Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-06-08
HENRY CLAY GRAY.
The Colored Educators Address to the Gradu-
nting Class at Prairie View state
Normal School

Special to the Gazette.
HEMpsTEAD, TEX, June 6.-Henry
CLAW GRAY spoke to the graduating class
at Prairie View State normal school to-
day substantially as follows:
We come now to the last lesson OF the course;
What have to say want TO say wltn grea.S
niainness of speech, and that TO the class itself.
let MS divest ourselves therefore, II we can. OF
the thought that this platform this magnlnoens
hall is filed with distinguishes & rSa Az
quit ourselves. Forget them while orator anu anu
class as companion and friends, deal Win the
opportunities all mu st meet and the quallles OF
tbe man who can make the most OF them. our
theme, then. is opportunity and man. -.
First, think moment OF Wnas you sTS' y, mI la.
Won stand for. Let me illustrate: hoio IN my
hand a single grain of wheat or corn, OF, IL may
he a single seed of our much valued cotton. "
is at once fruit OF the past, 1000 Oh sne ~, ;S
and seed of the future DO you geJ my lusat
Won ara the contamination, the reanLatlon, II
you will, of the aspirations OF our parents ana
friends and well defined purpose OF the stAte;
Yonr neople have tenderly cared for you and
| trusted in you and the state has taxed neIse GU
heavily, that you might pc son ZEN ga an I ~
| Won will if you improve all opportunities.
| You 90 forth from these halls completeIy
armed and drilled to 40 woman c IN the iit
| tie community where you were born o. you cast
! vour lot with people you have not Known.
tI md fail1re OF life Be greatly discouraged
andknend your best hours thinking and plan
! ming to find some congenial place ana oesser
| shifted to your capabilities. 1t viii De the mis-
| IsIre of your life, since in such community one
| always finds his grandest opportunity Zoo
pity you, friend you cannot sb wnf Seem sD the
| noblest her flowers the gayest, ner oiros tne 2
| sweetest singers, her bellies and oeanx the most
charming and her fresides the dearest OF al the
''BRBArHEs there the man, with soul SO
oeao, g. ,ir,salt hath said.
This is my own, my native Land!
whose heart hath ne er within him burn d,
As home his footsteps be hath turn d.
The patriotism and genius Of Sir Walter Scott
t.sst;-g His Iabors enhan ced the value o.
| everything Scottish thousand fold. ecotlane
was dead country till the wlzara OF tue ~ -
| waved his wand over her tenantiess expanses
she Ieaped suddenly into fame and fortune ant
| she owes them both to sir waiter. oob tneEe y
not county in all Texas put tnas Is p seslS;ii
| ties than any in Scotland. We nave tneistoI
the opportunity and the ability Il we VIII bn
, | old Scotland fame and fortune.
Your orator has no patience VIII AZ snes
di-naraeing cries against home. Our state. on
county, our community; our .ewn b On ~ =, a.
IT, That would be marvelo9s secion i, inu y,
which cannot be improved, and ne Woulo oe
| yyortbless man who could live IN conmunit
| snd vet exercise no helpful influence upon II
ne makes the most OF his opportunities wh
| notes the shortcomings OF his community nI
grnmbIes not about them, but gives nlmsel
| earnestIy to work better things Tor her. IN ges
; | eraI it may be accepted as TACT that ne w
. cannot or will not improve presens opP99 ~ Z.
| Go home Young men and young women, 49,
and lead the people out OF the nola9 =.
Mexico or Afriea, or Kansas, Of any AZ
. does our magnificent state OF Texas Iral
them in thought and aspiration that We -
g make her what we WIZ. out eeSs suANOs -