Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1894-06-05
FROM MISS BELLE KEARNEY.
An Interesting Report of Her Visit to
Starkyilie.

An Interesting Report of Her Visit to
Starkvilie.
COLUMBUS, MISS, May %, 81.
Editor Mississippi Leader:
Three days have been spent most de-
lightfully recently in Starkville. The
Cumberland Presbyterian church open
ed its doors cordially Saturday night.
/ was greeted by good audience and
gladdened by the beautiful floral deco
rations that had been made in honor
of the occasion and by the splendid
music rendered. Sunday night nearly
every minister in town "gave way" to
my services and / spoke in the Metho-
dist church to an immense audience.
had hoped to be allowed the privi-
lege, while in Starkville, of addressing
the students at the A. and NJ. College,
in body, as / had been invited to do
at Millsaps College, the University at
Oxford, and other institutions oflearn-
ing in this State and others, North and
South, but Gen. Lee objected; on the
ground, as | was informed by reliable
authority, that the college was under
Democratic regime and it was not de
sirable to have Prohibition party poll
tics introduced. The General has yet
to learn that the Mississippi w. c. L.
U. is non partizan society, and its
representatives, however welded to
the Prohibition party individually,
would hardly be SO indiscreet as to
breach a subject that was calculated
to create dissension and bring down
! the wrath of trustees on the president
( and professors of State college.
AS it was impossible for me to reach
the students in the chapel, | was in
vited to 60 out to the college Sunday
afternoon and address the Y. NJ. G.. A,
which l gladly did. The invitation
came from the members of the Asso-
citation. Between IS and 100 students
assembled in the pretty little hall at
the hour appointed. spoke to them
earnestly and at the close of my adj
dress l called for signatures to the to-
tai abstinence pledge. The invitation
was responded to enthusiastically
the aisles were crowded with noble
young men who were anxious to de-
clare themselves for the right. In a
few moments "a had signed the pledge
against the use of alcoholic beverages
in any form and AZ took the anti-to-
bacco pledge.
This work in the colleges of our land
is most hopeful. Nothing could with
stand a great army of young men with
clear brains, steady nerves and intrep-
id spirits. with hearts aflame with holy
zeal beating in time to "a national
idea" for justice and righteousness.
The A. and NJ. college is an honor to
Mississippi. The buildings are hand
some, the grounds extensive, the facul-
ty capable, the dormitory filled with
earnest boys determined to make men
of themselves. Everything was in per-
feet order-all the departments run
ming smoothly under admirable man
agement. The whole prosperous and
progressive, with a bright future be-
fore and splendid record behind
1t was pleasure to meet my old
teacher, Prof. w. H. Magruder, now
occupying the chair of English. l am
so glad that labor is being dignified in
the South, the sons of Mississip-
pi are being taught that "a sun-burnt
face and work stained hands are pa
tents of nobility; that the mechanics
bench, the pillow and anvil, are as hon
orable as law or medicine, banking or
the board of trade.
A Y. was organized in Starkville
with 15 regular members. Our devot
worker, Miss Madge Montgomery,
eft no stone unturned" to make my
sit fruitful of good works. Let us
,say that the seed sown will blossom
into consetrated lives among the young
men and women there.
BELLE KEARNEY.