The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-07-20
ST FEMALE COLLEGE.

started into life, the Due West Female Col
lege was founded, being the second institu
tion Organized in the county. for that noble
work of providing for the higher education o.
woman. and thus ministering to the best J.
latest educational conception OF the common
wealth.
NO PLACE TAKES RANK OF ABBEyILLE.
1t thus appears that, as a centre Of educa
tional influences, no portion OF the State
takes rank of Abbeville. The analysis made
renders unnecessary further encomium. NC
county has surpassed this in educational en-
terpriSe. The names of Lethe and Willing
ton and COkesbury and Due West, now his
toric, are suggestive Of ventures original, ear
nest, bold. and what Is highest praise, perme-
ated all with the essence of pure religion.
WOULD NOT MINIFY THE PRIVATE SCHOOL
In this review of the history Of education
In South Carolina and in that of Abbevillc
county-a review deemed appropriate to the
object OF this aSsemblage-it Is not intended
TO mlnify the part played by the private
not conspicuous, has not been the less useful
and honorable. For long years the elementa'
ry education of the State Is carried on prin.
cipally in the private schools. From one end
of South Carolina to the other, these schools
kept up the iignt of learning. Well may we
pause to pay tribute to this corps OF un.
crowned teacherS-men and women-o
whom the world knows little. and whose
praises men have not sung. Theirs are those
forces not less potential because noiseess
Theirs is the heroism of private life.
Not only in the fiction page of novels,
But also IN the book OF real life,
In klngly palaces. i'm lowly novels,
In calm retirement and In active strife
Are heroes found-some fameless, unbe-
holden,
Great though In secret, make their future
golden
BY cherlshing the nor that Is their own.
And, as some low-voiced streamlet stealeth,
hidden
In vegetation, and unknown or men,
SO 90 they let their lives flow on, till hidden
TO give their borrowed water back again.
And, as the plenteous moisture glides where
And druweth wealth and beauty from the
Thus live they, blessing: doing good. un'
needed
By The gay world, but known and owned OF
God.
THE STATE ASSUMES PRIMARY EDUCATION
But changed now is the old order of things.
To a large extent the business OF primary ed
ucation has been assumed by the State. The
Constitution of 1865 introduced into South
Carolina a new system OF public education
one leading TO the general, though not uni
versal dethronement, OF private schools. The
result is that the puDllc SCnOOIS nave Deen
brought TO the front, and strenuous efforts
have, since 1876, been made 10 elevate their
standard. Much has been accomplished In
the training Of the teachers and In the mum.
Der of the schools The chief barrier to pro-
gress comes froTu the lack of money TO give
due compensation to the teachers and TO carry
he schools on for the school year. The reve.
nue. derived from the two mills tax and the
poll tax makes up the regular appropriation
Tor the support of the public schools. But In
view of the inadequacy OF this sum, legisla-
tion has provided Tor - special, voluntary TAX
under certain conservative restrictions, whei c
communities elect in this way 10 supplement
the public fund.
VOLUNTARY TAXATION.
Realizing the insufficiency of It's share of
the public fund 10 make due provision for the
proper education OF its youth, the municipal
ity of Abbevlle has decided to augment its
resources through voluntary taxation. This
action makes possible this present enterprise
an enterprise, which though not attended
by the emblazonry OF arms or the poIpp oi
ceremony, tommends Itself TO the better an
gels OF our nature.
Hence we are assembled to-day not to com.
memorate any project of mere material de.
velopment or any achievement OF the soldier.
The spirit of the occasion, If less pretentious
is nobler and more far reaching. In laying
with becoming fOrmalities the corner stone OF
this building dedicated TO the instruction oi
her youth, Abbeville reaf1irms her ancient de.
votion to the cause OF letters and reattests
her appreciation Of the true, the enduring In.
terests of the community.
THE FORCE OF PUBLIC OPINION.
More than ever does this cause, especially In
its popular phase, challenge attention
Among the controlling forces that move civil
lied States are now reckoned the forces Of ed
ucation. In his mastery disquisition, IN
| which Calhoun sounds the depths and looks
TO the heights Of the science OF politics, he de-
votes q striking chapter TO the prospective ef
rkNlt
than forty years ago when he made his obser
| vations and recorded his conclusions, he con
sdered public opinion as having an influence
50 great as to enttle it TO he regarded as II new
political element. Stating that ii had already
| attained force In the more civilized porto
OF the ylObe sufficient TO be felt by all govern
nents. even the most absolute and deSpotic
| he added his conviction that IL had az vel
| reached nothing like It's maximum force
| Even in our day may be clearly discerned the
confirmation OF the prediction OF South Caro-
| lna's great statesman. Public opinion, once
timid as a fawn, is now grown bold as a lion
In Engla anu America IT, rules with impe
rial sway. In continental Europe 1t menace'
monarchies, deiies dynasties and begins L
measure strength with standing armies.
| POPULAR EDUCATION.
But be II noted and emphasized that back o
| this giant force there Is Il mighty influence
Behind the dynamicS OF popular opinion lay
the dynamlcS OF popular education. If nov
popular opinion Is power--as 1t crystaliZes in
| To law and eliminates into rule-how trans
cendently important that popular education
moulding and guiding it's otfSpring-ShOult
| be sound and wise, promOtive at once OF ell
lightened individualism and patriotic citizen
ship. Hence II follows that States In this err
of unparalleled mental activity can under
take no greater task than TO devise the mean
OF creating and fostering a cultivated public
sentiment under the operation OF II sagaciou
scheme of public education. TO bring abou
| this happy consummatiOn may be reckOne(
among the best achievements OF q statesman
ship that nobly seeks the welfare OF the peo
pie.
This municipal enterprise Is, therefore, tn
sign and symbol of a sound idea, and pre-
Sents itself to the Imagination with the dig
nifty that comes from the possibilities of cdu
Gated mind and awakened conscience.
| ABBErILIE ASPIRES.
Like every other ambitious town, Abbevill
no doubt aSpircS 10 material development
And this Is well. Bank ing and trading 1ucili
ties; railroad conveniences; mercantile Ell
terprises; manufacturing establishments
mechanical ShOps-all these she requires I
the end that she may enjoy the comforts Q
life and surround herself with the muniment
of the wealth that gives the means 10 do good
TO enlarge her borders, to augment her NUN
berS, common sense teaches that physical
: agencies are absolutely essential.
CHARACTER MORE DEAR THAN SCHOLAR
| SHIP.
But, above all and in connection with al
such agencies, does Abbeville need-what tn
most highly favored communities need
what our Moor humanity is ever npellup-