* * * * * EDUCABILITY OF THE BLACKS. BY A VIRGINIA COUNTY SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT. The great mistake most people make, in regard to the education of the negro, is that too much is expected in a short time. Education in its broad sense is by no means confined to the study of text-books, however well these may be learned. It takes a generation to correct evil tendencies and predilections, and the fruits of a systematic course of instruction do not appear at once. It takes time to do this; and not only is this true of the negro race, but of all other races as well. The entire history of our foreign missionary efforts goes to prove this. It would be folly to argue that no effort should be made to enlighten and Christianize the heathen, because the fruits were not apparent in a few years. This is just the case with the negroes among us. Although they have been in contact (in a certain sense) with the white race for a considerable period, yet no systematic or general effort has been made for instructing their minds or educating them in morals. Having for the past six or eight years had abundant opportunity to compare the relative advantages of our system of public education on the white and colored races, I am free to say that, considering the advantages of the former over the latter, I am as much encouraged to go on with the effort to instruct the blacks as the whites. It is true that where intellect is concerned, the white greatly excels, but it is not so with regard to memory. The colored pupil memorizes as rapidly as the white, but lacks the faculty of applying the things learned to everyday life; and I am of opinion that this will remain so for a considerable time—till habits of thought and individuality of ideas are educated. A great deal depends upon home influences; and here the colored pupil is decidedly at a disadvantage, and must remain so till home influence is changed to a great extent. These are general rules, to which there are noticeable and valuable exceptions. Take, for instance, the graduates of Hampton Normal School, and they make not only better men and women in a general sense, but better for every special calling in after-life. This, however, is due in a great degree to the constant drill, the daily systematic exercises, the thoroughly qualified instructors, and to their separation for the time from associations with the vulgar.