The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-08-07
eNOs19I

bers of the bar, with those engaged in
mercantile pursuits, and even with the
clerical profession, Y ct you can proudly
boast of the richest of all reWards-the
consciousness of duty faithfully performed.
OF work well done for country and human
lily. You can share in the high eulogium
paid Noah Webster, the highest ever be-
slowed on any American citizen, Tile
taught millions to- read, but not one to
SIM
The advantage Of your meeting in such
an assemblage as you constitute for the
objects you have in view, cannot well be
overestimated. Bound together by COM
mon interests and common aims actuated
by the same noble impulses coming from
different parts of the State, your inter-
change of ideas and suggestions can have
none other than highly beneficial effect
on all gathered here. Provided, as you
will be, with learned, earnest and faithful
instructors, those whohaye dedicated their
lives and their energies to the science OF
teaching, you will go away better equipped
for your afduOus work than when you
came. YOuWill depart with renewed en-
ergies to bear you on to success with
hearts imbued with new faith in your
powers for doing good, the work you have
TO do made easier by resison10f the knOwl-
edge you have gained az to how it sh0uld
be performed. ~
[ congratulate you on the excellent corps
of teachers and the able lecturers provided
for you by those tireless and energetic
gentlemen, Nh. Farr, the general supeFin-
tendent of public instruction, and Mr..
Funkhouser, the superintendent of Rock
ingham county. 1t is enough to secure
the success of any enterprise to know that
these gentlemen appear as it's managers.
Truly may it be said of them in their
vocabulary you never find the word fail.
Did fail, ladies and gentlemen, to give
you the assurance that your stay in Har-
will be pleasant one, should
do great injustice to the kindness and
cordiality of our people. [ should wrong
that high character for hospitality for
which they are so well known. | will not
offend their pride by an invocation to ex-
tend to you that courtesy and attention for
which they are so justly famed. I-know
in advance that you will be the recipients
Of these. l know that all will be made to
feel at home whether they come from the
green mountain valleys or among the
1welers by the sea.
And now, ladies and gentlemen, in con-
clusion of my brief remarks, speak the
feelings of those represent when l say
we sincerely wish you an eminently sue
,essful session of the Normal that your
anticipated advantages in attending it
nay be more than realized that your stay
nay not only be pleasant, but that it may
De delightful that you may all leave with
'egret that the session ended so soon that
success may attend all your efforts in the
uture, and may your lives be as full of
lOnors as the sea is full of waves.
Prof. Newell made an excellent response,
ind Hon. r. R. FAIR made specially
lappy effort which it would give us much
pleasure to quote, but time and space
orbid. The exercises were interspersed
With excellent music by Prof. Clary's band.
There are present over 800 students and
number of county superintendent. w.