Athens daily banner. (Athens, Ga.) 1889-1902, June 18, 1902, Image 1

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Newspaper Page Text(MBMIRii ESTABLISHED 1882. ATHENS, GA.. WED w» SDAY’ MORNING. JO E 18 1902. « n n rf 85 woiS YEAf*. thought and practice in the Strath. His faced Professor, the cynosure of all eyes speech was cbaracteilz d by dte/> mounted the platform, 4 deathlike si* thought and soond judgment and was lence (ervaded the room. Drawiig one of the beat w'tioh has bean delivered I from his pocket a roll of paper, he at this commencement. pounded the t^ble with bis fist and Mr. Pext-r Bloant, representing the I shouted "Ord r l order I” This oom- Liw School, spoke on the subject <tf Imand was entirely qnneoesaary, for the • Rome’s Legacy to tl e World," and he | pupils were already overawed by the showed host the influence of Rome ns manner and looks' of the aoBtere Pro neve r died. *’.**' ...... * fussor. Mr J. D Bvera'of tliv. North Q-ontia I ‘-I will now," said he, •• read yon my Agrioaltoral College, spoke on the litioal Isolation of the S. nth For the First Time in the University’s History the Charm of a Woman’s Voice is Heard in tlfe Old Chapel . > ^, 1 > , h *, ) ^°}| l i”,[ i0uaitll0M i l,> I ^Sono*"" oa *- > *” tit,e ®* The Alumni Oration by Hon. J, H. /Terrell— The Address of Hon Edward M Shepard Today—The Close of Commencement. MISS SMITH CAPTIVATES > LARGE AUDIENCE YESTERDAY ON THE UNIVERSITY STAGE. Yesterday's exercises at the Univer sity were interesting and large audi- enoes attended all the f unotions. The day was a maker of history in the old routine of University commence ments Miss Smith’s speech in the afternoon was unique and nnprece dented and created a epl ndid impres sion and the jonng lady las great reason to be proud of her achievement. alma mater with a feeling of lore and MI?S LOLLIE M. SMITH. The Alumni i-'ocletv nu t in Phi Kappa hall at ten o’clock, and was called to order by President P. W. Meldrim. The minutes of the last meeting, held here ut the centennial commencement, were read by the secretory, Prof. 1). O. Barrow, and adopted. The election of officers resulted in Hon, P. W. J^tddrim again being unan imously chosen as president for the suc ceeding three years, and in the eleotion of the thr* e following vice presidents, viz.: Mr Honry G. Gaetchns. of Oo lnmbns, Clark Howoll, of Atlanta, and Gwinn H ,|Uxon, of Argusta. Also lVof. D C Barraw was elected secretary, and Prof. Ohas. M Strahan treasurer. The committee appointed to nominate an orator for the next alumni oration, chose the Hon. William M. Howard, with Messrs. W A. B ounfc, of Pensa cola, Fla , and Washington Dessau, of Macon, as alternates. Treasurer Strahan rendered the report of the endowment committee of the alumni fund, showing that up to June 6, $48,786 70 had been subscribed and $14,954, or nearly one-third, had been paid in. The subscriptions are payable in five - years bnt quite a number of those who had subscribed paid during the past year the total amount of tbeir sub scriptions The fond has now to its credit in the banks about $15 000 which will probably be invested in Georgia state bonds. A most oreditable showing and should stimulate the alumni to do better work in the ooming year. The association then adjourned to the ohapel where the alumni oration was delivered by Hon. Joseph Hansell Mer rill. of Thomasville who spoke on “Onr Duty to Georgia of 1902 ” Mr. Merrill’a Speech. Mr. Merrill spoke in part as folllws: Fellow alumni, the invitation from onr ever faitiilul president, him who has been fittingly oalled the "model alum- nns," brought me such honor—that of addressing yon here today—that Ial lowed my resolution not to return to be broken down, and for the pleasure of experiencing this honor, dared to risk effaoing tnat "happy dream,” wonder ing if I might indeed find true the * words of my friend who remonstrating wieh me for saying I would not return said: "Yon come again and come often, and I will guarantee yon each visit shall be pleasanter than the last.” I believe the greatest power in this state for making" broad-minded men men of daring and of power, men of unselfish devotion to duty, in this uni ▼ersity. As I watch the young men who go out from this and other institu tions of learning. I am more and more impressed with the idea, more and more deeply oonvinoed that there is some su perior influence, some sonroe of in spiration, some power here, far a lifting of the bouI that dote not exist elsewhere. Whenlsaw these grounds and bnild ings lit year for the first time in 21 years they bad grown more beautiful. The precincts seemed sacred, as some anoioot shrine and oriole. I viewed my reverence akin to that whioh I have tot my own dear mother, Wo celebrated then the close of its first century of usefulness. We celebrated today its bet ginning of a new century. VVedid well then to begin its endowment. Let that he bnt a beginning. Let it be bat the first Etep the pledge that we really in- tmd to tarn over a new haf in doing onr daty to this dear institution in this the new centary of its life. Let it be bat an eugury of the bendficence to fol low:-It is worthy of oar best efforts, wort ay of cur frequent thoughts, worthy of a large shore of onr means, Let is conceive of and do great things for ibis institution-for if we do not who will? If we set the example and the pace we may hope for others to fol low, bnt we Barely mast lead the way and hold its banner aloft Tn a most lasting investment a man can raake for his children iB their edu cation : The most certainly safe invest raenl a man can make for his children is their education. The most beneficial investment a man can make for his children is their education. Houses and lauds may be desolated in a day. Stoc is and bonds may vanish with a mag aate’B manipulations. Riches may corrupt and degrade. Bnt an intellq. e it soul, a cultivated mind Is of itself a uever failing, an led sir notable, an ev t rlasting sonroe of power and bappi □ess. We would not only ednoate onr chil dren, bnt. give them a oonntry in whioh to ive, BnrronndingH conductive to the growth for which we have prepared them: throw wide every avenue that leadn to noble livea of exhalted useful ness Do anch conditions exist? Bent as we have been to onr needed tasks, with an enforerd resignation to onr lot, and a resulting spirit- of meekness we say, yes. But see if it be true. Ah I in the depths of our souls we know it is not i rut ! For since the day that th‘ fortunes of war—••the’’ war—as onr friend Mr Joe Lamar aptly says—gave freedom to our slaves, we have been in bondage; have had a yoke about our nrclts, a oaulion amounting to fear in onr hearts. Shall we let these conditions con ;inue ? Shall we allow them handed down to our children ? There was good excuse for our fathers’ leaving them to ns, but there will be none for onr leav ing them to our children. The thralldom of whioh I speak is in politics; the oanse, the thing, is the im measurable inonbna of the eleotive frau chise, the highest privilege of- citizen ship, being vested in a race, constituting half onr population, fast lasping back of onr pine forests. In recent years our hearts to the spirit of the age, the South Georgia has been invaded by great spirit that ptevades all tilings, ami numbers of men from "another state, who serin to fori that they foreigners, who manifest no regard for the fntnre of the conn toy, who “lease land for tur pentine purposes," and then proceed to soon* every tree on it that is six inohes in diameter, that at the end of the lease most of the trees are dead, «cd the rest easy victims of fire and wind. Whether the essor who allows, or the lessee who -does the work is more reprehensible it is hard to tell, bnt the two together bring about a scene of devastation, an utter waste of a goodly heritage, that makes the heart sick to see. Hundreds of thousands of acres are denuded of tim ber and left.bare to the impoverishing rays of a burning snn, that will not in the natural coarse of events be culti vated for many years to come. Did the turpentine people oonfine their work to trees large enough for eaw mills ther would be enough timber left to protect the land, and in a score of years it would again be almost as large as now. All honor to that bright and pnblio- spirited man who has recently gobe from this institution to devote himself to devising a method of extracting thr pentine withont destroying the tr* es. ] a-as delighted to hear recently that he feels assured of success, bnt even then, it will r< quire the strong power of cate law to make these reckless de stroyers adopt his methods, and it mast ie done quickly or there will be nothing left to save. With Georgia’s great variety of soil and climate, giving ns thn wide range all things pervading moves ever on wird, upward to the summit of success. L t us in this spirit resolve that.ere the dew of the morning of this oentnry has ceun d to sparkle in its Bnnligtit, we shall have placed this grand institution on a foot ing equal in financial strength to its sis ters in the more wealthy states and have sent to everlasting chains the spirit of waste whioh is destroy ing onr children’s heritage, antlhave stricken form 00V 3 selves the shackles of political slavery, that we may stand and aot and speak as men who are free ind< ed. At the oonclasion of Mr. Merrill's speech, tint alnmut adjourned to the Denmark hall where a luncheon was served The hail was a scene of inspiration a* the members of the Georgia alumni from the classes of 1860 to the present dayieated themselves to the feast of good cheet which had been prepared by the Indies of Athens together with the managers of tin Denmark ball. After the repast, Hon. P. W Mel drin/; the toastmaster called npon sev eral distinguished representatives ot different departments of the state and • f the University to respond to touts. L Gov. Alien D Candler was first called aphirafid responded to the tout, the '‘stated’he spoke of his relations with the University as Governor of the state of QeOrgia, how prond he was of having an opportunity as ohief executive of do ing something for the University. H> said that the state of Georgia teas con Besvgtiye in all things bat that it had Mr D. D. Towers, who spoke j>n I "Firstly, Every tcholar In this school Textile Education at the School of mast have fei-pi-ut for the 1 earnin' and I'foohnologv. gave a practical and int^r-1 discipline ofShe professor whioh is now .asjgng damonatiaiion of the methods jnf I in charge of ( the el oationary inteitsrs weaving; I of Greenwood Acadamy. m>N. xt came the address of Miss L.dlie MySmRhVof the State Normal Sohoel, I whflfread an essay on the subject, ‘ The | Old School and the New." Bwiwn Miss Smith appeared on the I "Second, No tales shall be told ont of this school. >A talebearer onmes to no good end, uud most generally gets a borin’. “Third, There moat be ho Idlers, in rr ! I ’ 4UI stage to speak ,a tremendous oheer want I this establishment; and t ooh and every up from the audience. Miss Smith I individual scholar are not’ allowed to made a striking piotnre on the stage. I gaze about during "books." . and was muoh admired; she is of! a I "Fourthly, Every sohblar, individual handsome brunette-type and of epU-utjih I aiid collected,'most address me by my poise of manner and was grnoefnl apd I proper; title of Prof• teor.—Profease*. ’’ easy on the platform. She readher *6 11’his la t regulation was emphaoised by say in a charming manner and was dls-1 a pause on each Word; a<^nrimp*niyq by a tinotly heard in every part of the laws ( flourish of the hickory steitoh that he chapel. I still held in his hand. Below is given her essay in frill. j j Thoroughly intiintdated, the children Tbs oidand the N«w School. I hastily opened their, books'4nd began Thatrml ■ . . . , I buzzin K to the great satisfaction The lro.1. e« of Or. euwood Soon Che A. B O »«1 m« tt eleot . -M» • a**.,***; and ,l» ... pocn,acand»n.an,n.nentad„w rWd**-i«okw™i. oommitte.n.en mdlctod JM »I. Jp- „ 4Ion ,„ a ,' S y n.dni r «!»*<• pltoadt fortbt.ponition «. a readn goltus evaa Ibea Vailed: and the meeting. His identity was mums- 1 takable, for his man ner and appharanct olearly betrayed the country- pedagogte. He seemed ill at ease nnder the ecratihy of the commit t e ; and he endeavored! to n-lieve his embarassment by fiercely ohewing his tobacco,—that unfailing -ouroe i f comfort Which often serves tc keep great minds on things tem siinl. His receding biow was crowutd by mop of unkempt hair; his wau-ry blur nyes shifted n> rvonsly as if unable to frjm wheat, throngh corn- and oottou, r deeqnaJsd to thepace of slownees when peaohAs and melons to sngar osne and rice; from ooal and gold, granite and marble to tnrpentine and lumber; from mountains with their oool refreshing air through the hills, covered with rich pasturage, tbe valleys with their rivets mighty to move myriads of machines,, and the wiregrasa plains with their stately pines, that with their 60ft sigh ing sing sweet lnllaliys to those who seek their restoring balm, on to the sea, the highway round the world, for what need we to look beyond her borders? Why should any ambitions son of biers go elsewhere to seek either happiness or fortune? If they go the blame will lie at onr doors. We most protect onr re sources from waste and bring about the best conditions for their development. And what is the prize that we would win? Shalt we he content to be mere connecting links between the- genera tion behind and the one ah wdf The one behind has made a oonntry rise Phoenix-like from its ashes to a wealth into savagery from an original state of | and prosperity greater than its former whioh, an institution, beneficient for them, though paradoxical to all onr ideap in other things, was fast elevating them. This inoubnB lies as heavy about ns as ever did Paul's "body of death” abont him. Would that every white man in Georgia could feel Paul’s desire to be rid of it. And I am no pessimist. I am an opti mist. I believe with Macaulay that the "Golden era of the past is like a mirage of the desert, whioh if chased recedes to the regions of fabnlons antiquity.” I believe the brightest and beet era of the state is in the fatnro, and it is because 1 beliove this that I long for political free dom. for ns all; especially for these boys going from these halls year by year, that they may dare to discuss on the hustings and in the forum the national issu es they discuss in their debates, and not stand dumb and helpless because some political party has issed its edict Let ns make them free! The best investment we can make for the safety of onr children is to give of our means and onr time to the moral np lifting of the negroes abont ns. They need for generations yet to be torght good morals before having more than the merest rudiments of any other cdu cation. We most not forget that they are bnt recently descended from the lowest savages. Wh*n yon fiud yoar memory on this poiut fui!i .g yon, come to South Georgia, and visit a turpentine camp, where the laborers are without home influences, living almost con stantly and alone in the woods, every one having abont him a Winchester rifle nr a pistol and appallingly ready to nse them on each other or any one else who angers them. Another great evil from whioh onr b tato is suffering, is the wanton wasting state. With the mnltitade of difficul ties these men had to overcome, they of necessity have left some evils, methods to be improved, some tares to be taken from the wheat. They left ns the spirit of waste, exonsable beoanse of the abundance of onr natural resources, They left ns the inoumbus of the igno rance, idleness, irresponsibleness of half the population. With intelligence, in dustry and integrity did the generation ahead push this monster aside and hob ble it. It behooves us now to extract its fangs and teach it ways of nsefnlnesB. Let us not despair of sucoess. We live in a time when achievements heretofore considered impossible are being found to be the easiest of all. Electricity be sides its material benefits, has opened onr eyes'to a comprehension of the Diety. that we never expected to attain' till time should be no more. Having learned how he might know all-things when they happened, by onr having learned to know them a few minutes af ter they bad happened all around the world, wo now nndentand, from onr wireless telegraphy, how we oan com municate with !Hlm in thought and in prayers—if only oar spirita.are in tone with His. Ah I that is it, in tone, in harmony, with His plans. If we have bnt that, all things are possible. We may go on conquering and to oonqner, for his purpose must prevail in all things spiritual and material. In tnat harmony we may bnild always and need never to destroy. It is the morning snn that lightens, briRhtSns, opens and inspires. In, this first commencement of the new oentnry for this dear old University let ns, her 1 children, while An:ora back the curtain of its morning, set onr faces to Us rising snn, and eatchihg its inspiration, attnne it ootne to doing something for the Uui varsity. Hon. S. B. Adams, of Savannah, next responded to the toast, (the "TruB e s,” be said the University represented the state and that every Georgian who had any love and respect for his native sta’e must be a loyal supporter of the Univer sity. Hon. Olarke Howell responded to the toast, the "Electoratehe said that foi the last fifteen years tbe legislature hart appropriated more money for the Uni vvr«dty than it had done in'all the years proceeding ; that this was a splendid sign of better times and it was becoming a known and-necessary foot that the legislature most keep np the institn tion. Judge Speer then responded to the toast, "The Judiciary" and tbe witty and brilliant response was the hit of thi occasion. The Jndge imitated the ex ample of Benjamin Franklin who wonld remedy the evils of the time not by in dolging in tirades against existing evil* but asking pertinent questions. He asked do yon think that enough student* and under-graduates are present atth commencement uxercises? He said that it was B-ctafeof a display of English on attended during the day because of too muoh preparation of "German" ith< night before. His speech was splendid and well rounded after dinner toast and was extremely happy. Hon. J. S. Steward, an alumnus oi Emory College and president of tbt Dahlonega school responded to the toast, the "Kindred Colleges of Georgia;’’ Prof. K. T. Alford a member of the board of visitors responded to the sent: ment, the "Poblio Schools of Georgia," and Mr.- Frank H.- Barrett responded most eloquently and enthusiastically far the younger alumni to the toaBt • 1902.” Chancellor Hill, representing the sen; timent, "The University” was the last speaker; he spoke in an optimlstio view and ret at naught the cry of the deca denoe of the present and the only glory of the past. I - - r Afternoon Bierdeee. The exercises at the Ohapel*in the afternoon consisted of orations by repre sentatives of the undergraduate depart ment of the University Organization. Thefintapeakeronthe program was Mr. J. W, William* representing FranklinlCollege His subject was the ••Mission of the 8oholar," and he con tented that the spirit of the scholar was 'l e only index to the advanced olviliza- lion. &■'*■ > Mr. .T. P. MoCartnay, representing the State College of Agrionltnre, spoke < n the subject, the “Problem of Today." He pictured the golden mean of ednoa- tion, and depioced thelaok of soientifi. each child, in his turn, was commanded to'mohut the teacher's platform and drawl every word In a high.i nched mon otone When the profdHsor detected an error, whack I went th« switch aoros the head of the« ff» ml. r us a gentle re- uindt r that h« u.n t take more pains. The tedious hoars at the morning «ere followed by a uoqu intermission, vhich tbe Professor improved by taking * long nap. Ou resuming his work in the afternoon, the Professor again re- fasten thonve'-ves on any one object. i , ... i i. • - .,, » . ,1 “L. , mind, d bis pupils of their rare good After refomng to the purpose for | which they had aasembled, the ohair- man of the committee mrned to the stranger and ii qnired abruptly, "An* whnt mought your name b« ?" The applicant straightened with a j -rk. "I am Professor Blunder, he replied with proud emphasis on tbe title. " Whi-rbouts did yor teaoh aohool lust year?" asked another. "My services as a professor was proivi teutially bestowed upon the oittzeus ot Goose Pond Dcestiict," graudih quent reply. ‘Were there any thing special hap pened to make yon give np the school it Goose Pond D.-estriut?’’ was the nex inquiry. "Nothing, gentlemen, bnt the wish fal desire of an educated professor ti reside over a school where bis endow meats is nppreshuated;" and the Pro tsrrnot.cod with great satisfaction the effi ct of this reply npon the oqm- mittee. : "What church are yon a member of?" asked a mild looking old gentleman. ' "Gentlemen of the oommittee," sain the Professor, "1 am partial to > none.: where the Methodists doctrine is pro dominon*, I most alwajB confers .with the Methodists; and, vioy versy, when the Baptist faith is prevaloos in a settle ment, 1 generally always moderate v^itl the Baptist.” This remark was modi with a dramatic sweep of the hands - a* is to indicate the breadth of his religions views. - *-••• "Whnt kin yer learn the ohildren?" was the next question. : "Well,” replied the Professor, after a few moments of vigorous fexercLe on his tobacco, "loan learn them readin,’ ritin,’ and rethmertio, jngraphy by th< round method; the square method, or a mixture of both, jnst as my patrons pre fers. I make a specialty of Lat’ti and most everything else, bnt my mnine* speciality is Euglisht grammar. I via never learnt grammar myself, bat I rt • qnired it by careful practice, and in little or no time I oan learn a scholar ti decline the nouns and modify the part* of speeoh." The oommittee was thoroughly satin fled with the Professor’s qualifications, and he was elected without a dissenting vote. ' I At tnurise the following day; th< newly elected Professor-stood in the doorway of the nnimpoeing log structun known as Greenwood Aoadamy, holding in his hand the sceptre of his power—a long hickory switch. His facial autivi ty showed the Vast energy rn.urel t» the skillful managment of a large ohew of tobacco. After a lordly survey of the kingdom he was abont to-rale, h rapped rigorously on the sade of tbe house, and yelled "Books I books I" Tin children scampered into the sohoolroom, and scrambled for seats on the rode benches placed aronnd the walls. Tbe legs of the abodrarians danglid in thi air, while the largest boys were tucket away nnder the bench. Then the sten fortune in bhving such ah able instruo- ror tn charge of Green w ood Academy. Rl- h d just conclude 1 thes - ran arks, when a glance at Billy Jobes' slate re vealed to him the hoy's attempt to ra- , ■rudnoea piaiimi troim fits "tolne-Snok poller ” This grave offeiutt was deemed \ just oansn for a vigorous application it the r< d "I'll learn ynn how to waste vour time drawiug pioinrest” roared the Professor, as blow after blow fell ipon the batk if the tritabling yonng trtist. An oppressive quiet followed chls incident, and the Professor notioed with pleasure the evident recognition of lis authority. Finally the silenoe was broken by a ittsid inqn.ry from one of the large rirls. "Professor, can I ask a quest ion, please?" "Ooncorning whnt question] do yon wish to ask abont?" "Professor, whnt does B 0. nuan?" "In whnt connection is it used?" isk* d the learned instructor. "Phase sir, my book says Julius Oea- inr was bom 100 B. C. ; what does B. O. nean ?" "Why, er-it er-why, er— B. O. is low used where there is some toabt abont the date, and it stands for • Bont Correct I" and the luok he tave ner expressed his scorn and iufiuite pity for her ignorance. • It’s a good idee, 4 * said he, "for y< a 'Ohobtrs to recolleot these things as they xpire before ns from day to day, and tnd get improvements from one who Is iiostod on most every subject.” Another proof of bis encyclopedic know! dge, the boastful Professor tbi n mrned to a small blackboard, npon which he set obpieir for the advanced mpils. While- these were wrestling faoob-like with the crude pothooks that ware to be transferred ' to their copy- •ooks. the Professor filled up his cob pipe; took a seat near the bage fireplace aud enj yed a quiet smoke. The horizontal ways of ilte descend ing snn, as it shone throngh the spacious cracks of the school bouse, showed that tne long afternoon teas nearing its close. "Now, before we diahnne,'’ said Pro fessor Blander, “we will have some vo- lalsinging. I want- every scholar to join with me in singinR that sonl-ex- piling song, ‘Hark from- the tomb a Iblefnl sonnd * Every evening at this ime, we will vocalize some select song; fori agree with the extinguished states- nan who said: ‘Mosid hath charms to novetbe average beast'"’ Thus day ifter day Professor Blonder ‘kept school’ uid impressed his pupils, mainly with « sense of his own greatness. Bat wonderful changes have taken lace in Greenwood. Onoe npon a time (here were no streets, bnt only| roads d raggling through tbe village, no su e valks, only goose trails throngh ike log-fennel. For fifty years U was a r.own to move away from; now it is a .own to move into. Lots are selling tod tbe population is increasing. The (Contained on page 2.)

Georgia Historic Newspapers

Athens daily banner. (Athens, Ga.) 1889-1902, June 18, 1902, Image 1