Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-06-07
Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquire
CHEROKEE HIGH SCHOOL.

BLACKS, S. c., May 31.-The spring term
of Cherokee High School, at this place,
closed its first session yesterday, with an
able and we'll delivered address on Educa-
tion, by Captain w. II. R. Bell, of Kings
Mountain, n. c., and exercises by the pu-
pills of the School at night.
Early in the day people began to gather,
and long before the hour appointed, 2, P.
NJ, the large house, capable of seating five
hundred, was crowded to it's utmost capaci-
ty, while very large number were stand
ing around the doors unable to procure
seats The arrival of the down train from
Charlotte, at II A. NJ, brought many frona
Gastonia, Kings Mountain, and Whitaker,
among that number the GastOnla Cornet
Band, whose services were secured Tor the
occasion; and right we'll did they enliven
the exercises with. appropriate music.
The east bound train arrived at |. T: M.
bringing many of our friends and neigh
bors from Gaffney City and surrounding
country, many of whom visit our town only
on such an occasion.
Then as the bell signalled that the hour
for the address had arrived, every business
house was closed and work of all kind sus-
pended, thus emphatically bespeaking the
interest of our people in the cause OF educa-
ton in our midst, and the confidence IN
the ability of the orator of the day, which
The stage was very neatly and tastefully
decorated, and on it were seated the follow
ing gentlemen: Prof Macarthur, Princi-
pal Of Gaffhey City High School; Prot.
Anthony, Principal of Whitaker High!
School; DR.. John Black, and number of
other leading citizens. Capt. WI R. Bell
was introduced by Prof. Anthony. With
few appropriate remarks to the school,
the speaker announced his subject, "Ignor-
ance Impoverishes." The orator, for well
does he deserve to be so called, then in his
mastery and inimitable manner produced
fact after fact, wedging them in with statis-
tics till every one must acknowledge that
ignorance is the, bane of our country. He
proved very conclusively that the great
want of the sister States, the two Carolinas,
was a system of education that would reach
the masses that those two States were
attempting to educate their children with
48 cents for each child, and that it could not
but be failure, and finally laid the fault
at the feet of our Legislators.
The speaker also showed that the colored
race had outstripped the white, since obtain
ing freedom, in educating their children
that the whites were retrograding, While
the colored race, in an educational point,
was on the aggressive. Thus he held his
large audience with his mastery address
for two hours. Long may it be remember
ed by our people.
At the close of the address, the Rev. }:
A. White, principal of the school, dismissed
the audience until 7.30 P. NJ, when the
exercises were resumed. Long before this
hour, the house was filled with eager and
anxious spectators. At the appointed time
the curtains were drawn and the prlnclpal
announced that the exercises would con-
sist of defamation, recitations and cha
rades, essays &C.. that the school had been
in session only four months, and 80 pupils
were enrolled; that the exercises would BE-
gin with salutatory address by A. /.
Hardin-subject the "True Teacher" He
acquitted himself we'll and deserves much
credit.
would like to give names and subjects
of all the school, but suffice it to say that IL
was admitted by all to be a grand success,
adding much to the credit of the well
known Principal and his efficient assistant,
Miss Laura Sharpe.
The whole exercises gave proof of close
drill in the classroom, and undivided atten-
ton in preparing them for the occasion.
The exercises were closed by the Valedlc,
tory pronounced by A. D. Hardin, who had
for his subject, "rhe True Glory of Man."
His rendition of the address proved young
Mr.. Hardin to be quite an orator.
Thus closed long-to-be-remembered
occasion. The next session of the school
will open July 9and close December "a.
EYE WITNESS.