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114 VOICE OF FREEDOM. VOL. VII. NO, 8q be contracted, or tho seeds of consump tion which may be sown in en ill con structed and uncomfortable school hou?e ; but do oil in your power to obiatennd mitigate the necessary exposure nnd dan ger. But aside from the bearings of this subject upon health' and life, the pupil's present progress in learning will depend Tery much upon tho comfort secured to him in the school-room. A sense of physical discomfort is incompatible with on entire and continued concentration ol thought in the pursuit of study. Very much might bo said upon this topic ; but we fear that our school-houses are loo generally to badly constructed and in such condition as to preclude all hope of securing persona! comfort in a competent degree; nnd as it is not expected that you will perform the work ol carpenter nnd joiner as well as teacher, any further sug gestions to you would be misdirected, except 10 urge u upon you as nn tmneri ous duty which you owe to your pupils, to do the best that is possible under the circumstances under which you are plac ed. And meanwhile we will hope that the patrons of oui schools will erelong have their attention so directed to the de ficiencies alluded to, that in due lime the proper remedy shall be applied. But if nature has, wiih the exceptions named, made competent provision for physical develnpement from its necessity to ihe preservation of our existence as were animals, it depends mainly upon mif own vnlunt-iry agency nnd efforts to determine whether we shall rise much jiirher in ihe. sc. tie than this, by the cul tivation of miri'i and heart; lor here na ture his made no adequate provisions. But as we have already spoken of that branch of education which relates to the cultivation of the intellect, it only remains lor us to call your attention io that branch which pertains to moral culture the for nntion of mora! character. We are aware that it might bo deemed trite to say that moral instruction is us important as thai which regards the cul tivation of the mind: but yet we fear lh.it the import of this truth has not generally been clearly and fully perceived nor its impirtunce adequately appreciated. If intellectual education gives power, moral education determines its direction the ends and purposes for which it shall bo exerted, whether good or evil. We cannot, however, at the present lime, enter into any lengthened disquisi tion upon this topic. But we can do no less than siy that the proper culture of the moral feeling, the subjugation and control of the base and noxiouj passions of our nature, an I the formation of a cor rect, well balanced and harmonious mor al character, cannot, on mature reflection, be regarded otherwise than as a matter of deep consequence to the welfare and happiness ot the individual and society, nor can it be justly doubted that the duty of watching and aiding in this process falls within your own legitimate province. We will not contend that the whole work of moulding and forming the character is, or outfit to be, left exclusively to school influences. 0. her agencies combine with these. We will concede even that home influences, and especially the maternal, hold the oust promine.it pl jce. Bat even if y.)ur efforts and influence" could do no more in this field of action than what they obviously might by way of thwarting an J counteracting the bene ficial tendencies of correct home instruc lioi, your responsibility would still be vast; for the inspired declnra'ion that one sinner destroyeih much good " is in its application here, full of truth and weighty wiih import. The correct prin ciples and virtuous habits which parental care has, for months and years been anx iously laboring to inculcate and estobliih are liable to be seriously impaired, and perhaps almost entirely eradicated by the adverse influence of your own vicious ex ample to say nothing of the pernicious doctrines which might fall from your lip?. L'.'t your ill temper, your explosions of nnger, or your ebullitions o! fretfulness and impatience be witnessed by your pupils, and they will be copied ere you are aware of it. And what parent would no', prefer lhat his child should grow up with less of that knowledge which he might gain under your teaching, yet with some capacity for usefulness though in the humblest sphere, rather than that he should be thus exposed to be be transformed nei'ch.mee to ruined to a " blasted fragment of humaniy" ard ro down al las', to an ignominious grave I V'oiir responsibility, however, does not cir.d should not, end with the nvoidance of positive injury allowing it possible that your influence could be negative, and end at lh'8 point. When it lies within your power to accomplish a positive good Diiethat is so deeply to affect the inter est and happiness of those committed to your charge, your views of moral obliga tion must be narrow indeed if you car. think to evade responsibility in neglecting to secure it. And it would be but little to the purpose to inquire whether the patrons of the school generally expected you to take the woik in hand or other wise. It is enough for you to know Hint the pupil's usefulness nnd happiness ore to be essentially affected by the course you pursue. Perhaps if there is any one point in, which our ordinary moral education is more signally deficient, il is in the failure to inculcate sufficiently liberal social prin ciples to impress upon the heart the sentiment lhat our interest and happiness are intimately and inseparably interwov en with the interests and happiness of those around us. I he practical operation of this sentiment upon society would bo to secure, to a much "grtat?r extent than now, benevolence, justice, honesty and integrity in our Intercourse and relations with each other, whila thut narrow, sor did and absorbing selfishness which dis graces human kind would be banished from society, ns not only a violation of those great principles of duty and moral obligation which should govern all our eonduct, but ns incompatible with our own highest, richest and purest bliss. But every moral virtue should be inculcated and enforced by its appropriate sanction. There is a line of right or wrong that runs through all the paths of human con duct, even to their most remote and intri cate windings, and the pupil should be taught.to observe and trace it, and to guide his footsteps according to its indication wherever he treads. Li regard to the general subject of man agement we can say but a few words.. It is important that you study in the first place me individual character oryour pu pils and adapt yourconduct und measures to eqeh. You hai-e all varieties of dispo sitions, habits, tastes and capacities to deal with, and unless your management be in- teligemly adjusted to each variety of char acter it cannot be right unless by acci dent. If the forward and self confident somiimes need to be repressed, so too, do the timid, the retiring and distrustful need to be brought forward and encourag ed. The less quick and gifted should never be frowned upon for their tardy movement but rather should, their slow and toilsome progress up ''the rugged hill of science" bo cheered and made delight ful, as it often may ba by a word of kind ness. Aim by all means in your power to make even- association connected with the acquisition of knowledge interesting and pleasant, to make learning, in short, a pastime rather than a labor. Never under any circumstances mimic a child, or otherwise expose him to ridicule f jr any infirmity, whether constitutional or ac quired by Inbit. Children are sensitive to ridicule to s ich a degree, that few are a ware how severe is the torture which is often in this way inflicted, nnd how serious the mischief which may result from it. Upon the subject of discipline in school we would tay that obedience and order are indispensably necessary to successful instruction disobedience nnJ confusion incompatible with it. Regularity, order and submission to established rules must, then, be enforced nnd maintained at all hazards. The good of the whole clearly demands it. But how or by what means this important end is to be gained, is a question which may sometimes present some difficulty in the solution. We are not prepared to say that corporeal punish ment can, at least in the present condition of our schools, be entirely dispensed with. Whenever it is resorted to, however, it must not be with the expectation that it can be relied on as a means of reformation. And it i3 admissible in schools in any case only on the principle lh.it the advance ment and interest of the many must not be sacrificed for an individual. While wo are not ready therefore, to pronounce it "a relic of barbarism," nnd to say that it ought to be l entirely and forever binish ed," we must on the other hand avow the opinion that the cases are rare in which a resort to it is demanded ; and that even in those cases moral influences would more cenainly and successfully accom plish tho desirable end of reclaiming and reforming. We firmly believe that gov erni ;rj by kindness is ordinarily "a more extelient way more exceiieni in uie direct success which attends it, in its ef fects upon the character of the individual, and in its influences upon all. Kindness is the very'Miagician's wand" in its poten over the rebellious and angry passions of the sjuI. There is scarco a human' heart that is so cased and steeled but that some avenue to il remains ; and it is rare but that kindness will find the way. It is rare but that patient, persevering kind ness on your part witl at length be recip rocated by docility on the part of the pu pil. Many a way ward and unlucky boy who now seems a fair candidate for a prison or ihe gallows, and whom no se verity could reclaim, might by such kind ness be won from his perverse arid evil ways, and become a useful member of so ciety. And such a victory would be more glorious than ever was gained over mere fi sh nnd blood. It would be a moral tnumpn wnicn snouiu nnriy enti tle you to higher honor than belongs to him who conquers empires by violence and devastation. S'jc.h are our view3 upon this subject. But if yours do not accord with them, or if you cannot form the determination to attempt to practise systematielly in accor dance with them, we would say to you c'i'inguish by all means between the mor al turpitude of those acts which spring from excess ol nninvil spirits or a mere love of sport, and tho;: which spring from sullen obstinacy or wanton mnl.nitv. An act that proceeds from mere childish playfulness, however much it may annoy you, should not be visited with thai s.ime di gree of severity lhat should be dealt out to one that proceeds from depravity of heart. Jut whether good moral conduct cm be insured, and virtuous principles be in stilled into the heart by means of stripes, or no', we think there can be no coniro versy upon the question whether a love of study can be infused and the' pupil's progress in learning be promoted by these means. It must be sufficiently obvious thai it is impossible to instil love into the bosom by the hateful process of castiga lion. We should sooner expect a sick man who lonthes the sight of food,- could be whipped into on appetite. There is no relation between ihe means and the end. If your pupil manifes's un aversion to study, he must be allured, not driven to it. "You lack for qualifications if you cannot thus nllure him--you will In il of success if you attempt to coerce him. Fear of physical coercion can never cnll forth those "spontaneous, ardent, and de lightful efforts which alone can ensure any ubs'untial and raluuble progreso, But it is not to be expected that in ihe compass of the single sheet which we propose to lay before you, we can advert to all the objects lhat should claim your attention. Our aim has rather been to impress upon you ihe idea lhat there is a theory of school -teaching that there are proper modes of instruction nnd manage ment, with which it is important that you should become acquainted, if you are not already so; and then to urge upon you to procure and study those books in which you will find these subjects treated on, and your duties delineated. "The Teach er," "Lectures on School keeping," "Tho Teacher's Manual," nnd "The School and School-master" are works of this character. You will find in these, hints nnd helps beyond what you imagine, it you nre not already f.imilipr with them. To the work last named every teacher of a common school in the stntes of New York and Massachusetts has access each school district being furnished with a cop y. And we could wish that this treatise or something similar were accessible to every teacher in this slate. The impor tance of such information as is there em braced cannot be too strongly recomnitn ded or too earnestly urged. Indeed we would more readily give our approbation to a candidate for school teaching who was well informed upon the theory of teaching one who well understood the true ends of education nnd the proper methods of instruction, even though pos sessing less ol learning as the term is gen erally understood than to one whose at tainments might be much higher on this last score, but who might be destitute of what should be regarded as a knowledge of the elementary principles of his pro fession. To those especially who are designing to pursue the business of teaching after the present season we would say, that whatev er standard of qualification may be deem advisable to establish on tho first introduc tion ol the new system ot examination, there can be no doubt that a thorough knowledge of theiheory of leaching will very soon be demanded as an indispensi bly important pre-requisite, nnd in fact lhat the leading point to be ascertained will be, not how much knowledge does the candidate possess of'grnmmar, Geogra phy or Arithmetic, but does he understand the proper method of teaching his pupils how to acq lire a knowledge of these sci ences (or themselves. To such then as have not already devoted their attention specifically to this subject, it is a matter of interest lhat they should now endeavor to acquire a knowledge of this important branch of their profession or rather we should say, knowledge of the principles which lie ut ihe very foundation of it. The mechanic is expected to learn his trade before he engages in it; but of what value are the materials which constitute the subjects of the mechanic's or the artist's operations the weod, the marble or the diamond in comparison with mind, the immortal mind ! Tell us then, setting interest aside, whether you can answer the demands of a good conscience if you fail to use all the means within your reach for securing an acquaintance wiih your business, even though it were to be available but for a single season. The schcol-rooni may to some, at first view, stem a narrow sphere of action; but from within its walls proceed influences which not only decidetoo great extent the character nnd.destiny of the individual but extend to uud tiled lor good or evil all the complicated interests of society and government. They are influences A'bich go forth like the blood from the chambers of the heart, to reach the remotest and mi nutest tissues and parts of the body politic, intermingling with all the various streams which course through the organization of society, and exerting n life'giving or des troying energy modifying in short our social existence, and exercising their pow jer over the nation's life. High then is iho trust committed to your hands. And although it has hereto fore seemed ihnl the community fell but little interest in your occupation, or paid but little regard to the manner in which its duties were discharged or to the results which were wrought out by it, there have yet been those who "have long thought thai things ought not to be thus ; and we trust that a train of mea-ures is now to be put in operation which will lend to awnk en the community to n more deep and just sense of the priceless vjlue of the inter ests involved in your labors, and that hereafter while deficiencies will be lesso verlooktd, so on the other hand the merit won by a patient nnd faithful discharge of your duties will bo. more observed, more highly appreciated, and more ade quately rewarded. HORACE EATON. Stnto Superintendent of Common Schools. E losburgh, Dec. 1st, 1845. Explosion and loss of life. We learn from the Boston Transcript, that on the forenoon of Wednesday an explosion of a steam boiler took place in the b x factory of .Messrs. W. fk O. Tirrell kill, iog instantly two young men employed in ihe factory, named William Tirrell, (son of the owner) nnd William Ford. The boiler, which was set in brick, was blown across the street, a distance of 150 feet, filling into a blacksmith's shop where several men were at work, but injuring no one here. The boiler was about 30 feci in length, and wa9 projected across ihe street in a horizontal line, on its way go ing between a horse and a wagon pnssing nt ihe time, without injury to man or horse, but breaking the shafts. The men in the blacksmith's shop escaped ns by n miracle, the boiler falling upon ihe forge where they wero nt work. Tribune It is Proposed to orcein monument H ger Williims, near Providence. In VOICE OF FREEDOM. Uraudon. Thursday Jan. 8, 1840. Notice to Subscribers, Cf Those subscribers in Pituford who wish to pay in produce for this paper, may deliver the same to Henri Simonds, in such articles as he will take and ac count to me for, if they pay this month. Cr Subscribers who reside in Wey- bridge nnd vicinity, and were to pay Solomon Parker, for the Voice of Free dom, are requested to pay this month, that he and I may know how our accounts stand. FIRES IN BRANDOS, On Saturday morning last, about one o'clock, the Furnace, located three miles from this village; generally known as 'Blake's Furnace," was discovered to be on fire, and before the progress of the flames could be arrested, the " lop-house" was consumed, and some uther damage occasioned by the fire. But as the fire man succeeded in keeping the furnace in blast, the damage was not very great. About G o'clock on the same morning, the cry of fire and the ringing of bells, congregated the people lo witness the de struction of a Store in the village, owned by David M. June, and for several years occupied by Messrs Davis & Amasn Col lins. We have no engine here; and when the people gathered, the fire had ob tained such mastery that neither the build ing nor its main contents could be saved ; and it was with the greatest exertion lhat the adjoining buildings were saved from utter destruction, Had it not been for the accumulation of water in the street in con sequence of the recent rain, and ihe fact that the roofs of the buildings were very moist, several of them must have gone. The loss to the Messrs Collins, occa sioned by the above named disaster, is es timated by them as follows ; 1 4000 lbs. of wool 85,000; goods of various kinds, 88,000; pork, hams, butler, ($20 specie nnd 55 in bills) wheal, flour, rye and corn, beans, dried apples and feathers S700: making $13,700. Mr Davis Collins said he believed the insurance on their goods was 61500 j but that ihe I033 of ac counts in their books destroyed, was enough to balance the insurance. He saved one Ledger, but was b.idly burned in the net of doing it. All that was saved of the other books, was what was left of them after they went into the cellar among the unconsumed rubbish that fell durin" c the burning of the building. The Store was insured for 8400. No loss on that. A committee of seven was appointed on Saturday night, lo enquire into, and if possible to ascertain the c use of the fire i and I believe were unanimous in the opin ion that the building was purposely fired by those who had first perpetrated burgla ry and theft. Probably a more full state ment will hereafter be made, respecting the evidence adduced to substantiate the above opinion. A committee of twelve was also appoint ed lor the purpose of devising a plan for belter security henceforth against ihe rav ages of fire. On Monday evening about $300 was subscribed toivards the purchase of engines and apparatus, and the strong probability is lhat Brandon village will not long bo without belter facilities lor preventing the destruction of property in ibis way. fCr A remark or two on the custom of some people on such occasions may not be inappropriate. One thing 1 will name, is, the neglect to carry a pail when a man has one A second is, refusing to take one, on the roa I, when offered. A third is, when fires are so far subdued lhat a portion of the people leave, the practice, to some extent, of stealing p.i i Is to carry horn".! I ean r. ill this custom by no smoother name ; because, each man who carries no more than six pails can recol lect how many he took with him; and if ho cannot tell each pail he carried, he can take just his number. I have lost several pails on such occasions. The one I lost last Saturday was painted a dark red, and had a gain'cutnt the top for the reception of the lid ; wire bail, and iron hoops. It was of no gieat value, but if ihe one thai has il will return it to me I will thank him. I have no doubt that the Messrs Conanis have had more than 100 puils stolen on such occasions. Others too have lost in lhat way, and this is the reason of my now speaking against the reprvhensi ble practice Inst named. Fire in Burlington. We learn that the Stage house in Burlington, known as Howard's," was consumed by fire on Friday night last. Origin of the fire, amount of loss not ascertained. For the Voice Mr Editor : The friends of the Holland railroad will rejoice to learn that tho day ol humbug regarding railroadj in Vermont has goi.e by ond ihe whole commu nity may now see, if they will, Ihe truth of the matter. Western Vermont having iho best line for a rond, the largest amount of bttsinesi lo sustain it, with the best disposition to build one.have lacked the couruge to go abend with their enterprise. Nothing is wanting now but for those interested to pursue their true interests in their strength, and a road will be built, bringing Brandon and tb rich valley of Otter Creek within 25 miles of Boston. Let one thing be understood by all. ft is not the merchant, or the rich monied men who are to be benefitted by railroad facilities. The farmer, the mechanic, the manufacturer, the ortizan, the real estate holder, these ore the clusses to be benefitted, nnd the merchant and business man ere only benefitted as other classes have increased means for trade. In a word, the mass-, and not the few, nfe to derive ihe benefit resulting from the construction of 6uch a work. False notions which have been whispered by n few, have destroyed the in fluence of many who better understand the subject, in their labors to direct public opinion in the right channel. If the industry of the community is taxed to build a road, it is equivalent to iha production of new capital, yielding an annual income to the owners, while doing good service to all classes of community. Making real estate more valaabla end more productive. The farmer then is the man of all others to enlist in this work with all his strength. Many have thus far folded their arms, feeling no interest, willing that others sbould do the work, but refusing their aid. It is more difficult for me with my limits to show the substantial benefits of a rood. than to show how such a work is lo be built. The In iter, with tho aggregate cost and many particulars of general interest, upon Mr Gilbert's survey, using nis figures can be placed. Estimated cost of grading 51? miles from sists of cutting through elevations above earth or rock thus removed, which falls including fencing, and the cost of road crossings $585,407,72. Averaging per mile for this pari ol the work 11, 312,22 Estimated cost of one mile of superstructure, Sub sills I67.75 Cedar Sleepers 300,00 Cast Iron Chairs 300,00 Spikes 225,00 L-ibor laying down superstructure 320,00 Framing and freight of Iron &3. 352,00 88 tons iron rails $80, 7,040,00 Contingencies 100,00 For one mila For51f Add for lands, engineering, and to cover what may be overlooked Total cost of 51 1 miles to Rutland Grading 65 miles from Rutland to Burlington averaging $6,S30,05 per mile. 65 miles of supers ruciure at 3,804,70 per mile is Add lor land, engineering &c. Total cost of 05 miles from Rutland to Burlington Total cost of 1 16 miles To which add cost of sidetracks for turn (both passenger and freight,) cost of depots, &c. &c; 350,000,00 Total, 92.567,318.1 1 2f miles of the north end of the road from Vergennes to Burling'on could be dis pensed with until the other part was completed, as for a time at least, Vergennes be ing al the head of navigation on Otter Creek near the lake, would answer all pur poses of trade. This 21 miles will cost $20,000,00 per mile including its proportion of furniture, deducting this expense nnd the work will cost to Vergennes $2,147,318, 1 1 or tho road will cost from Rutland to Vergennes not including furniture, 8681,263,06. This pari of the line if buin alone would, draining the vuiley of Otter Creek, do large business, and pay a fair dividend, nnd better than nil, would positively insure a road ei'her direct by Bellows Falls and Keene, or via of-Bennigton and Pittsfield Mass. to Boston. If the latter way, the increased distance lo Boston would be made fully up by the opportunity of reaching Albany ond New York City by raiiroad. Let no "man feel faint hearted hereafter about a railroad. L'-t every man do h is duiy, do what, or half what will be lor his interest lo do, and we need not go a beg. (nut any longer. Wh it we have subscribed,and what otheis not already subscribers; canHud "will do, will cause the Cars to run up at;d down our valley, giving life nr.d activity to all interests. For t!io Voice of Freedom. Out Railroad Meeting. Mr Editor : The annual meeting of the Stockholders in this road, which is to be holden at Rutland on t;ie 1 4th instant, will be one of deep interest, and will, wyh outdoubl be fully attended. To those ol your readers who are interested in this great enterprise, I will suggest a few con siderations, touching two questions which I take for granted will coma before the meeting for decisive action. First; Shall the Directors then lo be chosen, be in structed to put the road, or some portion of it under contract, as soon as ihe neces sary preliminary measures can betaken? And 2.1 ; Ifso, what portion ? Assuming that there will be a united opinion in fa vor of building this road by section, lhat is, of finishing, ns far. nnd as fast as the means will permit; it will then become important to fix on the right plan of com mencing the woik, both on account of se curing mcst readily the remaining sub scriptions necessary to complete the whole line, and also to insure the more immediate income from the outlay made. The pres ent subscriptions to ibis stock are sufficient to complete and put in operation about one half of the whole contemplated line, Many of the railroads in New England were put under contrac', or pait of them, when but a portion of the capital n quired for their completion was subscribed. The building of the Fi'chburg road wus com mencing when the amount of their sub scriptions w;is sufficient lo complete only fifteen miles of their line, which lection they finished nnd put in operation. Be fore which, however, subscriptions were added to their stock, so that the company were nble to prosecute the work with vig our (o its final completion. In proceeding upon the plan of finish ing, and putting in operation portions of the road, as far and no fist as ihe means will nllow, we shall bo sure lhat the work will be worth nt all times, nt least what il cost, and be in a condition to yield an im mediate income; so that if begun rio7i end foremost the rapid completion of the whole contemplated lino may be relied upon with all reasonable certainty. If we determine to go to work, where shall we begin? As a general rule the building of such rond should be commenc ed at the market town wi-h which it is of Freedom. I propose to lay before the public, based mutiny, upon wuicn the utmost reliauco Bellows Falls to Rutland, which con the line, and filling Iho ground, with tha below the line, making culverts, and bridges. 63,804,76 455,646 33 75 000,00 91.116,054,05 413,953,60 572.309.40 85.000 00 1,101,263,06 outs. Locomotive?, 2. 217,318,11 Cars, J. A. C. iniendid to connect, or at the terminus of another road leading thereto. We have agreed, with entire unanimity hitherto on adopting the line surveyed Irom Burlington to BelIovs Falls. And on the supposition that .ve adhere lo 'hat route, our work of building should, ac cording to the rule suggested, be com menced at the latter place. But I would say most emphatically, thit before a coo tract shall be made for breaking ground in lhat direction, the importan' previous ques tion should be definitely and permanently stilled. That of a connexion with tha Cheshire at Bellows Falls; and on such terms, for the transportation of our freight and pafsengers ever thai and the Fitch burg road, ns shall be deemed satisfactory by our Biard. Such an arrangement should be the sine q-ut non, of p'roceedirg to bui'd our road from lhat poin'. If such connexion, on satisfactory term, fhtill net be acceded to by tho3o companies in the outset, then let us begin at Burlington erd build on lo Rutland ; and my word for jr, the work will uot stop nt the hitter place, as we have assurances which are quits sjtisfacto-y, tb.it our freight nt.d p-"s-n-gers can reach Boston by another , cn which the reduced price of freight ar.d fares with other advantages will ir.ore th in compensate for the increase in dis tance, while the cost of building our own road to meet il, will be less expensive by the change of location, and its southern section much more productive in way bu siness. Besides, it will connect all Wes tern Vermont, by a continuous railway line, with the markets of Bos on, Provi dence, Hartford, New Haven, New York, Albany and Troy ; and also, many impor tant manufacturing and olhcr intermediate towns. StiP, let us adhere lo our original purpose of connecting with the Cheshire and Fitchburg roads, provided we can do so on terms of entire reciprocity. But if ihe Directors of those roads shall persist in fostering the Central company in their systematic efforts to defeat our enterprise ; then let our Board be instructed to take prompt measures wiih the view of form ing a connexion elsewhere as before indi- , rated, and leave those Directors to enjoy the proud recollection of their signal tri umph, in IIEADINO BOTH THU Co.NCORO Rutland Roads 1 1 ! A. .G D. January 6, 1916.