Newspaper Page Text
The Cartersville Courant-American.
VOL. IX.
OPENING OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
Address of the President to the
Citizens of Cartersville
pertinent Point* About the Rules and
Herniations— Timely Words on an
All-Important Enterprise.
To the citizens of Cakteksviele :
Several of you have asked me questions
about the conduct ol the public schools.
Most of the Board of Public Education,
together with the principals of the
schools, have requested me to address
the public upon this question. I prefer,
however, to make this communication,
giving some of the main points which
would likely be interesting to proposed
patrons of the schools.
1. The schools will be opened on the
fi rs t Monday in September, in two build
ings; the west school under the princi
palship of Professor Rolieson, and the
east school under the principalship of
Professor Lee. It is very important for
all children to be on hand the very first
day of the school, in order that they
may not only be properly classified, but
begin with the beginning. This is much
more important in graded echoes than
it is in the kind we have heretofore been
accustomed to; because in graded schools
all the pupils have the same grade and
study the same lessons each day. Con
sequently, if a pupil does not enter school
at the beginning of the session, that
pupil cannot begin at the beginning of
the book, and would, therefore, be behind
the class at the very commencement.
No words are needed to show how injuri
ous this would be.
2. All children between six and eighteen
years of age, including the latter, whose
parents or guardians are residents of
Cartersville, may attend the schools
without paying any tuition or incidental
fees; but all pupils, whether residents of
Cartersville or not, must pay an entrance
fee of $1.25 per term in the grammar
school grades, and two dollars for the
fall term and three dollars for the spring
term in high school. Entrance fees are
all payable in advancenpou registration.
Pupils over eighteen years of age, and
those vvhos£ parents or guardians reside
outside ot Cartersvile, may attend upon
paying in addition to the entrance fee
tuition as follows: Non-residents in
grammar school onedoliar per month, in
high schools two dollars per month, resi
dent pupils over eighteen, fifty cents per
month. All tuition is payable in ad vance.
Parents or guardians must supply the
children with the necessary text books.
If they are not so supplied within a week
from the date of their admission into the
schools they will not be allowed to remain
in the schools.
The principal of each school remains
at his respective school houseeach morn
ing from now until the opening of the
schools for the purpose of receiving appli
cations for membership. Parents are
requested to go with their children when
registering them. They have the privi
lege of choosing which school they will
send to, provided they make application
before the school is full. Each pupil will,
upon being registered and paying the
entrance fee, receivea certificate entitling
him or her to aseat in the school of their
choice. Parents are urged to attend to
the registration of their child ren prompt
ly. If they delay this the probabilities
are that they will be disappointed w hen
they do come to register.
•1 The public schools are divided into
two departments,thegrammar school and
the high school. There are six grades in
the grammar school and three in the
high school. Pupils completing the high
school course can enter sophomore class
in any college in Georgia, and the junior
class in most of them, and the senior
class in some. The act of the legislature
compels the board to charge tuition in
the hich school; but it will be seen by
comparing these rates with the rates to
which the people have been aecustomed,
that our rates are cheaper than those of
any private school which the board
knows of. The vast majority of educa
tors all over the country agree that the
best education which the children of the
country are receiving is obtained in well
conducted graded schools. They may
not push children as much, or make them
“go through” as many books as other
school*-, but the education will be more
thorough, and the pupil more apt to
know what he has studied.
4. The teachers were selected with spe
cial reference to the record made by
themselves ru written examinations whieh
they stood before the principals of the
schools, who upon the completion of
these examinations, graded each paper
strictly upon its merit. Some oral ex
aminations were had, but applicants
were marked only on written examina
tions, wbere the same questions were
propounded to each.
5. The board intends to give the public
the best schools of which the circum
stances will permit. Attention will be
Paid rather to thoroughness of scholar
ship and good discipline, than to rushing
pupils through a number of books of
whose contents they know very little.
Pupils will not be promoted from one
grade to another until they have at
tained the necessary proficiency. A
pamphlet has been published, and wil> be
given to each pupil upon registration,
which contains the rules and regulations
for the government of the schools, and
the course of Rtudy for both the gram
mar and high school. We earnestly beg
that each parent will preserve this pam
phlet, read it thoroughly, and assist f he
Principals and teachers in every way in
their power to see that the pupils con
form to the rules therein laid down.
6. Some of the Board were disposed to
think at first that we could do as well in
two school houses for the white pupils as
one. The Board is now, however, unani
mous in its opinion that the most effi
cient work, as well as the cheapest work,
could be done were 'the schools in one
building. After diligent inquiry I can
hear of no other town, the size of Carters
ville, in the Lnited States which has
more than one public school building for
each color. Superintendents in other
cities, of advanced years and ripe experi
ence, have unanimously advised the
board to have hut one school building
for each color. Every well informed per
son will see upon reflection how much
more efficiently the schools can be con
ducted, and how much more thorough
will be the training and discipline, if all
of the white pupils can be in one building,
and all of the colored pupils in one build
ing, both schools being under one super
intendent. On this point there is no
difference of opinion among people who
have given the matter study.
But I desire to call the attention of the
tax payers of the town to the greater
economy of having the white school con
ducted in one building. Many items
might be given; one is sufficient. We
now employ two white principals whose
yearly salaries amount to two thousand
dollars. If the schools w T ere in one build
ing we would have one superintendent
and no principals. A first class superin
tendent could he secured for twelve hun
dred dollars. In this item alone we
would save eight hundred dollars per
annum. This is six per cent, per annum
interest on $13,333.33%. So that by
having two white schools instead of one,
the town is put to an extra expense
which amounts to interest on $13,338.-
33% of 6 per cent, bonds. We now em
ploy three teachers for each white school,
besides the principals. Their salaries
amount to two hundred and ten dollars
per month, which.is an average of thirty
five dollars per month. If we had the
white pupils all in one school these same
six teachers could teach twice as many
pupils at the same cost, and with more
efficiency, because there would be one
teacher to each grade of the school, and
the superintendent could teach the high
school. Any educator knows how much
easier and better it is to teach, say fifty
boys, all in one class, than twenty-five
boys separated in different classes.
We have now in effect eighteen grades,
because we have nine grades in each
school. If all these pupils were in one
school we would still have only the nine
grades.
This letter has already been made too
long. If space sufficed, many more reas
ons could be given why it is economy to
combine all the white schools in one
building, .nd all the colored schools in
another building. Fortunately we have
one bun ring large enough for all the col
ored pupils. It is absolutely necessary
for us to place the white pupils in the
same condition, in order to secure equal
comparative efficiency.
But the one item of eight hundred dol
lars saved annually, as above indicated,
is alone sufficient, to cause the tax payers
of the town to desire that the pupils all
be taught *n one building.
7. Our city is committed to the public
school system. Let us make it a success.
Whether wefavor or oppose public schools
on principle, we can all agree that a badly
managed, inefficient, and incompetent
system of public schools would be a seri
ous blow to the prosperity of the town.
Let ns all unitei* this matter, and make
this Cartersville-Miterprise a success. It
is certainly the cSaeajiest system of edu
cation; let us make it the best!
John W. Akin,
I’res. Cartersville Public School Board.
The cigarette habit is increasing. The
commissioners of internal revenueoollect
ed taxes last year upcua 2,151,515,300,
which is an increase of 789,260 over
the preceding fiscal year. The number
taxed is a pretty good iisiication of the
consumption. Thenumherof cigars tax
ed during the last fiseaS year was
3,867,385,640, on increase of 22,658,990
showing that the consumption of cigar
ettes is increaßingJmore rapidly than that
of cigars.
Few children can be induced to take
physic without a struggle, and no won
der—most drugs are extremely nauseat
ing. Ayer’s Pills, on the contrary, being
sugar-coated, are eagerly swallowed by
the little ones, and are, therefore, the fa
vorite family medicine.
CARTERSVILLE. GA., THURSDAY, AUGUST 22. 1889.
ANOTHER FARMERS’ PICNIC.
The Pettitt's Creek Club Spend a
Pleasurable Day
. * -
A Lartre Gathering—Plenty to Eat, and a
Good Time—Dr, Felton Makes
a Notable Speech.
The Pettitt’s Creek Farmers’ Club had
their annual picnic at the home of Mr.
James H. Gilreath on last Saturday, and
a grand success it was. The members of
the club, with their families, and several
hundred invited friends, participated in
the pleasures of the day. In the grove in
front of Mr. Gilreath’s residence, there
were arranged coinfortable seatsandsev
eral tables, and a!! the surroundings were
well adapted to picnic purposes. As the
day grew older the clouds which had
gathered during the night disappeared.
About nine o’clock the people began to
gather, and before the dinner hour ar
rived there were about three hundred on
the grounds—fanners, their wives and
children, merchants, doctors, lawyers,
preachers, legislators—in fact, almost
every profession had its representative
in the crowd.
At one o’clock dinner was announced,
and we all repaired to the tables where
anything the uppetite might crave was
spread in abundance. It was a dinner ut
solid substantial, gotten up by substan
tial hands, and enjoyed by a substantial
crowd.
In the afternoon the grove was a scene
of perfect enjoyment. The young folks
were grouped about laughing and chat
ting merrily, while the older ouesenjoyed
themselves discussing various topics.
Thus the time passed away, everybody
happy and contented, enjoying a picnic
after the genuine order—no “programme”
to be guided by.
Our estimable follow-citizen and incom
parable legislator,Dr. W. 11. Felton, was
present, and in response to a pressing in
vitation and the sentiment of every one,
he delivered an address to the farmers’
oiuu Hud the audience generally.
The doctor began by giving a brief
history of the Pettitt’s Creek Farmers’
Club. It was formed five years ago by a
number of the best farmers in theconnt.v.
It has steadily grown in character, and
to-day there is not a more widely known
or better standing farmers’ club to be
found. It has proved to be a blessing to
its members; it. is a decided success. The
doctor said that we ought to be very
thankful for the prosperity with whieh
our county is blessed. Since the war we
have never had such crops as are now
growing in our fields. Corn, cotton,
wheat, oats, and all the smaller crops
are better and in greater abundance than
we have had them in twenty years. The
material prosperity of our people gener
ally, aud especially the farming classes,
was never brighter than now.
Dr. Felton spoke at some length on
this line, much to the pleasure of his
hearers, but Itefore closing he said he
deemed it justice to hjmself and of inter
est to his constituents to explain exactly
the stand he has recently taken in regard
to the higher education of our whitegirls
and boys. He spoke of receiving a copy
of the resolutions adopted by the sub
allinnce at CassviSle instructing him as a
representative from Bartow county, to
vote against all appropriations of public
money for higher education, and to vote
all sueh approjwiations to the common
school fund. Many similar resolutions
had been received by other members of
the legislature, aud it was strange to Dr.
Felton that the very men whose children
his educational bill intended to beuefit
should be opposing that measure. Since
the war about seventeen millions of dol
lars have been sent south by Northern
philanthropists to educate the colored
boys andgiils of the Sou them States and
Georgia has received her full share of
that amount. In Atlanta the Clark Uni
versity, a colored institution for higher
education, has a rich endowment and is
also partially supported by State appro
priations. In the sanee city there is an
industrial school for colored girls with
an endowment of a half million dollars—
all furnished by Northern people. There
are other schools and colleges for negroes
in differeat parts of the State,and besides
this one-half the common school fund
goes to them. Thus we see that the col
ored people have better educational
advantages than the whites, and it is a
reproach to the fair name of Georgia
that such should be the case. While we
have a good commou school fund, the
educational bill bow peudiug before the
legislature, provides that ooe-fca.lt of the
revenue from the Western aud Atlantic
railroad continue to be appropriated to
said fund, no matter how high the rental
may go, and only asks that a few thou
sand of the contemplated increase in the
rental of the road be used for the estab
lishment of high schools or district
colleges or county academies, so that
our white girls and boys may at least
have equal advantages with the colored
boys and girls of the State, who are
instructed in the higher branches of an
English education. This is what we
ought to do if we desire to see the white
race have supremacy. Some people say
that the whiteman inbound to rule; that
rank, Mobility and supremacy are written
on his face. This is not so; history
proves that wealth and intelligence rule
tlie world, and if the present state of
affairs regarding the education of our
children is not changed, in Twenty-five
years we will see the colored people in
Georgia better educated than the whites
and our illiterate children looking up to
negroes. “Black heels will be trampling
ou white necks.” Something must be
done at once to better our educational
facilities if we wish to maintain our
supremacy over the colored race. To
continue as their superiorsin intelligence,
the time has come when we must have
institutions for higher edueution.
The farming people complain that this
educational bill, if it becomes a law, will
aid the rich m securing higher education
at the expense of the poor. There pre
denominational and sectarian institu
tions to which the rich can send as it
now is, but which the majority of the
farmers cannot patronize as they are
unable to pay board, tuition and the in
cidental expenses. This bill provides for
all such by furnishing everything except
board. Is this not in the interests of the
poor people.
“I have ceased to seek popularity,”
said the old man ; “the past is broaden
ing behind me, and the future is narrow
ing before me, and I would advocate
nothing but I honestly and sincerely be
lieved to be lor the good of my fellow
men,” and many were convinced that he
was right—that, it would best for them
that his hill became a law. I have heard
several express themselves as changed in
opinion since more thoroughly under
standing t lie doctor's views—among them
Mr. Gilbert, secretary of the Cassville Al
liance, which sent to Dr. Felton the reso
lutions voicing their disapproval of his
bill. Mr. Gilbert is now in favor of the
bill—only thinks the doctor might have
been milder in iiis rebuke of their igno
rance.
After the conclusion of Dr. Felton’s ad
dress, several colls were made for ('apt.
Lyon, Rev. Mr Cooper, and others, but
as it was rather late, they did not re
spond.
In a short time the crowd began to dis
perse, after enjoy ing a dn.v of real pleas
ure. It wns, without a doubt, the most
substantial picnic Bartow county has
had this year. Every one who attended
will join me in saying that it was good to
be there. Long live the Pettitt’s Creek
Farmers’ Club! May each year bring
about for them just such a day as Satur
day proved to be. W. C. W.
Keceptlon to Mr. amt Mr*. Dougina Wikle.
One of the most deligtful events of the
season was the reception at the residence
of Judge J. R. Wikle on Friday evening,
the Kith, in*honor of Mr. Douglas Wikle
and his bride, nee Miss Bertie Temple, of
Nashville, Tenn.
A large number w’ere present to offer
their congratulations and to enjoy the
open handed hospitability for which
Judge Wikle is noted.
The bride, Miss Temple that, was, was
the recipient of many congratulations
and a warm welcome from the numerous
friends that she made in ■ 'm tersville dur
ing her visit last fall. Mid all declared
that Mr. Wikle was the “most lucky
dog” in town.
A bountiful and tasty collatinn was
enjoyed by the company who were per
mitted toseethearnn of elegant presents
which partial friends and loved ones had
bestowed on the bride.
We congratulate the happy couple and
wish them every joy.
The following are those friends present:
Capt. and Mrs. R. G. Mays; Mr. and
Mrs. John W. Akin; Mr. and Mrs. W. C.
Baker; Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Vivion; Mr.
and Mrs. J. H. Wikle; Mr. and Mrs. J. A.
Baker; Dr. and Mrs. Lindsay Johnson;
Mrs. Ware; Mrs. Gerald Griffin; A. S.
Johnson with Miss Lilian Crosby; W. M.
Graham with Miss Mary Hall; J. E,
Mays with Miss Fannie B. Jones; Frank
Wallace with Miss Minnie Baldwin; W.
H. Milam with Miss Lila Calhoun ; 0. H.
Buford with Miss Mamie Ware; T. W.
Akin with Miss Eula ITappoldt; Ben
Aker man with Miss Annie Davis; Alex
Akerman with Miss Julia Hall; L. B.
Robeson with Miss Louellu Jones; Joe
M. Moot with Miss Agnes Ware; John
Wikle, George Hall and others.
Sparta Ishmaelite: The annual protrac
ted meeting at the Methodist Church in
Powelton closed Sunday night, the 11th
inst. It lasted nearly two weeks The
alter w-ae thronged with mourners from
the beginning. The Rev. B. E. L. Timmons
preached twice each day during the
greater part of the meeting. He is an in
defatigable worker, and is much beloved
by his own church, and aH whom be
comes in contact. His good wife was
with him and made a beautiful and inter
esting talk to the Sunday school on the
morning of the first Sunday. The illness
of their little son, B. L., prevented her
from attending church, most of the time,
but her presence in our midst is a bene
diction.
Our Buyer,
Mr. J. H. Porter, left last Tuesday for the Eastern Markets to
purchase the
HANDSOMEST LINE
Of Fall and Winter
DRY GOODS,
—EHZE33KE3S QQOD3,EEEEE —
*
Ladies’ and Children’s Wraps,
FANCY GOODS AND NOTIONS
Ever before shown in this city. We must have room for
OUR LARGE FALL STOCK.
Summer Goods to be closed out immediately at your own price.
Received this week a beautiful line of
SICILIAN CLOTH.
Something new in Dress Goods for early Fall wear. See them
before buying your Tabernacle dresses.
PORTER & VAUGHAN.
A GREAT COUNTY.
A Few Things Seen by a Southwest Geor
gian In Bartow County.
Mr. C. B, Phillips writes buck to the
Cuthbert, Appeal the following:
I have been to the Falling (Mineral)
Springs in Bartow county, and tbiiiK
that pure, mineral water has done a
great deal towards building up my shat
tered health.
Last Monday, in company with Messrs.
S. and W. M. Kirksey, two prosperous
farmers, I seated myself in acomfortable
vehicle, and rode down to the busy little
city ofCartersville. We rode along the
old Tennesse road, along which Federal
soldiers marched duriugthelatewar, and
which passes through some of the best
lands in North Georgia. I saw some cu
riosities on the way, one of which was a
stream of water about the size of Pu
chitla creek in Randolph county, flowing
from under a ledge of rocks on the west
side of the road, and from the surround
ings, no one is able to tell from whence it
came, unless it conies through an under
ground channel from a creek some dis
tance to the east. I was told that this
stream is inexhaustible, and always fur
nishes about the same amount of water,
both winter and summer.
To the east of this road, several miles
from Cartersville, are the great iron miues
owned by the Hon. Joseph E.Brown,and
from these mines,this great financier has,
no doubt, gathered a great deal of his
immense wealth.
Four miles north of Cartersville 1
nassei! by the home of the notorious Dr,
Felton, and from the apjiearance of his
large and fertile farm, one would judge
tit a 4 the doetor is n good farmer, ns well
as a great statesman. Bn*- history tells
ns that Mrs. Felton, who is a most re
markable ladv, is the chief manager of
the farm.
I passed by the country residence of
“Bill Arp,” the great rural philosopher,
whose name has become familiar, and
whost writings are read with interest in
many thousands of homes, and also by
a large and well situated farm owned by
the noted Sam Jones, Here, then, on
this public highway, within a short dis
tance of each other, are the country
homes of three of Georgia's most noted
men.
An English syndicate have arranged
to build an intfr-ocean railway across
Honduras.
W#ntd, H-rulesl
In the days of yore there lived, accord
ing to mythical story, n hero of wonder
ful strength. He performed works of
stupendous magnitude by main strength.
He is said to have strangled the Neuneun
lion. He overcame the nine-headed ser
pent, Hydra. He captured theArcadean
stag. He netted the Arcadean boar, after
a tedious and laborious chase through
the snow. He performed many other
even more wonderful feats; perhaps the
most extraordinary, the cleansing of the
Augean stables, in which three thousand
oxen had been kept for thirty years with
out the removal of the daily accumula
tion once in all those years. This he
was ordered by King Augeus to aoeem
plish in one day. He performed the im
posed task by turning two rivers, the
the Alpheus and Peueus, through the
stables.
In the town of Cartersville, many years
since, a substantial, handsome court
house was erected. The actual dates of
spring and fall cleaning have manyyears
siuce been lost in the accumulated layers
of tobacco juice, quids and mud, and the
general collection of the above number of
years. If the number be not thirty it is
almost a score.
The task may not involve the necessity
of bringing the purifying waters of more
than one river to the work of cleansing,
and of this Messrs. Jeter& Boarduiun
neariug the accomplishment. The
tiful toweronthe highest embiem-e in uur
city tinder the >kd!hd wi ikaianship ntn4
media nisin of ,\fr M. .\. I>rigget>, will,
ere long, be ready to dispense. with lav
ish jtower, the dear, cool waters of our
own Ktowah.
How so high and pure a thing as the
awarding of justice by means of the law
cun proceed from so unclean a thing as
the Bartow County court house, is diffi
cult to solve. \\ Idle it is true that its
walls have resounded with the voices of
our nble and eloquent bar. and not the
lowing of cuttle, the necessities of the
case are the same. A clean court house
is what is needed; so, to repeat, a Her
cules wanted 1
A Stranger.
A perfect complexion, free from pimple
or blemish, is very .rarely seen, because
few people have perfectly pure blood. And
yet, all disfiguring eruptions are easily
removed by the use of Ayer's Sarsapa
rilla. Try it. and surprise your friends
with the result.
NO. 10.