Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-07-16
Staunton Normal!
RECEPTION At OPERA HOUSE

RECEPTION At OPERA HOUSE !
CHARLES E. KEMPER, ESQ, WELCOMES
THE NORMALITEs-ADD DIR ssES BY
MEsSRs. SMITH, PARR, AND STUBBs-
sUP7T BOwLEs SURE OF SUCCESS.
&C. &C., sc.
Owing to several causes the attendance
upon the opening exercises of the Staun-
ton Normal Wednesday night at the Ope-
"a House, was not SO large as we could
have wished or was expected.
AS explained by Sup't Bowles, some Of
the railroads through misrepresentation,
declined to sell tickets at reduced rates,
teachers had to delay their coming for a
day. The night, Wednesday, as all know,
is the one set apart by our city churches
for their weekly prayer meetings, and as
we are a cody as well as cultivated
people, some were in attendance thereon.
Again, the weather was unpropitious-
just before O'Clock, p. NJ, the hour for
opening, it began to rain, and this detain-
ed quite number, and these being gener-
ally the birds of the gayest plumage-
they were missed the more. Notwith-
standing all this there was fair house,
and very attentive and appreciative
house. The StoneWall Band was on hand
as it ever u.s. in aid of any good cause, and
diScoursed some of it's sweetest music dur.
ring the evening.
at o'clock Prof. VIM. A. Bowles, city
Superintendent. escorted Prof. Frank
Smith, Of Tennessee, Prof. S. S. Parr,
of Normal School of Indiana, and the
speaker Of the evening, upon the stage,
and then stepped in front and in a few
well chosen words introduced G. E. KEN
per, Esq, who delivered the following
chaste and elegant
ADDRESS OF WELCOME.
Members of the Stanton Normal Institute:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.-Standi
here as the spokesman of the people of
Staunton on this occasion, it gives me
pleasure to welcome you to our city. You
are assembled here as representatives Of
popular education in Virginia. coming
from many different sections, but all i'm
bued with the high purpose to put forth
every effort to better fit yourselves in the
calling you have chosen.
Recognizing, as [ do, the necessity of
educating all classes and conditions of
men, greet you one and all, as public
benefactors, whose good works shall live
forever.
When look over this audience of teachers
4. ,Jr,1 Il
perhaps you do not realize your own i'm
portance as factors in the social and politi-
cal destiny of this Commonwealth. The
power you WELD for good is beyond all
measure of calculation. To-day there may
be in the public schools OF this State pupils
whose achievements will rival the prOudest
deeds of those heroic patriots whose civic
and martial triumphs have emblazoned not
only the history of Virginia, but the
brightest pages in the book OF time. With
such possibilities your lives, as teachers,
are crowded. and the inspiration of the
good you may do should be solace for
your many trials.
The public school system of tbis 5 tate is
yet in It's infancy. You ares tone pion GERS to
hew down track through the wilderness of
of ignorance, and your labors must lay the
foundation stone of the temple of univer-
sal education. Many of us will not live to
see 1t, but the day is coming when the face
of this lovely land will be dotted over with
common schools and institutions of high
er learning. The lamp of knowledge is al
ready guiding many feet that must have
stumbled on in ign ORANGE but for that hu-
name and enlightened policy which is en-
deavoring to make education free as air
to all who will partake thereof. A Repnb-
lie like ours cannot be too jealous in edu-
eating its citiZers. The founders of our
great government saw with prophetic WIS.,
ion that if the in FAINT nation was to live
and wax strong, ignorance must be ban
ished from it's borders. Washington gave
literally of his Well-earned fortune to
found an institution of learning in this
Valley; and Virginia's second greatest
son spent the last days of his grand life
within the walls of Washington College,
and the splendid university bearing the
joint names of Washington and Lee stands
to-day the nobleSt monument erected to
their memory. Thomas Jefferson, crown
ed with immortal fame as the greatest
apostle of liberty. watched from the sum-
NIT of Monticello the rising walls of the
University of Virginia, and asked that
portion of his epitaph should be that be
was its founder.
Perhaps no dream Of the republics
magnificent destiny ever dawned in their
be educated IN order that it might live at
all; and happy am [ to say that the lessons
bequeathed us have not been forgotten
Virginia is far behind some Of her sister
States in point of educational advantages.
But for it good excuse can be given. The
pitiess waves of four years. war Surged
through her borders. destroying the accu-
mulated wealth of centuries ; one third OF
her territory was torn away and erected
into separate State; and when peace
once more spread her white wings over a
distracted land, the proud and ancient
Commonwealth Of Virginia lay blacken-
ed and ruined waste. But in our calling
poverty, with heavy financial burdens up
on our shoulders. one of the first acts of
the restored State government was to put
in operation a free school system, free
alike to every color. class and creed.
We are still poor in comparison with
States North and West, but we have done
our best and will do better. Already Won
drous changes are taking place among the
hills and mountains of old Virginia. The
sleeping wealth of coal and iron is aWak-
ening to the touch of skilled labor and en-
terprises; blazing furnaces and busy mills
are creating in values the magnl-
tude Of which we cannot dream; the sails
of commerce whiteD our harburs, and cit
les are rising like magic from the plain;
Virginia is growing rich, and as she pros
pers, so will education increase and flour
ish.
And now again. welcome you to our
city among the hills of West Augusta, the
queen city and loveliest gem of the Val"
lev, in the name of her hospitable people,
/ bid you welcome.
Here amid the blue mountains, and I'M
der skies-Italian blue-you will find
scenes of surprising beauty. limpid streams
leafy dells and all tie charms of fairest
sswildwood scene" The beauties of ma
ture will rest the mind Wearied with effort
tn oain still more knowledge for the great