The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-08-12

uate course: {: he may cross the ocean and sit
at the feet of the great German doctors, and
yet fail TO be an educated man.
All over this country there are scores and
scores of men whose grammar Is faultless ana
articulation seemingly perfect. whose Ian
guage Is variegated and spiced with classic
culture and literary beauties; whose attain /
ments are wide and knowledge profound
whose wit Is keen and sarcasm cutting; and
yet withal they are uneducated; they are so
narrow and contracted In their views, their
sympathies embrace so little that wherever
they 60 their very presence suggests the
poets lines.
"If self the wagering balance shake,
It's rarely right adjusted"
When we speak of education we almost in.
stinctively think Of schools and colleges, and
we vainly imagine that unless we are fortu-
nate enough to enjoy the advantages afforded
by them we must go through life with the
brand of ignorance upon us. This Is q great
mistake and yet 1t is as widespread as II Is er-
roneous. Yes, my friends many 4 man who
has received diploma, or perhaps Master
OF OF Arts degree, many man who stands hlgh
Is so pulled up with arrogance and self.conceit
that he turns his back with naughty disdain
upon those, ofteptimes lar worthier than be,
who by force of circumstances have been de-
prived of academic training. Though such u
man may have received all the learning oi
the schools, yet poor, pitiable, uneducated
am addressing an audience to-day COM
posed largely OF youth. l see before me
young men and young women. 1t is altogeth-
er probable that In front OF me sits listening
cyMege. Now II he hears no more 1 want his
attention tU this part OF my speech. If he is
sitting by his sweetheart, ask her to allow me
to have his attention only for moment, and
then he can devote to her the balance Of the
day. You tell me that you are going to col
lege and that you will leave behind you at
home lot OF little fellows who will not have
@ Woard or 10 the IS South Carolina Ii coiieye and
matriculate as n student. The morning you
start OF they will get the gears and the mule
and will have their names enrolled as stu.
dents at the plow handle. Now, my young
college friend, take care. A few years work
marvels. Go off and spend your four years al
college and come home wlth the highest hon
ors OF your class. Receive the congratula-
tions of your friends, study profession and
then settle In the same community with those
comrades who parted from you on that bright
morning when .your heart beat high with
cheer them up. But take care. If you don't
look out, some OF those very same boys will
outstrip you In the race Of life. If You make
q single false step. they will get ahead OF you.
Don't come home from school thinking you
| know 1t all or else am sure 1t will be easy TO
prophesy that they will lead and you will fol.
low. Don't come back and hold yourself
above them, for u you do you W i'll almost GER
you have gone TO college and studied the
books, you have only been with Newton gath.
| erng pebbles by the sea shore-that the great
ocean OF knowledge lies before you. Remem-
ber that the great school of life 10 the arena in
| which your powers will be tested; that you
have an arduous ascent still to make; that
the noun tain which you must climb is steep
and rugged. with slippery paths and devious
ways; aud as you glance up and see the thou.
sands who are struggling forward you need
not be very muchSurprised If you recognize
far IN advance OF you some one nee OF your 0r
hand at your diploma and on the other at his
sunburnt hands and face indicative OF life
OF moil and toll. remember that your speaker
| to-day told you that the highest development
of which man is capable Is moral character,
and that though 1t may grow, and grow luxu.
| rlantly. In the academic grove, IL Is not neces-
sarily confined to such highly favored spots
sympathIes broad and full and wide, and that
though 1t may be moulded IN the college. II
will do just as we'll In the wilds OF the forest
and amid the environments OF the country
keen, polished intellect OF II Calhoun, the
farm and country store will at once put along
by his side a Henry Clay, with golden tongue
and splendid genius.
Education to be success must be progress
sive. We must get out Of the old ruts. We
must keep pace with the progress and ad-
vancement OF the times. Great improve
ments have been made and We must keep up
with them. I remember to have heard Dr.
Broadus speak of the many desirable changes
that have been made In regard to text books.
He said that the school books of the present
day were as far In advance of those formerly
| used as our agricultural implements surpass
those OF our fathers. A great many desirable
changes have been made in school methods.
ington when the children become tired after
sitting for a long time, the teachers In place OF
reproving them for their restlessness, some.
times suspend the exercises for minute and
tell the pupils to rise upon their tip toes. and
in this way give them both rest and diver
sion.
| 1 believe In employing the very best and
most progressive teachers-those who read
the school journals, attend the teachers insti-
tutes and normal schools, s,-those who keep up
with the changes and improvements made III
their department.. Again, our education
not o. mIs oe
is specifically done. Only few days ago
read In newspaper a piece which maintain
ed that superficial educati on is largely preva-
lent at present. Thoroughness Is exceptional.
Those engaged In teaching can learn much
from the other departmental of life. They can
learn valuable lesson from the farmers.
the work must be thoroughly done. The land
must be carefully prepared. The soil must be
we'll broken up. 1t will not do to skim along
over the surface. The plowl Ing must be deep
and thorough. And then when the corn and
cotton begin TO grow careful cultivation is
necessary. The crop must be kept clean and
free from grass and weeds. L they wish to
reap an abundant harvest they must see that
their work Is done-and well done.
And the teacher can learn much from the
Press. How thoroughly do the newspapers
do their work. il Is wonderful how much
time and care the editors eXpend upon their
papers. Even that part OF their work which
the casual reader regards unimportant re-
quires q great deal Of attention. For in
stance, my friend, the editor of the Press and
Banner spends many an hour In devlsing ap-
proprIate head lines for his news columns.
When the National Conventions of the Re.
publican and Democratic parties met In 1880,
1884 and 1888. SO rapidly was the work done by
the reporters and operators that within fif-
teen minutes after the meeting closed. the
speeches were In the hands OF the newspapers
all over the country. When Grover Cleve-
land was nominated In st. Louis the telegraph
wires which encircle the continent flashed
the news TO every part of the country, and
the bulletin boards OF San Francisco an
nounced the nomination within two minutes
after the convention adjourned.
The celerlty and accuracy of the press I'm.
press an outsider as something perfectly mar
velous. Those engaged In educational work
would do well to initiate the energy and push
displayed by the newspapers of the country.
Now there are two practical thoughts which
wish to present as the result Of these rehec. |
tions and the first Is this. Don't imagine that
am arguing against schools and colleges.
believe In them. wish every boy and girl
that hears me TO- day could enjoy their ndVnn. |
tage They don't retard-they help you. |
They should be fostered and sustained In ev- |
cry possible way. But don't become discour- |