The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-08-28
THE Sal En- SCIfOOL,

AAAH o-ft> Il w IJIHVOL.
Closing Excrciscs of tho observation-disclosures
OF MIR. Il. II. Robertson--A Pleasant DC.
casion.
lEEpoE1ED FOR THE Nl:%s AND MLKALn.I
The pressure Of outside business has
prevented an earlier report Of tic full
details OF the recent picnic ut Salem
Church. 1t was givcn by the school
taught by Mr.. w. j. Keller, and their
friends. AS is the ilvariable rule the
ladies made it complete SUCCESS.
quite number were present. Among
the interesting features OF tic occasion
was all address delivered by Mr.. II. II.
Robertson, one of tho county board OF
examiners, Oh the value and power of
knowledge. The following is a brief
and imperfect synopsis:
lie began by making an appeal for
practical education in order to secure
the development Of every faculty that
enables man to assist bis fellow beings
aud to utilize all those natural advan-
tagcs in which our country abounds.
The value Of knowledge can be meas
ured only by the effects produced. Of
this the most striking instances are the
utilization of steam to the countless
purposes to which it is now applied,
the invention oftbc telegraph bv Morse,
by which widely different civilizations
have been brought practically within a
"stonc's throw" the achievement of
Whitney, in giving cotton to the world
by means of his gin, Of which Macau-
lay said, "What Peter the Great did to
make Russia dominant, Ell Whitncy's
Invention oftbe cotton gin has more
shan cqualled it in its relation to the
progress and power OF the United
States" and last, but not lcast, Elias
fioWc's great work, the sewing ma
chine. The power of knowledge also
is shown in the careers Of Webster,
Clay aud Calhoun in our own land,
and many lesser lights, who havcin one
way or another conferred lasting bcne-
fits on the world. Practical knowl-
edge always asserts its power, and
in time gives full remuneration to it's
possessor for all the tolls and trials
undergone in its acquisition. The les
son to be taught is-bc diligent in the
pursuit Of knowledge. All cannot vie
with the great men who have been
named, but each can perform the
duties of his allotted sphere more
thoroughly after having embraced
every opportunity of acquiring knowl-
edge.
The next point to consider is how
this knowledge is to be acquired. 1t is
true that genius is inborn, but its de-
yclopment is not spontaneous. AS the
flower cannot bloom in perfection il
neglected, so genius remains i'm OBJ
scurity unless developed by proper
mental training.
The free common schools of our
State, in my Judgment, place within
the reach Of every child advantages
which, if properly utilized, will ulti-
matcly afford the great deSideratun,--
a good practical education. And if
there is one feature Of our common
school system that commends itself
more to me than any other, it is that it
opens the fountains Of Knowledge to
every ono without reference to class
or condition. The child of tho hum
blest citizen of our country may
quench his thirst for knowledge
around its borders, and under its pro-
tccting egis may vic with the purple
clad scion Of tho millionaire in climb
ing tho ladder Of literary fame. The
distinctions ofsociety, so-callcd, vansl,
like mist before tho morning sun whom
yourcllildrcn pass within the portals
of your school houses. Within its
walls differences of birth or station are
forgotten, and lought ia, seen or heard
save a common effort to acquire
knowledge. ! believe I can assert
without tho slightest fear of successful
contradiction, that tho common school
system Of our State to-day is infinitely
better than 1t has ever been at any
time since the first formation Of the
State government. And this TOO de-
spite the fact that it was originally
introduced and put into operation by
an administration thatwas notoriously
hostile to tho best interests of the State.
Perhaps 1t has still some dcfccts, but II
undoubtedly possesses great merit, and
can by wise management accomplish
mnch In the way Of causing light to
shine whore darkness has hitherto pre-
Svailcd. Its mission, if unobstructcd ,
will eventtlate in uprooting ignorance,
3and, I8may say, prejudice, the legiti1
mate offspring OF jgnoraaco, and iii es-