The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1892-11-16

Iiaii-SpiitttIi dIHtlu hutW nOW W
drive the canal boot, aud Pres.
johnson was Il tailor from the
mountains of East Tennessee.
Our lack of very rich soil can
ferred another blessing on East
Tennessee. Slavery was SO unre-
numerative that it never flourish
ed within our borders. East Ten
nessee did not favor slavery.
Scott County, one sections of the
State, had ouly twenty-nine slaves
in 1860 other counties had even
fewer.
Our Climate is an other advan-
tage that we may praise. East Ten
nessee lines between $50 and 36'
n. latitude. 1t is beautiful and
invigorating. 1t never gets SO cold
or so worm that we cannot work.
Oar winters are mild and our snm-
mers are pleasant. No one can
deny that we have the best COM
bination of climate east of the
Mississippi yer.
fut we must be frank Therehave
been some unfavorable elments in
the making of our section. Though
we did not have many slaves
among us the system of slavery
has left its mark in many ways.
AS in all other parts of the south
slavery has been a disadvantage to
US in the way of education. Our
public school system was poor be-
fore the war. In fact we had al
most none. A man who could tell
something of the rule of three in
Fowler's old Arithmetic was con-
sidred competent teacher, and
even such teachers as these were
scarce. Some of our school houses
were built of round poles and there
was not even a chimney to them
saying nothing of the dirt floor,
and | am tempted to say that some
of those honses may still he found
in East Tennessee. Oar schools
have also failed to be furnished
with the necessary textbooks and
apparatus. Our public schools at
the present time as all v no have
lived in East Tennessee must agree,
are not maintained at the stand
ard that they should be, ard our
, teachers are very few Of them
thoroughly educated men.
We as people have also been
sorely in need of good reading, and
good books. There are not many
Libraries found inNhe homes of the
people of East Tennessee. The
. majority of our people do not even
take a good newspaper or mag
aline, consequently events of the
, greatest Importance will happen and
they will never hear of them. AS
result of the lack of reading
and education certain lack OF
breadth or prejudice has arisen
=; Not every man is doing the best
= he can for himself and for the wei.
,. fare of others many man is look.
ing with suspicious eye at those
about him. Especially is this true
in our country churches and among
teachers. We need iaore thoroughly
educated men in the ministry. Too
Z many men uneducated and unfit
q for the place, are in cur pulpits.
So much Tor the past. " hat
, about the furture? Let lis look
: for word! What is coming? Slav.
r, cry is dead. Our common schools
are advancing rapidly. We al.
q ready have large numder Of good
! public schools! Our teachers are
advancing in education and eflici.
ency. Our taste for reading is
> rapidly increasing. Where five
> years ago YOU could not II any
= kind of book, now the people are
, eager for hooks. The minGs of oul
people are broadening. Culture
and retiem'nt are inCreaing or
l every side. East Tennessee.
S bright day is at hand. The talent
p is in East 1euues>e e. This has beel
a proved by the great number OF
East Tennessee students who have
taken the first prizes from different
: institutions of learning. Their
r let this talent be developed TO the
enoheling of character until we
shall be worthy of our heritage and
. stand as heralds of be ter day
breathe there man with soul so dead
G Who never to him self hath said,
! This is my own my native land"
L Gag Ia