A new history of Texas for schools : also for general reading and for teachers preparing themselves for examination Page: 101 of 412
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ERA OF COLONIZATION. 85
our friend did not believe the statement; we afterwards found that
he left Georgia five years ago for stealing horses. But it gives me
much pleasure to be able to say that we have met more people of
culture and refinement than of rough and coarse natures; it pro-
vokes us to think that throughout so many of the States the com-
m-on belief is that Texas has been for the most part settled by des-
perados and villains.
Of our educational advantages I cannot boast. Mexico has re-
cently passed two laws: one that a school shall be established in
each division of each State; the other that children shall be taught
reading, writing, arithmetic, Roman Catholic religion, and a catechism
of all the arts and sciences These laws amount to nothing. We
really have no system of public education. Mr. Poinsett has writ-
ten an account of his visit to a school in Mexico. He says: "I have
just returned from visiting a school, and have been much amused
at the appearance of the pedagogue. In a large room furnished with
two or three cowhides spread on the floor, and half a dozen benches,
were ten or twelve urchins, all repeating their lessons as loudly as
they could bawl. The master was stalking about the room, with a
ferule in his hand, and dressed in a most grotesque manner. He
had an old manta wrapped about his waist, from under which there
appeared the ends of tattered leather breeches hanging over his
naked legs; sandals were bound around his ankles; a leather jerkin,
the sleeves worn off, and a dirty handkerchief twisted around his
head, above which his shaggy hair stood erect, completed his dress.
He seemed perfectly unconscious of his uncouth appearance, but re-
ceived me courteously, dismissed his scholars immediately, and en-
tered upon a conversation. He told me he was born in that house,
and had never wandered beyond that village. Several of the country
people came in while we were talking, and treated the pedagogue
with great respect." A few private schools exist. As the country
becomes more thickly settled, these will increase.
Last week we had the pleasure of entertaining for the night Mr.
T. J. Pilgrim, who about a year ago came out to Texas from New
York. After many adventures he reached San Felipe de Austin
and was most kindly received by the great empresario, Austin, He
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Pennybacker, Anna J. Hardwicke. A new history of Texas for schools : also for general reading and for teachers preparing themselves for examination, book, 1895; Palestine, Tex.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth2388/m1/101/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.