The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1895-06-27
EL0QUENCE INDEED.
Mr.. HENRY'S OPENING ADDRESS BEFORE
THE TEACHERS ASSEMBLY.
1t Was 4 Masterpiece OF Thought and
EIoqucnce-A Noble Tribute to the
Women of the SOuth-The Common
Schools the Conserving Force of the
Nation.
Especial Cor. News and Observer.

MbREiiEAD CIlF, N. <. june 10
The train was again croNdcd to-
night with teachers and their friends
and the complete success ofthis session
Of the Assembly IS assured. The
opening address by Hon. w. K.
Henry was truly a masterpiece of
thought and eloquence, and was ap-
plauded to the echo.
Mr.. Henry was in his happiest mood
and after most eloquent and fitting
introduction to his address, he said in
part:
Mind is the Archimedean lever that
moves man along the current of civil
ization. 1t has put natures gigantic
forces in our grasp. 1t has enriched
millions with the priceless treasures of
thought. Under lis magic spell, night
in her robe Of blue with silyery sheen
and heecy drapery Of peariy clouds,
jewelled with stars and planets and
consultations, and radiant with the
diadem Of the Peiades is but typical
of the sublime beauties and wonders OF
Astronomic Science.
"The age in which we live IS the
queen of the centuries. Behold her
grand march. Sec her host OF atien-
dan;s, liberty, progress, commerce,
agriculture, science, painting, sculpture,
poetry and music. Hear their voices
rise in sublime chorus
Mr.. Henry then portrayed and elab-
grated the majesty and power of the
Republic, saying truly did Matthew
Arnold declare that "AmcriCa holds
the future
After naming many Of the perlls to
this government, the speaker SAID;
"Our greatest danger lies in the mighty
money monopoly with its golden
shield, whose greed ard power has
heaped up seventy American estates
that average forty million dollars, each
five times tie wealth of Crnsus; that
has given to New York city eleven
hundred and three millionaires and
to Vanderbilt d fortune, which, III
silver dollars, laid in 4 straight row,
says the New York HvaI1, with their
edges touching, would form a silver
streak across the ocean from New
York to Liverpool, and seven hundred
miles beyond.
"But 10, against these destroying
agaencies | see the conserving forces
of this nation forming for battle-the
one recruited from the eighteen mil
lion church COMMITMENTS and patri-
OF citizens Of the Union, the other
from the twenty-one million members
of the schools headed by the three hun
dred and sixty-fonr thousand teachers
of America"
The speaker here dwclt upon tht
universally of organization as one o
the chief characteristics of the age, de
picted its power and traced the orls1I
: and portra, Cd the value OF teachers
institutes and assemblies. He theI
said, $50 use the words Of one OF tn
greatest reviewers in this country, 4
has burst on the minds OF teacher
that they are members OF noble pro
fession-a profession that has history
a scientific basis, and classic lltera
,ure, that though a teacher ma
may be born, he must nevertheless g
through the process of being made,
he is to obtain the best results, wit
the least expenditure of force and tn
smallest waste Of material.
Mr.. Henry emphasized the neceSslt
for a more general and thorough III
derstanding of the duties Of Citizenship
and desired to see civiCs taught IN a
; our institutions of learning.
"The trouble with us IS that
many thousands of our people tail
appreciate the glory of being an Ame
lean citlzen-absorbed in the pursu
, of wealth, neglecting the duties of c'
r izenship, they merit i'll part, at leaS
u the severe words of John Stuart Mi
. when he said, In America the life
- one sex is devoted to dollar huntIn
, and that of too many of the other S
= to catching dollar hunters.
"Many OF the best minds OF II
of country have demonstrated that
IS order TO overcome this political paraI
re sis the science Of civics ought to
or taught in all our institutions Of lear
,c- ing. This constitutes the teacher, I
i'll only the guardian of the schools, /
the architect Of government.
The speaker traced the emerger
'0 of woman from the darkness OF
.. past into the light of the prese
LUZ showed her status IN different perlt
no of the worlds history, cited lnstan
On OF her heroism, and powers OF I'M
ow lect evinced in great crises, IN VII
to she proved superior to man; tl
for strong ground against ',Nom'
lie Rights" so-called, but stood for
t right to hold any position and to
~. gage in any work consistent with
strength and true refinement.
The speaker said that Helne o
remarked, "whenever see any gr
= achievement Of man, always dc
. to see the woman back Of 1t, as
I've secret spring of inspiration"
with d.a Mr.. Henry then proved that ain
: re Ts, without exception every great ora
oxes noet. Dain;er and sculptor. has |