Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-07-16

.dt The PreSbytertdt High School, BrOtcsbnrg,
June 27, 1851.
1t is rare in human enterprise that men
meet under circumstances of more unmin.
gled congratulaton than those which sur
round us to-day. Three gears ago, the Pres
bytery of Lexington was anxiously and pain
fully employed in seeking to answer the
public demand for good classical school
of education for our sons. After the ordi-
nary and extraordinary deliberations and
efforts, plan was devised and commenced
in prayer, hope and doubtfulness.
To-day we close the third annual ses-
sion of the Pres5yterial High School. Our
fears are all dissipated, our highest hopes
have been realised, our most ardent prayer
answered. We render praise to the source
Of all blessing.
We may congratulate the Presbytery on
the complete success which has crowned
their enterprise. We congratulate thepub-
lie spirited and liberal citizens of Browns
burg on the establishment and full patron
age of classical school of the highest order
in their village. We congratulate the Prin-
cipal and his assistant on the credit they
have personally gained and the good SER
vice they have been permitted to render
here in the cause of education. We con-
graduate the youth here assembled on the
advantages afforded them for learning, and
their success as evinced by the records of
the school, in the examination Just closed.
We congratulate the country that our youth
have here furnished to them course Of ed
ucatlon SO thorough, sound, cheap; and safe
to their health, manners and morals.
We anticipate for this school Of learning
a long course of success, usefulness and
honor. Generations to come of ardent and
aspiring young men, standing on proud
eminence built on the foundations we have
here so painfully laid, will read with deep
interest the records of ''this day of small
things" A race of giants have gone forth
from these vallies and mountain-ranges,
who, in the battlefield the pulpit, and the
forum, have made Rockbridge in Virginia
familiar to the country and to the world
The fathers in ''old Augusta" on whom
Washington relied to sustain the last stand
ard in the cause of liberty, did not die child
less. Worthy sons of worthy sires hold the
homesteads, s. their children like the scions
of fforest-trees that have passed away spring
thickly on the rich soil, which responds to
diligent husbandry. These sons have sue
ceeded to the fields their fathers occupied.
They rise to the early morning their fathers
greeted on the crested Blue Ridge, and feel
the same inspirations of genius from the
sublime scenery of natures noblest work
around them. With more than their fa-
theirs means Of education, we have right
to look for an improvement in the race and
from section of country, singular for the
number of great men who have made their
mark and produced an impression on the
age passed and passing away, the world has
right to expect of you, young gentlemen,
something worthy Of record beyond the ac-
ademic catalogue or the college diploma
something more than the "fortem sloan-
tlum fortemque Cyan" of the Trojan he
roes, distinguished only as the brave COM
panions of distinguished leader.
We build and dedicate the temples of
science on the timber lands cleared by their
! industry, where the native roots of the trees
they felled still obstruct the plough and turn
aside the reaper. Is it too much If we ex-
pect of you, in the classic language of a
Webster or the polished style of Mellow
ell, or the poetic strains of Virgil or Ho-
mer, to make these beautiful scenes of ma.
ture's most sublime workmanship, as cele-
brated, and the present and past actors
on them as well known in coming time,
as the vale of Tempe by Elian or the
men of the first Republic that gave you
Homero or those of the second Republic that
gave you Virgil'
Are these visions' Then they are vis-
ions that may be realized. Nothing can be
created that is not first onceived-nothing
realized that is not first attempted. The
creations of Homer's genius were first the
conceptions of single mind. All that has
been, as the result of human action or hu-
man prowess, was first attempted, when as
yet there were none of them. Do you
think'-think boldly. Do you aspire to
great things ?-attempt great things. De-
spise the croakers-leave the laggards in
their lairs.
But it may be charged that we are in ad-
vance OF our subject. am speaking to
Boys-then to boys who are men, for every
mother of you rejoiced at your birth that q
man was born into the world. Develop
ment is so rapid that preparation is the
only business of life.
But it is true there is prospect in your
history. Here is the goal, starting point
the distance is to be passed over-the val
leys traversed-the rivers forded, the forest
penetrated, and its recesses threaded, some
times in darkness, and with no star to guide
the traveller-sometimes alone, sometimes
with company, and sometimes with bad
company, worse than none. Those distant
mountains are to be passed, those heights
surmounted, high, precipitous and of labori-
Gus ascent The is not yet-one pass
ed, another greater labor rises before YOU.
Hills peep DER hills and alps on alps arise.
The distant point where you will rest from
your labors-,Ohers9 No eye can see it.
Clouds envelope it. Sunlight and glory
may be at its summit, but no mortal eve
can reach its point, no tongue describe, no
pen can paint it. The world there will lie
beneath you-its glories and honors with
cred like the flowers of autumn, the beauties
that fade when the sunbeam is withdrawn.
Life will be there in its brief efrecord-its dis
tinct emphatic letrospect-its recollections
its labors-its tremendous, glorious OF
damning results. That mount! Distant
dimly seen,-yet near, ready to be grasp
ed. Shall we be forbidden to contemplate
it now' Not so. The beginning takes hold
IL