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IT j H 4 In the Heart of the Blue Grass. Only thirty-six hours in the heart of the Blue Glass—but they were rich, full and inspiring! Busy business in the office would only allow one day at the great Educational Conference at Lexing ton, Ky., but thanks to the Southern Railway’s “lightning” schedule, and comfortable Pullman service, I could go to sleep with the gathering shad ows of evening and wake up amid the mountains and the tunnels of the Queen and Crescent, just in time to look out from High Bridge and sweep the “Enamored vision” over that wonderful morn ing scene of river ami valley and mountain and sky. The morning Herald in Lexington was full of the opening speeches of Robert C. Ogden, Governor Beckham and Governor Folk. And the heart grew sick for the moment at having missed so much in the opening night. But here came that thing that banishes clouds—the gleam and glow of that rare, round face of Dr. Wallace Buttrick with its corner on sunshine. And before breakfast even came the cheery greeting and cordial “hand-shake” of that New York merchant prince, the organizer of the movement who loves people better than he loves dollars—Robert C. Ogden, with his ready wealth of sunlit philosophy. And behold! Just across the dining room I caught the “good morning” smile of that superb teacher of teachers, President E. C. Branson, of the Georgia State Normal, while nearby, that genial scholar, Prof. Rogers, the co-laborer of Georgia’s noble and efficient School Commissioner, Hon. W. B. Merritt, awakened fragrant memories of Sanders ville and Mt. Vernon; and gallant Joseph S. Stew art, of the University of Georgia, said “Hello Up shaw!” in away that “touched a spring that un locked the past,” when he stood by my cot one day out under the trees before my old Cobb county home and read my little speech of welcome to that as piring company of Cobb county young people whom I loved so well. Three Thousand Think on Education. But the Conference—it was an inspiration. In this brief sketch the program in detail cannot be touched. Educational leaders, North and South, met on one platform of common interest and fear lessly and helpfully discussed ways and means for the larger good. The men all spoke well, of course, but it was a positive fact that the most taking speeches of the morning during the reports of the commissioners of education in the different states were made by women. Mrs. B. B. Munford, Mrs. L. R. Dashiell, Mrs. W. R. Hollowell, and Mis. L. B. Patterson supplemented the reports from Virginia and North Carolina, giving accounts of the work done by the Woman’s Aid Societies for the betterment of Schools. Mrs. Matford, of Alabama, was unexpect edly called on, but her response was ready, fascinat ing and effective. Indeed, all of these women spoke with modesty, common sense and inspiring suggestiveness. They simply illustrated what ag gressive women can do in “making bright spots for the children to look at” in our public schools, especially in the rural districts. Space will not allow even a comment on the gen eral work of this Conference for Education in the South. Here and there conscientious men honestly believe that these Northern philanthropists have MEaWSja? JK J|ja The Golden Age for May 17, 1906. not pursued in every case the wisest possible course. They be human; and if they had made no mistake, they would be miracles and paragons of wisdom and perfection; but their general purpose is beautifully and unselfishly benevolent and the present and ultimate effect of their efforts will re sult in a wide-spread quickening of the educational pulse in our beloved Southland. Beautiful Georgetown College. That event to the writer which made “a sparkle in his existence,” was an unexpected visit to beau tiful Georgetown College. It was only twelve miles away from Lexington, and President J. J. Taylor— that courtly gentleman, that accomplished scholar, that brilliant orator and great preacher, who has stood for several years at the helm of Georgetown College, complimented a large company of visi tors to the Educational Conference with a trolley ride to Georgetown, a refreshing reception and ex quisite luncheon. We met the college boys and girls, nearly three hundred strong, and trustees of the college with other prominent friends. It was a flawless evening. It was a rare blending of social and intellectual inspiration. “Stay and speak to the students at chapel in the morning,” generously urged President Taylor. But my plans called for my return to Atlanta Thursday night. His arguments were convincing— but the sight of those bright boys and girls was even more so—and I capitulated. A telegram was sent and I slept and dreamed in President Taylor’s (Inn-'ng Kentucky hem lb empowered amid the undulating beauty of the prettiest college campus I have seen in many a day. And those students Friday morning! I love to meet students everywhere. They always touch the electric button of my energies and enthusiasm; bi't there at Georgetown I realized that I was walk ing in the footprints of the great Dr. Dudley, who was president for so many years; I was speaking from the same platform from which our genial and brilliant Dr. B. D. Gray had spoken so many times to his beloved students; and I was facing then and there many young lives who had been taught and loved by Professor VanLandingham, now filling the chair of English at Mercer University —away over there in the corner I caught the in spiration that beamed from the broad and generous face of G. AV. Argabrite, who left flowers blooming in Georgia wherever he preached and walked. The movement in Kentucky to found a strong Synodical College for young women under the joint control of the two Synods is taking definite form. We have already alluded in our columns to the splendid gift of Mr. J. A. Shuttleworth, of Louis ville, which makes this possible. The location pro posed is at Danville where Caldwell College has done good work for many years, and is now in a floiv ishing condition. The proposition is to make this the basis, and to give the two Synods equal inter est in and oversight of the joint institution. Th) raising of $30,000 was necessary to complete the plans. Weary not in well doing; this means, weary not in courtesy, in civility, in doing well graciously— not roughly, briskly. —Joseph Parker. The Bird Lanier. The admirers of Sidney Lanier are contemplating erecting a monument to his memory. Harry Still well Edwards suggests that the most fitting tribute would be to change the name of the “mocking bird” to that of “lanier.” A\ hen the thirsty day is ended and the twilight gathers in, Blurring out the sunset tinges in the West, And the quiet of the evening supercedes the noise and din Os the daylight hours departed and at rest; While a breath of balmy fragrance from the palmy Indies floats And goes whispering through the leaves no longer sere, A melody then floods the air as from a dozen throats— ’Tis the night song of the poet bird lanier! Come muffle now your noisy drum, you saucy cricket s P r y, And be quiet for a season, boisterous frog,— A our noise at last is noise alone, no matter how you try, And your porper place is hammock, swamp and bog! Be still, you stars, and listen to a carol sweeter far Than ever fabled strain of chanting sphere— A roundelay as sweet as bells across the harbor bar The night song of the feathered bard lanier! Sing on! sing on! forever on! prince laureate of our clime, From flow’ry shrub, from blooming vine and thorn, From stately oak and willow-tree, from maple, beech and pine, Our dense and tangled woodlands to adorn! The lazy day make merry with your saucy mimicry, With your laughter and our weeping and our jeer, But when the twilight gathers and the moon floats up the sky, Atune your song to tenderness, lanier! —Lawson A. Fields. An agreement has been reached by the district commissioners and the secretary of the Navy for the sale of the Industrial School property, above Georgetown, to the United States for the use of the Naval Observatory for $183,404. The execution of the agreement depends upon the passage of a bill introduced in the Senate by Senator Hale. Temperance Reform. It is a noble history—the story of the temperance reform. It will tone up your patriotism, for Ameri ca is the mother country of the movement. It will brace vour faith, for it has come to be definitely a Christian movement. It will draw you to the firing line, for it is the best story of chivalry dem ocracy has produced. If the liquor traffic had been as highly organized aml as sensitive as afterward it became, it might have forseen trouble from the very beginning of our national government, although at that time the drinking custom was all but universal and the traffic, in public estimation, a worthy and necessary part of any general store.—The New Voice, (Chicago.) 9