The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-10-23

this commonwealth since it was taken
from the Indians. We have had tur-
moil and strife and households have
been divided, but let us hope for this
school as for Clemson that it will be
for the upbuilding of the people and
the State. What do we need most in
South Carolina2 Education. How are
we to get it9 By raising more money
by taxation, and by sending out more
trained teachers to lead the children.
Most of you will 60 from this house
with deeper sense of the need OF
which I speak. I feel that appeal to
your sense as well as to your sensiblll
ties in speaking of this school which
marks an epoch such as no other in,
stance in our history can afford. Who
of you have not been impressed with
the beauty and magnifcence of these
buildings? I say without hesitation we
have in this building the most mag
nifcent institution of learning in the
South. Some may be disposed to say
that we have spent money lavishly,
that we have expended more than we
needed. But there has not been any
thing small or picayunish connected
with our building; we preferred to
build largely rather than have poor
cheap John college.
Mr.. President and members of the
faculty, we, the board of trustees, have
done our part as far as we were able;
we know there are many defects, that
the appliances and apparatus are not
all that could be desired, but we look
with confidence to the State to support
it. Upon you and your associates will
depend whether this school will EN-:
body the great work we have marked
out for it. The fitting of its pupils for
their work in life, so that no matter
under what conditions they live, they
may be equipped for it. If the faculty
will remember that they were selected
from large number of applicants, in
some cases from 200 to 500, they should
feel complimented. I speak without
hesitation when say that we have Sc
lected the best that we could obtain.
It would be almost a miracle If we
had not made some mistakes, but l
serve notice on you that if we find
that we have a weed or noxious flower
in this garden of ours, we will un.
doubtedly pluck it up and cast it
forth.
A Roman story-teller relates that on
one occasion some of the noblest Ia
dies in Rome, wives of Senators and
other great men, were comparing their
Jewels; one, showing a diamond tiara,
another ring, another bracelet and
so on, when one of the ladies unnoticed
by the others, left the room. She
presently returned, leading her two
baby boys, twins 1.-THE senator forgot
there was about 12 years difference In
the ages of the boyS and presenting
them to the ladies. who rose at her
approach, said: ''These are my jew
e1s." I don't think there is any wom-
an more venerated in Roman history
than that matron-the mother Of the
Gracchi. Her two sons lost their lives
in struggle with the aristocracy for
the emancipation of the masses. But
the words of that matron have echoed
down the corridors of time. Can I
not say with pride, to youyoung ladies,
that you are South Carolina's jewels2
We have brought you here to this
institution of higher education for the
purpose of training.
You will remember, or if not, T will
tell you that some of the most beauti-
| full gems are dull and lustreless stones
when taken from the mine. 1t takes
grinding and polishing, sometimes a
great deal of it, to bring out the light
which the Creator put into them, and
which we see in the perfect gem. You
are Jewels, and as I look upon you
do not wonder at the eloquence of my
bachelor friend here. There is hope
for him yet, ladies. But to return to
the simile. You are here to have the
grinding and polishing that the gem
requires, to be shaped to perfect WON,
anhood, you who are the hope of the
State. You have come here from the
graded and common schools, some,
perhaps, without many of the oppor
tunities which you ought to have had.
Let me give you a word of encourage
ment. 1t is this: A great thinker has
said, "He who trains his faculties tc
the utmost of their possibility and he
who does the duties that lie before
him has made a success" Do youl
best, angels can do no more. And
only hope that if some of you are con
fronted with the problem of having
worthless husband to care for you
may be able to support him. Do the
best you can and I feel sure you will
succeed. I know you must be hungry
from the expression of your eyes.
want to say one thing, however; The
thought is recalled to my mind by the
view of this beautiful rosebud garden
of birds. Bobby Burns the great Scot
tish poet whose genius is revered BY
all Scotchmen and all English-speak
ing peoples, loved women better,
think, than almost any man who ever
lived, judging from the tribute he
pays to them in his verse, and this L
what he says:
"Old Nature swears