The Weekly Washington telegraph., 1872-05-08
sOUTH.ARKANsAs COLLEGE.
MINERAL SPRINGS ARK.
May 3rd, 1872.

Mr.. fdttof:-The first day of May,
"from the time whereof the memory of
man runneth not to the contrary" has
been generally conceded as a day COM
memorative Of joyous festivities, aud
time when the eye>lids of all somnolent
nature may be awakened to sense of
living reality, and all dependent hui
manity may "look from nature up to
natures God" This is a day when
nature robes herself in verdant splen-
dor, and youthful hopes begin to blos-
som as the young spring time flowers.
Upon such a day who is it that does
not like to look upon the love!iness of
nature, arrayed in all its beauteous
grandeur, and smile in joyous satis-
faction, as the coniding christian mem
tally contemplates his glorious career far
beyond the Stygian river. But | do
not design to write an essay or to offer
your readers an homily-I propose,
however to write you a faint deserip,
ton of the annual celebration that time
honored day, in our little village. We
are suburban and almost without the
pal of what the world calls enlighten,
ment, but how far mistaken they are
when they say we cannot appreciate
the world Of letters. However humble
a human being may be he Graves to
rise above his superiors, and however,
Insignificant village may be it asplres
to vie with its more fortunate sisters,
and rise above them if it be possible
for it to do so. Our lovely, and much
admired little town may not be known,
or at least appreciated by your numer-
Gus readers, but | can assure you we
yield the palm to none when you talk
of enterprise and progression.
The citizens of our little town. a few
months ago, conceived the grand idea
Of establishing an institution OF learn
ing in our midst that will hereafter
reflect credit upon them, their descen>
dants, our county and our country
To what could they devote their time,
their talents and their means that
would be more beneficial to the rising
generation? What could they do that
would reflect more honor upon them>
selves and country than to lend their
energies and their purses to the futh>
erence of so great an object? They
have already, in course of construction,
one Of the best proposed colleges that
has an incipiency in Solth Arkansas.
The massive fran work Of tie ediiice
has been raised, and towers above the
the surrounding buildings, as does
education above the common level of
ignorance and superstition. 1t was
originally endowed with subscription
fund ofover five thousand dollars which
is purely local. This institution is
intended to be ornamental as it will be
useful and honorable to the people of
South Arkansas. Our education low
ing citizens are determined that Min,
eral Springs shall yet be the great
head centre of the educational interest
Of our Southern Arkansas people.
But | sat down to write you of what
transpired in our town on the LIST day
OF beautiful fowcry My. The liberal
subscriptions to our college enterprise
was not quite sufficient to complete it,
so We concluded that we would initiate
our crest fallen people into the mys>
teries of social element above that of
political strife and ambition. Accord
lngly notice was given that we would
have a grand old-fashioned Barbecue
and public speaking on the first day Of
May; the subject Education; the benz
fciary our college. The scheme was
Ncellently planned and successfully
carried out. a large aud sumptuous
table was prepared and loaded down
with.choicest meats excellently cooked,
and well calculated to fascinate the
appetite Of even an epicurean-a large
and exceedingly appreciative audience
was assembled to hear the remarks Of
the orators and to partake of tb' rem
eral festivities of the day. Seated in a