This following article by Elbert Robinson is in response to the previous article written by Solon D Poe.
Fifty Years Ago
Some time ago the undersigned wrote a few words entitled “Fifty Years Ago”. The purpose of the article as explained at the time was to cast no reflection on any of the good people who lived in those days, but rather to show that we are living in a better age - - to show that we are going forward.There are some who are so pessimistic that they seem to think that the country is going to the “Bow-Wows”. This is not true, but on the other hand, we may say: “Day by Day in every way we are growing better and better”.
My good friend, the Reverend Poe, says that the schools of fifty years ago were better than today. He should remember that he himself should hardly be considered a competent judge in such a matter. He says that in those days the teachers taught from sunup to sundown. That statement alone condemns the school of the past. What parent of today would be willing for his child to be forced to sit “humped up” on a split log bench for period of from 10 to 12 hours? What parent of today would be willing for his child to be taught by a teacher no better qualified than the teacher of fifty years ago? Today almost all of our teachers have at least a high school education. Many of them are college graduates. Was this true fifty years ago? The University of Arkansas was established only fifty years ago. The State Normal was established in 1907. We shall have at least 3000 students, most of them teachers, in these institutions this summer. Does this mean educational growth?
I did not go to school 50 years ago. I began about 35 years ago. I shall never forget my first day at school. Neither shall I ever forget my first lesson. It can be found on the first page of the “Old Blueback”. It runs as follows: ba, ca, da, fa, ga, be, ce, de, fe, ge, bi, di, fi, gi, etc. It must be remembered that I was only 6 when I was required to study this rather fascinating lesson for a period of 10 hours daily.
After I learned to spell, I could crack such words as these: (these words may be found on page 124 of the blueback), Anachronism, chalyberate, cachexyt, catechetical, ichthyology, bronchotmy, synecdoche, and chameleon. I learned to spell these words and many more but I never learned their meaning; neither have I found anyone else who did, I add that the course of study was narrow. It did not give proper room for growth. It was ill adapted to the child mind. It held strictly to the 3R’s, Reading, Riting, and Rithmetic. Today we have rich and varied courses adapted to the experience of the child.
Bro. Poe calls attention to the valuable cloth made in those days. He says no one could pitch a straw through it. But, may I ask who it was who wove the cloth? Was it the stalwart man of the time, or was it the frail little mother’s hand that used the shuttle? I am glad that my wife can go to town and buy all the clothes the family needs. I am glad that the mother’s of today do not sit all day long stooped over an old fashioned loom, while their dignified husband are at the saloon treating their friends to red liquor.
As for myself, I do not want a suit made of the material of 50 years ago. I can find more beauty and comfort too, in some of our present day tailored suits. I am glad that I do not take a few bushels of wheat and trot the ponies all day long to some old fashioned water mill in order to get a few biscuits. My recollection of those biscuits is that they were not always “lily white”. I tell you truly, I prefer mine from a sack of Albatross.
Well it may be that there are no telephones at Clearview, but they can be found everywhere else on Earth. Of course when I wrote a previous article on this subject I had the entire state and nation in mind, not just Clearview. I believe there are telephones at Lorine and Attica, not more than a couple of miles from Clearview.
With reference with setting up with the sick, I can prove by any capable practioner that more people have been killed than cured by the “noisy crowd” that sat up with the sick. People of today know better than to do a thing of that kind.
It is true that some of the old hillside farms have leached away. This is due to neglect. That the farmer has permitted this has no one to blame but himself. Try clover crops terracing instead of cotton.
Radios, telephones, automobiles, etc, are necessary conveniences. A man may be Christian gentleman and have them all.
In conclusion please let me say that my contention is that the world is growing better. It this is not true, then we must admit that we ourselves are failures. The noble men and women of the past did the best they could under the circumstances, generally. But that is not evidence that the world is growing worse. Let us be optimistic, in stead of pessimistic. Let us believe in the present generation as well as the past. Let us put away the hammer and get a horn. This is a glorious age in which we live. Arkansas is the Wonder State, and Randolph County is the Wonder County. But however much we may do let us hope that the generations of the future will outstrip us.
With love and best wishes to all who have entered into this discussion, I am, very truly yours, Elbert Robinson.
Published in Pocahontas Star Herald, 11 April 1924