The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1883-05-31
TH4D IL. BLAMING, Editor.
ADDRESS OF COL. VIM, III. s
BURGYWN, BEFORE THE
YOUNG MEN OF TIE
HORNER SCHOOL,
MAY "a, 1883.

Below We publish the address OF
Col. VIM. II. S. Burgwyn. q. liverec
before the students Of T. J. & w
ID. Horner's Classical, Mathematical
and Commercial School last Thurs
day. The spt aker was introduced to
vast audience by Col. w. ii. Cheek,
b in his usual graceful and felicitiou.
manner, In the following words:
.LodieS and Gentlemen
Horace Greeley once advised {:
young man, go West ;" and young
men have gone West. Scores have
gone from North Carolina some
North, some South, some East, some
West; and the State has lost many
of its sons Of brightest promise.
How sad the thought, that now,
right now, when we so much need
capital, population, energy and
brains to develop her unmeasureo
resources, that her sons, her noble
suns,-tho6e in whose veins course
the best blood of her people-sons 0
the sires of '76 and 'Gl, are leaving
the homes of their fathers.
Sad though it be, and dark for the
present as il may appear, yet let u
not repine, for a brighter day is
daWning; and "behind the cloud
the sun is still shining" When the
experience ofage shall have melloWed
the enthusiasm ofyOuth and a knOWi
edge ofthe world shall have enlarged
their understanding, they viii return
Already the current has changed
and the incoming tideis waiting then
back again.
Our thriving town, with its push
and it's prosperity, is to be congrat'
ulated that she has attracted one o
those wanderers, One who has writ
ten his name high among tnOst
distinguished in his profession, and
had won success in the State of hi.
adoption, has returned. He is Will
us now and with his means, hi.
learning and his reputation, is aiding
us to the extent of his vast ability +,
build up our town, our county anC
his State.
l need not introduce him. We al
know him. He is our tOWnsman
and his presence here on this occa
sion, to take part in the closing
exercises of one of the High Schools
Is evidence of his Willingness tt
contribute his ability to the grea
cause of education.
.Cpl, w. II. S. BqrgyWn will now
address you, Let az hcar~nin.
Col. BurgWyn then arose annie
thunders of deafening applause, anC
for forty minuets addressed the
audience as follows:
Ladies and GentJenen, end Young
GentleEaen Of the MeSSrS. HOrner'!
Classical, Mathematical and Cam
1aercidL School:
The dawn of 10Th century wa,
the beginning of new era. AS the
conquest CT the known world by the
Romans, and the diffusion of the
Latin language paved the way fol
the spread of the Gospel of the new
diSpensatiOn-So the American anC
French revolutions, at the close of The
18th, gave an impetus and oppOr
tunity to that spirit of human de
VelOpment and yearnings after per
sonal liberty, that has made the 19tf
century SO memorable in the world
history.
When Shakespeare wrote of girdlin&
the globe in 40 minutes, he little
dreamed the telegraph exceeding
the speed OF the diurnal, revolution
of the earth, would tell us in Amer
lea at 8 a. No., what would take place
In Europe at II m. The marVelOu;
results of the discovery of steam
the knowledge of other worlds, anC
other suns, impaired by the spectre
scope; the improvement and amel
iOratiCn of the human race hrOugh
about by the scientific investigation
of the laws of health; the universe
diffusion of knowledge by public anc
private schools, and the wonderful
achievements of the public press il
chronicling the daily events taking
place in all quarters of the globe
seem to leave little for any future cen
fury to add to mans happiness o.
progress. ....-.,
Whether we, like nations that have
preceded us, are to reach our acme
of progress and development, anC
then decline, to make way for some
other people, some other factor il
the divine economy OF the human
race. affords theme tor intiulte con
iecture-sufficien for us, that we &C
well the part allotted to each, and
leave the rest to an all-WiSe ana
merciful creator.
Perhaps the greatest benefit that
accrues from all this advance and de-
yelopement, is the facility, the times
afford, for acquiring an education.
Not alone in the greater number
of subjects studied, or in the cheap
ness of an education, or even In The
attractive manner OF imparting
knowledge the present methods aim
al; but rather in the more scientific
manner in which studies are taught;
in the superior order and arrange
ment of the text books, and in the
higher estimation in which the pro-
fess;on of teaching is held.
No longer does it suffice to be able
To translate your Ca sar. Horace and
VergiI, your Homer, Nenophon and
Thucydides, by the use OF a transIa-
tiOn. The committal to memory OF
the demonstration OF a problem, Is
not what is sought after by the in
structor; but the aim of the teacher,
the tendency of the present system
ia rather to go to the roots OF things;
n teach the pupil to investigate
csuses: to see the reason Oh the rule
Thai is set for his guidance; IN other
words. not so much to teach all that