Richland beacon., 1874-07-11
VOL. g. NO. 28 RAYVILIE. La. SATURDAY. JULY L.

by the parent stem, so the minds of
your fair daughters are likely TO open
into that aroma Of disposition, and be
adorned with that lustre of usefulness
and resplendent with that beauty of
character which marks the true wo-
man, only in her native cline.
Does any one say Eve have not the
facilities for superior education" The
answer is, we have the means, we
have the material. 1t does not be-
come US to draw comparison between
our college and other schools; but l
may say, we fearlessly challenge com.
petition, in all the solid branches of
education, with any other college for
females in the United States.
If we have not the facilities, we
should have, we can have, and it is
our duty to have them. Our obliga-
tions to our country and to our chill
dren demand that we should have
then. Then our schools must be sus-
tanned. How is this to be accomplish
ed? BY your patronage and inau-
ence. This brings US to speak direct
ly to :he patrons and friends of our
school. Allow me to speak plainly
and candidly. The teacher and the
parent should understand each other.
Their labor is mutual in the great
work of training the immortal minds
and next to the parent none save the
Divine Being can do as much as the
teacher to purify the fountain oe exist
ence before it widens out into the riv-
er of life. You say, you have given
your patronage. Very well, so far, so
good. Have you given your iuhu-
ence? How often have you visited
your school? How often have you
looked in upon your children and their
teacher? How often have you EN-
quired, what have you learned to-day?
Bring me your books, 1 would like to
hear how you are progressing. Oh!
you say, II have no time to visit the
school, and / am not competent to
examine children" You have time
to see that your farm is we'll cultiva-
ted time % see that your stock en-
trusted to laborers, is well cared for;
time to study the symptoms of dis
ease, and prepare nostrums and ton
les time to adorn with outward ap-
parel the personal form of your chill
dren. What! And no time to see
that their immortal minds are properly
cared for /! No time to see that their
comfort and happiness are consulted
in the arrangements of the school
room I! No time to see with what
principle and theory the thoughts of
their souls are being clothed! You
have time. Every man has time for
bis duty; and it is the duty of the
parent to know what his children are
doing at school. 1t is your duty to
show them that you are interested in
their progress, and encourage them
to improve every moment of time. In
conclusion, l will say, five know our
interest, and desire prosperity, social
ly, politically and pecuniarily, we will
sustain our schools.
And now, young ladies, you who
have finished your course in this insti-
tuition and are now about to quit its
walls as pupils forever, allow me to
say that you have performed your
part of the compact entered into be-
tween US with credit to yourselves
and honor to your Alma Mater. With
what faithfulness and success we have
accomplished our part, we leave for
future development of character and
usefulness to declare. When we 70
member the names of those who have
gone before You, from such scenes az
this, and think Of the positions in ac-
tive life which they have taken, and
the labors of usefulness which thew
are performing, we feel proud Of what
has been accomplished, and we are
grati6ed in being able to say that
none can look back over a brighter
record, nor have made more credita-
bic commencement than the present
class. But you should remember that
you are not learned. You have only
just now placed your foot upon the
threshold of learning. We have
steadied and guided you until now,
able to walk alone, we introduce you
into the temple of science and leave
you to traverse its halls of art and
literature. All that you have should
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