104 
MOORE’S RURAL NEW-YORKER: AN AGRICULTURAL AND FAMILY NEWSPAPER. 
\ - 
(£ hi ultima I. 
THE FREE SCHOOL QUESTION. 
Hon. H. Greeley — Sir : In your review 
of Randall’s School Report, published in 
the Semi-Woekly Tribune, of Jan. 7, 1853, 
you have the magnanimity, to honor the op- 
posers of the Free School Laws, with the 
title of “wrong-headed donkeys, and thick 
hides, who aro destitute of common sense.” 
And why are we so kindly treated ? Be¬ 
cause wo aro not willing to sumbit to the 
arbitrary dictation of a few visionary theo¬ 
rists in the management of our parental 
duties, and in the control of the fruits of 
our industry. 
But, sir, however stupid or thick-hided we 
may bo, wo have the faculty to know, that 
the over-heated zeal of some men, doos 
more harm in a good cause than its open 
opposors ; their imagination being too pow¬ 
erful for their judgment, they over-leap 
tho bounds of prudonco and forget that the 
end does not always justify tho moans. You 
have repeatedly portrayed in vivid colors 
the wonderful power that the magic wiand of 
Free Schools would have in reforming the 
follies and vicos of community, if we asses 
would but allow the principle to go into 
operation. 
Why is it, that you persist in your dog¬ 
matical dictation to us, when you have the 
positive evidence that Free Schools do not 
produce those wonderful results. You have 
Free Schools in the city, and have you no 
educated roguos, no lettered vagrants, nor 
juvenile delinquents? Do all your little ones 
between 4 and 20 attend school ? I hope 
they do, for there is not the awful rate-bill 
to frighten them, and all who do enter, at¬ 
tend constantly, surely, for they have noth¬ 
ing to pay. 
The City School Superintendent, in his 
report of February, 1853, does not state tho 
number of children that do not enter school, 
nor tho number that attended loss than two 
months, but he states that there was regis¬ 
tered at the date of his roport 8,081, and 
that 3.184 attended less than four months. 
Strange, what kept so many so much out of 
school ! They were free, and there was 
only 1,511 that attended twelve months,— 
rather a poor exhibit of tho faithful attend¬ 
ance on Free Schools. And why is it that 
the Select Schools are so much more regu¬ 
larly attended than tho freo ones ? Simply 
because those who enter have to pay, at¬ 
tend or not. Freo Schools, and tho day¬ 
book, under tho rate-bill, encourage irrogu 
lar attendance,— no attendance, no pay, is 
the motto — and parents aro indifferent 
whether their children go or not. 
In all cases, political, social, or domestic, 
tho noarer that tho responsibility of the 
actor can bo placed to tho interested, the 
better, and in nothing more so, than in the 
management of schools and money matters. 
Had our office holders to foot tho bills, they 
would not bo so liberal in their appropria¬ 
tions, nor would they be so often tempted 
to bo dishonest. The Free School motto, I 
that the property of the State must edu¬ 
cate the children of tho Stato, i. o., that the 
fruits of industry belong not to the produ¬ 
cers, but, the powers that be, is a doctrine that 
has long boon preached by the oppressors 
of mankind, but little did I expect, that it 
would have been so soon ingrafted into the 
creed of independent freemen. Tho State 
has some property, its canals, and tho 
school funds, but the earnings of tho pro¬ 
ducers, belong not to tho Stato, nor their 
control to the office holders. 
It is generally admitted, that tho poor 
and the needy should be provided for at the 
public expense; and it is equally admitted, 
( even by the hard-hides,) that the children of 
the poor should bo educated,—but, there is 
not a sane man in tho world, who believes 
that to clothe and feed the whole of com¬ 
munity, at tho public expense, would in¬ 
crease their industry, curtail their extrava¬ 
gances, improve their morals, or increase 
their happiness, (although there aro many 
that would willingly adopt the plan,) and 
the grand scheme of educating all at tho 
public expense is equally as ridiculous. 
The Stato School Fund is amply sufficient 
to oducato all the children of tho poor in 
tho State, so that whatever additional sum 
is raised by taxation, is directly for the ben¬ 
efit of those who do not need assistance.— 
To make schools free to those who have the 
means to pay (even by voluntary subscrip¬ 
tion,) would retard tho progress of learning, 
by increasing tho indifference of parents to¬ 
wards their children’s attendance and pro¬ 
gress at school, and relax tho industry of 
the scholars; but to raise the money by di¬ 
rect taxation, to assist those who do not 
need it, is unjust and morally wrong, and 
will encourage men to prey on the rights of 
their fellows, and blunt their sense of moral 
honesty. It is taking the earnings of the 
industrious and prudent man. to encourage 
the idle and extravagant in his folly. 
A, by his industry, earns $500 per year, 
and by his economy saves a portion of it to 
provide for his future comfort, on which he 
is taxed. B, by his vocation earns the same 
amount, hut spends it, as fast as ho earns it, 
so pays no tax. A is at the expense of ed¬ 
ucating his own children, and has to bo taxed 
to pay B.’s school-bill, which wo will call 
$20. It matters not to A. who pays the 
tax, nor to B. who rocoives tho benefit of it, 
whether it is applied to pay B.’s school-bill, 
or any othor of his wants, it is $20 taken 
from tho prudent man’s earnings, and given 
to B. to encourage his extravagances. 
Tho doctrine that the property of the 
State must educate the children of the State, 
is too congenial to the spirit of agrarianism 
to need any encouragement. Tho idle and 
tho extravagant see clearly, that it is the 
duty of their prudent neighbors to educate 
their children; and the children imbibing the 
principles of their parents, see little differ¬ 
ence between having their school-bills paid 
by their fortunate neighbors, and their 
sharing with them the fruits of their or¬ 
chards, and tho contents of their granaries. 
That such aro the facts, the alarming in¬ 
crease of juvenile delinquents, is too power¬ 
ful evidence to bo resisted. 
One of the greatest moral evils in society, 
is tho indifference of so many parents to the 
physical, moral, and mental training of their 
children, ( and especially the training to hab¬ 
its of industry and economy.) Were wo all 
industrious and economical, there would not 
bo so many rogues, nor so much vice, and 
had thcro boon as much pains taken to stim¬ 
ulate and encourage parents to perform 
their important trust, that there has beon to 
establish free schools, and tho State super¬ 
vision of them, there would not have been 
so many juvenile delinquents. And it is 
really astonishing that the friends of free 
schools, do not see tho groat mischief that 
they are doing by removing from parents 
their responsible duties. Wm. Garbutt. 
Wheatland, N. Y... January, l. c 53. 
Eds. Rural :— An exact copy of the above 
was sent to Mr. Greeley, with a request 
that ho would publish it in tho semi-weekly 
Tribune, but if ho did not choose to do so. 
to be so good as to return it; and two post¬ 
age stamps were enclosed, so that it would 
not be any expenso to him to do so. As yet. 
ho has not done either. Please give it an 
insertion in your usoful journal, and much 
oblige, W. Garbutt. 
March, 1853. 
POWER OF THE VOICE OVER CHILDREN. 
It is usual to attempt tho management of 
children either by corporeal punishment, or 
by rewards addressed to tho senses, or by 
words alone. There is one other means oi 
government, tho power and importance oi 
which aro seldom regarded. I refer to the 
human voice. A blow may be inflicted on 
a child, accompanied by words so uttered as 
to counteract entirely its intended effect; 
or tho parent may uso language in the cor¬ 
rection of tho child, not objectionable in 
itself, yet spoken in a tone which more than 
defeats its influence. Let any one endeav¬ 
or to recall the imago of a fond mother, 
long since at rest in heaven. Her sweet 
smile and ever clear countenanceare brought 
vividly to recollection; and so also in her 
voice—and blessed is that parent who is en¬ 
dowed with a pleasing utterance. What is 
it which lulls tho infant to repose? It is no 
array of mean words. There is no charm 
to the untaught one in letters, syllables, and 
sentences. It is the sound which strikes i s 
little ear that sooths and composes it to 
sleep. A few notes, however unskillful!) 
arranged, if uttered in a soft tone, are found 
to possess a magic influence. Think we 
that this influence is confined to the cradle? 
No. it is diffused over every ago. and ceases 
not while the child remains under the parent¬ 
al roof. Is the boy growing rude in manner 
and boisterous in speech? I know of no 
instrument so sure to control these tenden¬ 
cies as the gentle tones of a mother. She 
who speaks to her son harshly, does but give 
to his conduct tho sanction of her own ex 
ample. She pours oil on tho already rag¬ 
ing flame. In tho preBSuro of duty, wo are 
liable to utter ourselves hastily to our 
children. Perhaps a threat is expressed in 
a loud and irritating tone; instead of allay¬ 
ing tho passions of the child, it serves direct¬ 
ly to increase them. Every fretful expres¬ 
sion awakens in him tho same spirit which 
produced it. So does a pleasant voice call 
up agreeable feelings. Whatever disposi¬ 
tion, therefore, wo would encourage in a 
child, tho same we should manifest in the 
tone in which wo address him.— Church of 
England Magazine. 
A Word Fitly Spoken.— Gen. Cass said 
lately in tho Senate of tho United States— 
•• Independent of its connection with human 
destiny hereafter, I believe the fate of the re¬ 
publican government is indissolubly bound 
up with the faith of tho Christian religion, 
and that a people who repeal its holy faith 
will find themselves tho slaves of their own 
evil passions and of arbitrary power.” 
A common civility to an impertinent fel¬ 
low often draws upon one many unforseen 
troubles ; and if one doos not take particu¬ 
lar caro, will be interpreted by him as an 
overture of friendship and intimacy. 
Op all poverty, that of the mind is the 
moBt deploruble. 
Jf.or % fjamtg 
THE DEVIL’S HOLE. 
Those who have visited Niagara will re¬ 
member a remarkable chasm, notched into 
the bank from its top to its bottom, about 
three miles below the Falls. Its walls are 
nearly perpendicular, and tho gloom which 
prevails thoroin has doubtless given it the 
name of the Devil’s Hole. There is a sad 
history connected with this scene. Ninety 
years ago, in 1763, a train of twenty-four 
loaded wagons, with their drivers and a 
guard of fifty soldiers, wero either killed or 
driven over this preeipico by the Indians— 
but one man escaping tho dreadful fato.— 
Tho cut above, shows the scone from tho 
opposite hank of tho river. 
■Written for Moore’s Rural New-Yorker. 
THE STARRY HEAVENS. 
There can bo none that love the study of 
Nature but must delight in contemplating 
tho Starry Heavens. We find beauty every 
where sproad on the earth — tho mountain, 
tho ravine, tho lake, the ocean, the flowers 
that bloom at our feet, tho shady grove, 
where wo love to list to tho music of birds, 
and the river dashing on, and giving us the 
noise of many waters, all delight us much. 
So when day is departed, and these beau¬ 
ties aro shut out from our view, wo behold 
tho bluo concavo spangled with countless 
stars,—moon, tho planets,—all innumerable 
worlds, each performing its revolution in tho 
samo undeviating manner, and hooping its 
path in obedience to the laws of its own at¬ 
traction and gravitation. In tracing con¬ 
stellations, and finding the place and posi¬ 
tion of stars, wo derive much pleasure. 
How would the mariner guide his way thro’ 
tho trackless deep, but for tho knowl¬ 
edge dorived jfrom the heavenly bodies : 
Although wo may attempt to consider their 
infinite number, their immense distance,and 
that tboy may be worlds, inhabited by mor¬ 
tal boings, wo aro lost in wonder. It is bo- 
yond our power of conception. 
Hero wo soo tho glory of tho Creator 
most emphatically displayed, and are led to 
look beyond to tho Author, “ who knoweth 
them all, and calloth them by name, and 
whoso ways aro past finding out.” Who can 
say there is no beauty in the Heavens ? 
e. h. w. 
SPOILED BOYS. 
What ! did you over see such a thing as 
a spoiled boy? Indeed wo have seen them, 
and been disgusted with them. A boy may 
be spoiled about as easily as a girl, by inju¬ 
dicious training; no, we’ll take that back— 
much easier. 
In the first placo. then, by loading him to 
depend upon his sisters. Who has not soon 
the spoiled boy in tho man who could not 
tie his dickey without calling: his wife from 
tho breakfast table to help him ; or put on 
his coat without she hold tho sleeves ; or get 
a drop of hot water when tho kettle was 
right before him? 
Another way to spoil a boy is to pick up 
after him. Now that’s a thing wo wouldn’t 
do (begging pardon of tho gentleman) for 
the President. Wo held that there is as 
much need of neat habits in a boy, as in tho 
gentler box ; and this idea of gathering tho 
coat from tho sofa, the vest from tho rock¬ 
ing-chair, tho boots from the hearth rug, 
tho collar from under tho table, and the 
nock-cloth from nobody knows where—is 
perfectly and superlatively ridiculous. 
Again, why is the boy allowed to uso 
coarse, indelicate expressions, that, from the 
lips of a girl would call forth well-merited 
rebuke? Should tho mind of tho man bo 
made of coarse material hocauso ho is ex- 
pocted to jostle his way through tho rude 
elements of human nature? That is not the 
law of the machinist who controls dumb 
matter. Though one engine may be pon¬ 
derous and massive, destined for tho rough¬ 
est work, and another delicate and cam pli¬ 
cated. there is tho same smoothness of ma¬ 
terial in both—the samo polish, tho samo 
nice finish. A boy will most surely bo spoil¬ 
ed, if led to think ho can commit offences 
against morals, which by his parents aro 
considered only masculine—not criminal. 
Another wrong thing is to bring a boy up 
for a profession, will ho, nill ho. Some pa¬ 
rents have a respectable horror for dirt, and 
cannot think of soiled hands and a trade 
with any degree of complacency. Thero- 
foro the world is burdened with burdens to 
themselves, in tho shape of lawyers, doctors 
etc., who aro too poor to live, and too poor, 
to die—in comfort. 
Finally, tho surest way to spoil a boy is 
not to instil into his very soul, from the 
time he is an infant, a true reverence for 
woman ; a regard for her virtue as sacred 
as tho love ho bears his mothor. Never let 
her name be trifled with in his presenco, or 
her actions interpreted loosely, else you 
may hereafter sharo the disgrace of having 
given to the world a curse more corrupting 
than that of all others—a heartless libertine. 
— Olive Branch. 
THE BARKING WOLF. 
This animal, which inhabits the western 
prairies, and which is therefore, often called 
tho prairie wolf, closely resembles tho do¬ 
mestic dog of the Indians in appearance, 
and is remarkably active and intelligent.— 
He barks so as to imitate tho common dog 
very distinctly ; the first two or three notes 
are not to be distinguished from those of a 
small terrier, except that ho adds to those 
notes a lengthened scream, giving a pecu¬ 
liar wildness to these sounds. His most 
wonderful quality is his extraordinary sa¬ 
gacity, of which tho naturalist—Say—gives, 
in the Journal of Long’s Expedition, the fol¬ 
lowing anecdote :—‘ Mr. Titian Peale con¬ 
structed and tried various kinds of traps to 
take them, one of which was a shallow box, 
supported at one end bv tho well-known 
kind of trap-stick called ‘ figure four,’ which 
elevated the front of the trap upward of 
three feet abovo its slab flooring; the trap 
was about six foot long, and nearly \ho same 
in breadth, and plentifully baited with offal. 
Notwithstanding this arrangement, a wolf 
actually burrowed under tho flooring, and 
pulled down tho bait through tho crevices 
in tho floor; tracks of different size were 
observed about tho trap. This procedure 
would seem to be the result of a faculty be¬ 
yond mere instinct. 
“ Tho trap proving usoloss, another was 
constructed in a different part of the coun¬ 
try, formed like a largo cage, through which 
tho animals might enter, but not return.— 
This was equally unsuccessful; tho wolves 
attempted in vain to get at tho bait, as they 
would not enter by the route prepared for 
them. A largo double ‘ stool trap,’ was next 
tried, this was profusely bailed, and tho 
whole, with the exception of tho bait, was 
carefully concealed beneath the fallen leaves. 
This was also unsuccessful. Tracks of tho 
anticipated victims were next day observed 
to be impressed in numbers on tho earth 
near the spot, but still the trap, with its se¬ 
ductive charge, remained untouched. The 
bait was then removed from the trap and 
suspended over it from the branch of a tree, 
several pieces of meat were also suspended 
in a similar manner from trees in tho vicini¬ 
ty. The following morning the bait over 
tho trap alone remained. Supposing that, 
their exquisite sense of smell warned them 
of tho position of tho trap, it was removed 
and again covered with leaves, and the baits 
being disposed of as before, the leaves to a 
considerable distance around wero burned, 
and the trap remained perfectly concealed 
by ashes; still the bait over the trap was 
avoided.” 
It was not till a long trap was used that 
an individual of this species was caught.— 
This long trap is made by raising ono log 
above another at one end by means of an 
upright stick, which rests upon a round hori¬ 
zontal trigger on the lower log. 
Wo remember an instance of shrewdness, 
somewhat approximating this, in tho case 
of the common rat. which, as Dr. Godman 
remarks, and as every one knows, “is the 
veriest scoundrel in tho brute creation,” 
although ho acts solely acccording to the 
impulses of nature, and is therefore not to 
ba<l as scoundrels of a higher order of beings, 
who know better, and have not this apology 
to offer. Being much annoyed by a throng 
of uncommonly mischievous and impudent 
rats, we resolved to outgeneral and entrap 
them. Knowing their superlative cunning, 
wo buried a powerful steel trap in a mass of 
bran, after this material lias been allowed 
to becomo very familiar to them for some 
days, during which time their tracks were 
found to mark every part of its surface.— 
But to deprive them of tho advantage even 
of acute scent, we took care to use a spoon 
in moving the bran, and in covering the trap. 
Portions of cheese wore then scattered ov< r 
the w hole surface. Tho next morning these 
had all disappeared, except over that part 
whore the trap lay concealed, and numer¬ 
ous tracks were seen on every other part of 
the bran. 
The Stormy Petrel. —A Lubec corres 
pondent of the Boston Journal furnishes a 
sketch of the Stormy Petrel, as found in 
the Bay of Fundy. Tho Petrel is found 
in great abundance in the Bay of Fundy, 
and in fair w eather they aro seldom seen in 
very close proximity to tho land ; but when 
the weather is thick and hazy, and also in 
the night, they come on shore. They dig 
holes in banks, like the king fisherand hank 
swallow, where they lay their eggs and rear 
their young. They aro never seen flying in 
tho vicinity of their nests like othor birds; 
hence our correspondent eomes to the con¬ 
clusion that they seek their nests under tho 
cover of night. When a mackerel fisher is 
engaged dressing fish, these birds will feed 
all night around the vessel, upon tho off'a’s 
thrown overboard. On one of the islands 
in tho bay is a brook of fresh water, where 
the fishermen resort for a supply, and the 
birds are heard in great numbers in the vi¬ 
cinity at mght. There are two varieties, 
which aro denominated by the “ down east” 
fishermen “ Father Cary’s ” ami “ Mother 
Cary 8 Chickens.” 
PRAYER, 
Prayer is the incense of the soul, 
The odor of the flower; 
And rises as the waters roll, 
To God's controlling power ! 
Within the soul there would not he 
This infinite desire 
To whisper thoughts in prayer to Thee, 
Hadst Thou not lit the fire. 
* 
Prayer is the spirit speaking truth 
To Thee, whose loye divine 
Steals gently down like dew to soothe, 
Or like the sunbeams shine. 
For, in the humblest soul that lives, 
As in the lowliest flower, 
The dew-drop hack His imago gives, 
The soul reflects His power 1 
At night, when all is hushed and still. 
And e’en soft echo sleeps, 
A still small voice doth o’er me thrill, 
And to each heart-throb leaps; 
It is the spirit-pulse which beats 
Forever deep and true ! 
The atom with its Author meets, 
As sunlight greets the dew : 
For the Rural New-Yorker. 
CHRISTIANITY AND CIVILISATION. 
History furnishes us with tho fact, that 
Christianity and civilization aro co-exten- 
sivo. No land can bo found enjoying tho 
benefits of tho ono, without tho othor. In 
those parts of tho world which have never 
felt tho invigorating rays of Gospel truth, 
tho blessings of freo institutions have never 
boon known. If wo confine tho results of 
civilization to this life, how strangely they 
contrast with the desolation of paganism.— 
llero smiling fields and golden harvests, re¬ 
ward tho farmer's toil. Tho rich fruits of 
summer, aro laid in store for tho demands 
of winter. Experience soon doterminos 
proper division of labor, so that, in tho thou¬ 
sand avocations of life, society moves like 
tho different parts of a vast complicated 
machinery, in perfect harmony and regu¬ 
larity. Industry and economy invariably 
secures competency. 
Socially and politically, civilization is in 
total contrast with heathenism. Tho family 
circle is a little empire, over which peace 
and joy may reign supreme. Our rights 
aro secured by mutual compact, and the 
man who invades them, does it at his peril. 
Not so, in lands uncivilized. No waving 
fields, gilded with tho summer’s sun. cheer 
tho hearts o x ' Hindoo’s sons, or satiato tho 
craving appetite of the poor Feejeos. If to¬ 
day tboy are fed to surfeiting, it is no secu¬ 
rity that to-morrow they may not starve.— 
Social and political rights and privileges aro 
unknown. 
If, as an enlightened peoplo, our lives aro 
loaded with blessings, to what aro wo in¬ 
debted for thorn ? It is'answered, Civiliza¬ 
tion. True; but what is tho source of civ¬ 
ilization ? If it is co extensive with Christi¬ 
anity, which is tho cause and which is tho 
effect ? Lot history and facts decido. 
These combine in declaring that Christi¬ 
anity precedes, and Civilization follows as 
ono of its legitimate fruits. It is the gradual 
spread of those principles, first taught 1800 
years ago. by tho founder of tho Christian 
Systoin, that has dashed to atoms tho 
thrones of tyranny, and poured in such 
richness and abundance, the blessings of 
civilization upon our world. Jefferson 
learned from tho Biblo, tho truth, “all men 
aro created lreo and equal.” The light of 
the Biblo has revealed tho dark designs of 
despotic power, and under its penetrating 
rays, the tyrant’s sceptre becomes tho bro¬ 
ken reed. 
Civilization then, is not a spontaneous 
production, but the result of the spread of 
truth. As an illustration of the position 
taken, look to tho Sandwich Islands.— 
Stretching farther back than any of their 
records, or even tradition, they had occu¬ 
pied a cluster of Islands in the Pacific 
Ocean. Human language is almost inade¬ 
quate, to portray tho degradation in which 
they were found in 1819, by Missionaries. 
Midnight superstition and gloom, had set¬ 
tled down upon their prospects, unalleviatcd 
by tho least ray of light or hope. But the 
darkness receded before tho light of Biblo 
truth, and in twenty-five years what was the 
result ? Now stately edifices adorn the 
well tilled lands. Ships are seen crowding 
the long wharfs—the rolling of the printing 
press is hoard sending out light and truth, 
and all is peace and plenty. Their civiliza¬ 
tion is the result of Christianity. Liberia 
is another illustration of tho samo truth.— 
An investigation will show, that our own 
land, instead of being an exception to the 
rule, is ono of tho clearest proofs of the 
correctness of the position hero taken.— 
Every farmer, then, as he reaps his fields, 
and enjoys the luxuries of Rural life, is a 
debtor to Christianity. 8. h. 
Royal ton, N. Y., March 14, 1853. 
It is better to sow a young heart with 
generous thoughts and deeds than a field 
with corn, sinco the heart’s harvest is per¬ 
petual. 
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