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THE YOUNG SOUTHERNER All communications and contributions intended for this department should be addressed to Mrs. Louise T. Hodges, 83 East Avenue, Atlanta, Ga. Much interest has been awakened by the prize essay contest which has been inaugurated by the Georgia Division of the U. D. C. among the schools of the State, and the co-operation of many of the county school commissioners has been enlisted. The object of the contest is amost laudable one— the arousing of interest among young people in the study of history, especially the history of the war between the States and the causes leading to it. The subject of the essays in this contest is: “The Main Events of 1861, their Importance and Influ ence.” It is, of course, desirable and important that our boys and girls should learn the truth of the his tory of this particular period; but the contest will do more than bring about a better knowledge of the events of 1861. It will stimulate a taste for the study of history in general, and thus the benefits will become far-reaching. In line with this contest is another set on foot by the U. S. D. 1812. The subject of this contest is “Andrew Jackson, His Life and Character.” Study of the lives of great and good men must impress the mind of youth and prove a moral stimulus by creating a spirit of emulation and es tablishing worthy ideals. The editor of the Young Southerner is in sympa thy with all plans and methods that tend to inter est young persons in any branch of wholesome study, and believes that the various contests now claiming attention will be the means of starting into development much latent talent. President Roosevelt is credited with giving hearty indorsement to the Public School Athletic League, and in accepting the honorary vice presi dency of the League, he is quoted as saying: “I feel that in promoting athletics among school children along the sane and healthy lines, it has followed, a service of the utmost importance is be ing rendered. I see that you allow no boy to com pete in your games who is not up to the average in studies and deportment, and that you seek to impress upo nthem the fact that part of the char acter of every honorable athlete is to despise all that is mean or base.” In his indorsement of athletics, the President is, no doubt, right. Whatever gives a boy (or a girl) a chance for exercise, especially in the open air, is so much to his advantage every way. Exer cise promotes health, and healthy body is conduc ive to soundness of mind and morals. When healthful physical exercise is combined with the gaining of useful knowledge, as will be the case if the plans for the corn and cotton grow ing contest as originated by the University of Geor gia are carried to fulfillment, the advantages are greatly increased. Apart from the pleasure of producing something of value, and from the stimulus of competition for the winning of the prizes, this corn and cotton con test has a distinct educational value. The study of scientific agriculture will do much to awaken the contestants to the dignity, pleasure and profit of tilling the soil and kindred occupa tions, and bring them into that close communion with nature from which flow some of the sweet est pleasures of life. Thoroughbred. One evening during summer, a trolley car, well filled with ladies and gentlemen was boarded by a party consisting of three young women, and as many young men. The young women, conspicuous by reason of evening dress, and their loud talk and manner, took seats at the front of the car. (Seats, Conducted by Louise Threete Hodges. by the way, vacated and tendered by gentlemen). After a glance around the car, one of the young ladies remarked: “There are just three thorough breds on the car.” One of her companions, evidently recollecting the escorts, quickly corrected, “No, there are six.” And, then these young women, one of them the daughter of a wealthy and prominent club woman, and the other two members of families also promi nent in society, went on in loud voices discussing themselves, their prospective evening’s entertain ment, etc. Thoroughbred I What a charm the word possesses, even when applied to horses. And when in refer ence to men and women what visions of consum mate grace, nobility, courage, culture and refine ment it conjures up. We naturally associate the word with perfection of manners. Thoroughbred! Three thoroughbreds! What dese cration of a noble word! What a pity that the mothers of these fair young women (their mothers would have blushed for them, no doubt) had not instilled into them better under standing of the significance of words and of the common amenities of life. In all that car full of persons that summer ev ening there were only three who gave evidence by their conduct of being not “thoroughbred,” and these three arrogantly and ignorantly appropriated to themselves the title. •» A Girl With Aspirations. Atlanta, Ga., Feb. 26, 1906. Dear Editor Young Southerner: I read your announcement in the first issue of the Golden Age, and notice that you invite correspon dence from boys and girls. I am a young girl, and I have aspirations. I want to learn things and do things. In other words, I de sire, -when I am older, to become famous, but I am not yet sure what I can best succeed at. I have some talent, I think, for drawing and painting, but I believe I would like most to write books. I would like to write some stories and articles for the Young Southerner, but wish first to see some from other girls and boys. My governess thinks I write very good stories for a girl of fifteen. If I should decide to be an artist, to make draw ing and painting my life work, do you think I ought to give up my other studies and devote my self entirely to learning that one thing? My gov erness thinks I ought to finish my education the first thing, and my grandmother, with w r hom I'live, says she doesn’t know what is best. I am going to sign a nom-de-plume, so will call myself Aspirant. With Correspondents. “Aspirant,” I have read your letter with a great deal of interest, and am glad to know that you have aspirations. I trust that you will realize your am bitions and be able to “do things.” It is not nearly so important, however, that you should become famous as that you should be useful —be the means, even if in a small degree, of help ing the world to grow better. It is not wrong, however, to desire fame, and if it cames to you through worthy deeds, no matter in what line of effort, it is a reward that you will have a right to be proud of. Your governess is entirely right. By all means, finish your education, no matter what you do af terwards. You will find a thorough education the best basis for any “life-work” that you may choose. Os course, if you decide to be a paintner, you can keep that in mind and do special work and study in that direction, but, by all means, if you The Golden Age for March 8, 1906. have opportunity, get a thorough all-round educa tion. I shall be glad to have your stories for the Young Southerner. Bill’s Idea of a Proper World. If I could make the world, I would Not make a salty sea. I’d fill it up with lemonade And let in children free. On every mountain, cape and stream, I’d print its name, so we Would never have to study them In a geography. Addition and division I Would not have made at all. I wouldn’t have a thing but games For children that are small. I guess if I made such a world, It would be fine to see, And all the children that there are Would say “Hurrah” for me. —Herald and Presbyter. The American Civil War. It revealed its terrible convulsions, an epitome of the spirit, morals and temper of the American peo ple, evolving and developing, as such a momentous -crisis must, their lofty, their debased and their hopelessly indifferent qualities. Patriotism, self sacrifice, devotion and unselfishness, were as con spicuous feaures of both sides, as unfortunately were also treachery, monstrous selfishness and every other form of moral obliquity. * * * * And they went, and they fought, and duty inspired the one and love the other, and their heroism was no less, and the angel of Death oft descending upon them lying side by side, beneath the sombre pines of Vir ginia, could award to neither the inviduous palm of victory, for both had bravely courted and suf fered death for what each deemed the right, and both had immortalized American manhood. A Diplomat. ■» Dallas Graded School. The Dallas Graded School is a progressive in stitution, and now has two hundred pupils in at tendance. Within the last two years our citizens have erected a nice concrete school building, and Superintendent H. H. Ezzard has doubled his corps of teachers. Mr. H. B. Ritchie is principal of the High School. Now we have two male teachers in our school—alumni of the State University. Among the lady teachers, we have two Normal ites, one alumnae of LaGrange College, and a grad-- uate of Wesleyan for music teacher. Our school is an accredited school of the univer sity of Georgia, and her state agent, Mr. J. S. Stewart, paid us a visit last week. He gave a most interesting talk on “Fitness for Success in Life.” Col. A. J Camp, president of the board, has of fered a permanent gold medal for the best speaker in the High School. Dr. and Mrs. E. H. Robertson have offered a scholarship medal to the High School. And Dr. S. Robertson, a most noted doctor of Paulding county, has agreed to give ten volumes of Poe’s works to the pupil of the sixth grade making the highest average. Dallas will again enter the Northwest Georgia Oratorical contest which will be held at Buchanan, Ga., April 13th. Find your purpose, and fling your life out to it, and the loftier your purpose is, the more sure you will be to make the world richer in every enrich ment of yourself.—Phillips Brooks. 11