The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1883-08-02

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classics, which will at once open to
you the treasures of antiquity, and
give to you copious and select
mastery Of your own language.
Would that every boy and girl in
this State of Georgia, that we love
SO well and of which you have
spoken SO patriotically, could pos
sess the superior training which is
conferred on their pupils by the
schools of the city of Atlanta. Ap-
plause.
You, my friends, are the young
athletes, eager to contend in the
more than Olympic trials, where
the mind is developed. as were the
bodies of the Grecian youth in that
great festival of ancient tribes. Re-
member the classical adage: 'He
who wears the palm must toll in
the dust of the arena" You have
done much; you have done well;
but it was Napoleon who said to
one of his officers: Nothing is
done while anything remains un-
DONE"
There is one thought which l
desire to impress to night on such
of you as will 60 from your studies
here to the work of the College or
University. The purpose of all ed
ucation is to discipline the mind.
You will find in the curriculum Of
your college studies great deal of
work that you will possibly think
Of no practical use in the everyday
business Of life. Do not neglect
this work. It is useful, most use
full, TO you. The pugilist who
strikes out by the hand right
and left at the sand bag sus-
pended before him, forgets the bag
when he toes the mark in the face of
his foe; but that practice has de-
veloped his muscles, hardened his
fist, improved his mind, given to
him the quick eye and unerring
aim, and maybe the unimportant
looking sand-bag has given him the
victory. My simile is rather in
elegant, but boy will understand
it. So it is with this college work,
which may seem valueless to you.
1t is to exercise the mind. Do
not despise the culture, even while
students, which comes from general
literature, but let the text books pre-
scribed by your instructors be your
prime considt ration. Win the hon
ors of your class, if possible.
These were not always my views.
I held to the idea once that stu
dent by selecting the studies in
| which he most excelled, and devo.
ting his time chiefly to them, would
get the best education. | had a
long controversy with class:mate
on this subject. He upheld the
| curriculum. l upheld the doctrine
| of the selection of the fttest. The
| result was that he stood at the head
of his class, and stood-well never
mind where I stood. Laughter.
He was right. He is a Judge now,
| and can fine me, and make me take
my seat, and all that sort of thing;
and while I have the privilege Of
speaking to boys on this occasion,
1 see from. the papers that he en-
joys the delightful pleasure of 60
ing away to college commence
ments and making speeches to girls,
''the sweet girl graduates" Laugh
teri Public speeches, I mean, of
course.
Now, the failure in my theory
was this. A boy cannot tell ex-
| actly what the natural bent of his
genius is. He may think he can,
but he can't. Now the curriculum
| of studies, which are general in
| their range, is apt to quicken his
genius somewhere, if has genius,
and if he hasn't got genius, they
| will quicken his solid horse sense,
which all in all is great deal bet
ter than genius. Your genius is an
| uncertain citizen, and is usually
very nearly a crank, and as ':P.
Pilgarlick Pigwiggen'' said, is "as
| tetchy as skinned cat Laugh
ter and applause.
These opinions are the result of
observation and experience, which
| are the best teachers after all. So,
work hard on the text books, and
when you have finished your Col
lege course, you will bring to
the study Of general literature the
keen appreciation of its charms
| ubiob balnnrc to the pducatad mind