Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-01-28
MR.. BAYARD AT BRISTOL.

| Iltt bAi llttD III Dlttot VN
On Thursday, December 18th, Hon.
| Thomas +. Bayard, United States Am
bassador to Great Britain, visited
Bristol and was the guest of the Cham
Der OF Commerce. In the evening he
was present at gathering in the large
hall Of the Venturers' Technical Col
lege when the annual distribution OF
| prizes to the successful students of the
adult day and evening classes took
place. The Master of the Society of
Merchant Venturers, Mr.. W. W.. Ward,
| presided.
The Master, in thanking Mr.. Bayard
| for his presence. said there was one
reason which made the present occasion
especially pleasant, because it afforded
them the opportunity of giving well
come to welcome and most honored
| guest. Applause. His Excellency
Mr.. Bayard required no introduction
before British audience. tRenewed
applause. The great interest he had
taken in all their institutions, and
| especially those connected with educa-
tion, and the significant abilities, both
| OF heart and head, which had illustrated
his high and responsible Office during
his tenure, and at time Of peculiar
difficulty, had made him known and
respected throughout the length and
breadth Of this land. Surely there
never was an Ambassador of the United
States of America who was more on.
titled to respect or honor or gratitude,
both from the great country which he
represented with no much distinction,
and from their own country. by the
pi in nj ems he hnI 60 hNf
in throwing oil upon troubled waters.
tApplause.
His Excellency the Hon. Il. r.
Bayard then gave his address, saying
thar of all the interesting facts in the
history Of this maritime port and city
of an important commerce there was
nothing thar struck him as so wise as
the institution OF that college. He had
read their calendar, he had seen In il
such diversifcation of education, such
completeness in almost every branch OF
the human mInd-nay, there was some
thing even finer than mere intellectual
distinction, it was the great generosity
that was expressed in the scale OF educa-
tion, holding out almost FREQ gift
but gift which could DO availed
of by any one in the most trdi-
nary circumstances of life. for the
purpose OF permitting the human
faculties to expand themselves in
Just such direction as the individual
conscience and the individual mind
should dictate. This was, TO his mind,
the building of the foundation of a
| strong and happy state. Tennyson put
in the mouth of ono of his characters
the words, 81, the Eeir of all the ages
in the foremost files OF time" This
| ought to be, and could Justly be, the
soliloquy of the humblest and the
poorest boy the community contained.
lie felt that at this time life was
peculiarly interesting heir of all
the ages was about to come into his in
heritance. Education slowly, steadily
ana surely had its harvest ripening Il
was ready to be reRped. Education had
brought with it liberty, and liberty
strength. Development had followed.
To-day it was simply marvellous to
try even to comprehend the growth of
| discovery and invention. Great and
marvellous were the results OF discovery
and invention. They had taught more
than aught else the necessity OF educa-
tion, and Just such liberal education
as an institution like theirs afforded.
1t was not merely that the past was
enabled to bear its fruits in The present,
but the discoveries of modern times
had developed things in the past,
capacities in the past, of which he
diu not believe it was possible for the
past to conceive. This was the use of
education and OF study. 1t was not
only bringing the world closer together,
not only, as his countryman and sweet
poet Whittier said, 1.-THE space is
Knocked and time is outrun, hut, to
follow his second line, can round the
world the thoughts of all are as the
thoughts of one." Mankind were being
brought closer and more Familiarity
together. Here was he, an American
citl2en, whose home was more than
5000 miles distant from theirs, and
yet he was brought together with them
In absolute sympathy, and he bad a
very perfect understanding of what was
| going on ID the city of Bristol ia
which he SGT his foot for the first time
| that day. Applause. These were
irresistible currents, and the man or
the law giver or the nation which set
| itself against them would do SO in vain.
Inc world was coming together, and
mankind could help each other even
whilst they benefited themselves. This
opened up a glorious thought, for il
mace even seltishness somewhat en-
nobled-if man could accomplish his
own prctit, and yet be blessing to
the man who assisted him to make it,
certainly it was double blessing.
| lAppiause. Modern discovery had
brought the hands and minds of men
who were living, together, but it had
done much more. Ii had brought the
lives OF the dead men to aid the living.
The seeds of life that were implanted in
almost forgotten graves, 10 the dust of
volumes and in musty tones, were
starting into life in the sunlight of
modern discovery This, it struck
MIN, was what ennobled every effort Ia
educate the mind of man in the liyht
which mercifully was permitted to
dawn upon them. These were the
thoughts which encouraged them in
times in which there were also dark
shadows thrown across the pathway OF
nations, and there was much to make
them apprehensi, o; but underneath the
threatening cloud they still saw Inc
light, ami that light was what irradiated
the relations of man to man, not merelv
In one community, but in every com
munlty the wide world over. One of
the things which brought every inhabi-
tant OF that place toge Their was lust such
a college as this. There wal one word
that he wished TO say to those to whom
ne was about 10 deliver the prizes-the
one thing that was given them by an
INSTITUTION like this was to lead them