The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1882-06-08

that training which shall subordi-
nate the lessons and embellishments
of scholastic learning to the prac :
tical and useful purposes OF or
lives. The great and paramount
need of our State to day, Is the
practical education OF the masses.
Guided by a mastery intellect.
And q sagacioHs craftsmanship
Frederick the Great. comprehended
this great truth, and as a result,
Prussia was brought up TO a first
class power.
Peter the Great-:hat ex'raordi-
nary compound OF vices and viz
tues-the execrable man, but the
great reformcr, if not the founder
Of the mighty Empire Of Russia,
wrought out the design for the fu-
ture power of his people, when he
dispatched his young nobility to
Italy. Holland and Germany, to
study the arts and sciences, and
himself. laying aside his regalrobes,
welded the hammer and plane, as
carpenter in the dock-yards OF
Holland and England.
Germany. whose whole being and
lite is instinct with energy and
progress, has hundreds OF institn-
tions for the practical, as we'll as
the scientific tr"ining Of her youth
England not only fosters wise
system for the training of her
youth, but commentaries the lives
and services OF her inventors, ar
lists and mechanics by shafts OF
marble and bronze in Westminster
Abbey that grand old resting
place of her renowned aud illustrious
dead. Look at France--.that erratic
gallant, brilliant, prosperous people
When her proud standards went
down in defeat and humiliation at
Sedan-her second WaterloO-an
electrical thrill of establishment
shocked the civilized world. Aud
when the victor imposed an In
demnity of one billion dollars tc
be paid in coin, that establishment
gave way to sympathy; for both te
be forgotten in the applause that
greeted her as sue come forward,
staggering and bleeding, and
promptly paid every dollar OF it.
1t was the fostering influence O
a progressive Intelligence that per-
vaded her masses, which gave then
the ability to perform this most re
markable achievement.
National Eappiness, nationa
1-->..,-.Ae-r , - c.s~..a--.ootnes, ond
renown must be baset. e IA u.s. vi" "a
ture, and the virture on the intelIi
gence ola people. And the da'
will come when that moving pro.
gressive and aggressive spiri
which is driving the world onward
with such bewlldering speed, will
demand the establishment of sucl
systems as will best subserve tn,
highest and fullest development O
all the energies of our people.
1t will be a glorious day fo
North Carolina, and for the South
when our young men shall not be
ashamed to hang their diplomas If
their work shops, their machine
shops, their art galleries, theil
laboratories, their school rooms
their counting rooms and thei
farm houses.
During the seventeen years O
humiliation and suffering through
which we have passed, wha
have We learned? Have we learn
ed that we have much to unlearn :
Under oppression have we learned
patience? In adversely have we
learned perseverance,? In povert,
have we learned self-reliance anc
self esteem? Under misgovern-
ment, have we learned patriotism
lr our weakness have we learned
the true source of strength anc
power? Ifso, the terrible lesso,
I mas not been in vain.
In war, the people OF the Soutl
exhibited to the world the mobiles
and grandest type of true manhood
BY their answering devotion, thei,
lron-llke endurance, their heroic
daring on the fire crested ridge o.
battle; they Won a character
which extorted wild shouts of ap-
plause from the victors on the
field o: surrender. But ii they had
won glory in arms. how grand.
ly and resplendently sublime that
glory becomes when crowned with