The Monticellonian., 1895-07-19

ty and convenience of having located within : their midst an institution devoted exclusive ly to the interest of higher educaton With | generous hbera!itv they subscribed the funGs with which to build the handsome structure which now stands in the Southern suburbs of our town This was the inception of Hine- mon University School. Hn who had come into our midst to put the uuruly set under restraint; who had beea SD successful in so doing and in awakening an interest in ed- ucational affairs was asked, in conjugation with his present worthy associate, to take charge ai Ii. Of tnrir -lttsti6e15 a5%.fi,''sT>. can say rothing specifically. Doubtless many of you can bear willing testimony to the high character of that work.
 Though we, of the lass of DO, were ncv- CT associated with some nf you io tue sebeol- room. or extensively elsewhere, yet the fact that we are the progeny of the same literary mother serves to be>tir within Us Il kindred feeling, which we would not otherwise expc- rienec. There is "a secret sympathy, silver link, sIlIscr tie" which untes Us in an ada- mantine bond of frenship We are one in our affection for our beloved Alma Mater. Al her interests are ours, ali her Alumni and Alumnde is ours in bond of tenderest love. Their triumphs are our; their joys are ours; their sorrows doubly SC. We are one in all educational interests and one in all State pride. Our schools, already good, can be made much better Our State, already great, is capable of being made much great CT.
 As we concievc it, three things are csser- tial to secure her proper industrial develop ment and commercial greatness. They are capital brain-power and energy. Capital to invest; brains to direct the investments and energy to correct the supcrabundancc of her rawmaterial into taugil.le wealth. AL ready tide of foreign capital is adding to our limited supply; the desire for gain, so strongly implanted within the human breast, will supply us with the energy. The ques- ton arises then from what source can We look for an increased supply of brain-pow- CT? We answer, that it must be to our schools-to our public schools, our high schools, our colleges and our State Uniyersi- ty. Upon their efficiency and upon the character of the instruction given in them depends largely on the future intellectual strength and moral excellence of the youth now enrolled therein. Says ex-Superintend- ent Shinn, in speaking of the importance of our public schools; t'In the national gov crnment there should be a secretary of eda- cation, equal in the cabinet to any other cabinet officer. In each State all education- al questions should be settled by co-ordi- nate, independent educational arm. '.Great Is the Dianna of our executive. Greater perhaps is the Dianna of our legislative de- partment. Greater, because quieter, is the Diana of our judiciary. But greater than any and perhaps greater than all is the Di- ana of our State public education. " These are strong words from one who has done much for the public schools of our State and whose ripe experience enables him to speak inteligently of their effects on its progress its moral and ts social life.
 A free government commits suicide when it allows an ignorant and vicious class to in- crease in the community. On the other hand 1t paYes the way for future greatness and for the seeurement of all the blessings that t free government promises when out of the abundance of its wealth it sets aside sufficient sum to foster and maintain it's pub lie schools and when its citizens give hearty support to its higher institutions of learning, Good schools make good citizens. A suif- cient number of good citizens will make good government.
 We rejoice that within the last few years public schools, high-sehools, and colleges, with able faculties, beautiful grounds and buildings and well-equipped laboratories have been established all over our fair State. They send forth annually large number of graduates well-ftted and well-equpped for the duties of life. These graduates go forth as harbingers of better things and of still greater progress in the future They will make our valleys to bloom like garden with the varied products of diversified agri- culture; they will set in motion the intricate machinery of the mill and factory and will resurreet the hidden treasures of our rich mineral wealth; they will fill our pulpits, oc- cupy our rostrums, be heard in our educa- tional assemblages and weld an influence in our legislative councils. Our Alma Mater is but oue of many such institutions that have been, and are now, welding beneti- cent influence over the youth of our State She was ever claimed to be distinctly pre- paratory school and in that sphere she has done her work noblv and well. She has done much for Us, much for our town, much for our county and we believe that she will do much for our State. We shall eyer think of her with fondost recollectiohs and shall ever feel an interest in her good fortune, May the days of her usefulness be many and the scope of her sautary infu- ence extended.
 May heavens choicest blessings rest upon those good citizens of our community who contributed so liberally to her establishment and upon those noble instructors whom we learned to love within her sacred precincts and whose benign influence will go with us through time and through eternity
 My friends, we have forgotten much that
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