The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-05-10
MECHANICS INSTITUTE.
CLOSING EXERCISES OF THE SCHO-
LASrlC YEAR.
SUPERB ADDRESS BIZ PROBES
SOR VA WTER.
STIRRING REMARKS by hon. ASH
TON sTARKE.
Delivery of Diplomas, Medals. and Prizes
a Large and interested Audience
fittle Busy brains Proud Of
1heir Achievements.

The closing exercises of the Mechan-
les Institute Night School Of Technology
took place last night in the hall OF the
Young Men Christian Association The
walls on the rear and side of the stage
were covered with the free-hand and
mechanical and architectural drawings
Of the pupils
on the stage were Mayor j. Taylor
Ellvson, Messrs j. j. Anderson. Charles
campbell. Richard + Frayser, =.
Roberts Baker. \. L. West, Prof. J. X.
Buchanan. Messrs. J. Taylor Straiton'
j. H. Capers and others, in addition to
the instructors.
The school entered, headed by Captain
Thomas Elicit. and took the seats re-
served for them in the side aisle.
Throughout the evening, at different
times. Kessnich's band in the gallery dis
coursed enliyening music.
HON. ASHTON sTARKE.
Mr.. ". j. Whitehurst introduced Hon.
Ashton Starke AS the first speaker.
Mr. Siarke said that the occasion had
stirred within him the cause of mechan-
ical education in our midst. Time and
time again bad he stated that this city
would become a great manufacturing CEN
ire. We want the talent and the money,
and following IL up by building here
p furnace, there forge, and the man
who will bring these things TO come 10
pass will have done more than any
statesman on the continent has done.
How would not those skies light up
i'll a.. ,l,r- Of ,.,ur furnaces IL the
money sent from this State TO Others for
manufactures was spent here at home
in building mp our own factories. We
would hear the whirl of the wheel.
the buzz of the saw, the hum OF the mill.
They would make music that would find
responses in thousand cottages If ali
of this is 10 be done, and il viii be done,
who is 10 do it, Who will talk Of Viz
0inia's factories, develop her resources,
control Nirginia's factories and mills
that must spring up among usy Men
from other sectiOnsy Men from across
the seas God forbid Wen have n
welcome for every one, but let it be
OUR owN SONS,
who will bring to themselves a future not
only in material things, but 10 earn a
name which like that OF Edison will live
after them. He wished that he could
rut his arm around each boy and say 10
him, brace up and do not give up the
strife. Labor conQuers all things, and
If You DO not al first sue
coed keep on trying. If there
is anything now lacking ii Is
educated mechanics We want mechan-
n who have been so taught as TO become
endowed with lofty ambitions, 10 think
as well as work. To advance science is
what is wanted IN Virginia. He told
some illustrations. To train up the young
workmen properly is what will make
Virginia prosperous, and that is the work
of Virginia Mechanics Institute. What
means these drawings around here =
Who did them, Some will say they
were collected for the occasion. No,
there sits the boys who drew them. He
knew of boy who got up At 4 A. VI. to
learn his lessons. OF another who lcit
the State and did his lessons through the
mail, and to-day gets the medal as the
leader in his class The lime will come
when 10 institutes like these more APP
propriations will be msde than 10 any
other seat of learning 23O
pupils mairiculaied al The session just
closed 16s went through the entire SEES
sion. What does it mean IL means
230 little brains in training to be masters
of their callngs, working all day: at
night they feel within them, / am Il
man They throw of ,ne apron 10 take
up the pencil. Is there not hope in these
scholars
crccrearrrt souor.ps