets, who saw the whole affair, our
men only hovered a momeut around the
earc then galloped back with one moro
mail than they came with Icaviug cart
and beef, and driver and mule behind
them. They did not know it then, but
under the beef was a man, and the man
had a package, and the package contained
the statements of Gen. Lee before the
Committee of Congress a few hours before.
It may seem strange, but Lincoln and
Grant knew long before mauy of the
highest officials of the insurgent Govern
ment the sworn statement of their com
mander as to the hopelessness of further
resistance. Knowing that tbe Govern
ment and Grant had this information ex
plains many things in connection with the
arrival within our lines of Hunter, Ste
phens, and Campbell at the time ot the
Hamptoa Roads oonferenc-o."
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