The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1898-07-01
ADDRESS
Of
VIM. w. DUVALL, A. NJ, M. D.,
President Of tie B,urd of School Com.
m,ssioners Of Prince Georges
Comfy, Md.

DELIVERED AT \ MEETING OF TIE TEACH
ERs' ASSOCIATION HELD AT THE
GEORGETOWN LAW SCHOOL.
APRIL %. 1898.
"MR. PRESIDENT AND LADIES AMI
GENTLEMEN OF TIE TEACHERS Asso.
CIATIoN.-I can truthfully say that my
exordium is not by any means of al
apologetic character. An apology is
an Acknowledgements of duty unper
formed. And when the one upon whom
any responsibility rests, or to whom a
duty is assigned brings to the fulfill.
ment of the task the faithful exercise
and application of the faculties which
the Giver of every good and perfect
gift has bestowed, the incumbent can
confidently leave the result to the in.
genuous criticism of those who pass
judgment either of appreciation or con
demnation.
"A word Of approval, a smile of kind,
ly recognition, or tear of sympathy
is always a source of qualification tC
the appreciative mind and sensitive
heart, but when these manifestations
OF atfectionate regard emanatc from 4
band of co-workers in a noble and vir-
tuous calling, pursued with assidlous
! fidelity, and adorned with culture and
refinement, such indications of conf
dence ard esteem become intensified
and should he the more gratefully ac-
knowledged by the recipient. Such,
ladies and gentlemen, are my feelings
toward you for your kind consideration
of myself, which eliminated in your
Unanimous expression of 4 desire for
my continuance in my official relation
to you. OF this matter | forbear to
speak, save to say that | have never
regarded the system of public cduca-
tion as an apparatus or machine to
work out or accomplish political de-
signs. My standard has always been
intellectual qualifications and moral
character. And no religious or parti-
san influence has ever caused me to
swerye one iota from my sense ofduty.
Having no selected topic, no special
line of thought marked out, my retlec-
tions must necessarily be of desultory
character. Never having taught,
would not undertake to instruct you
in the science of pedagogics. | would
rather, if needs be, learn of you.
Spurning all desire for selfadulation,
| ask your attention briefly to part
of my experience in reference to the
subject of public education in our State
and county.
ain the year 1852 l was elected to
the House of Delegates, and was placed
by the presiding officer of that body
on the Committee of Public Education,
oa which ] served through two sessions
of five months each, and subsequently,
| was chosen by the voters of Vans
vile district to represent them in the
Board of County School Commission
ers. At the first meeting of said board
| | met DR.. Michael Jenifer Stone, as
| examiner, secretary and treasurer, and
my former acquaintance with whom
was renewed and strengthened by our
official association until his death.
And however sadly the duty may be
discharged, it is meet and right that
we should honor the memory Of worthy
departed lunctionaries.
"To fill the official vacancy occa-
stoned by the death of Dir. Stone, his
son, Mr. Thomas Somerville Stone,
was appointed. OF his record will
not, | need not speak. Like that of
his lamented father it needs no COM
ment from me- All that | have to say
Of him, if you will pardon the use of a
latin quotation, | will sum up in the
words: Fclius diy"us Isfo diyno p 'rcntc.
| And while my mind is recurring to sad
recollections, | cannot omit q sorrow-
| ful reference to Ignatius Stanislaus
| Wilson, who was officially associated
with me from the date of Mr.. Stones
appointment until the expiration ofthe
term for which he had been appointed,
and which occurred a short time pre-
vious to his death.
"My acquaintance with Mr.. Wilson
was rendered the more interesting from
the recollection that his mother was a
pupil in the first school ever attended,
and one Of a bright family Of children;
and from her, in Il great measure, he
inherited that gentleness of manner
and voice, which, added to his scholarly
and editorial excellence, rendered him
so eminently fitted for the position he
SO gracefully filled as Il co-aborcr in
the cause of public education.
"This address is offered solely as an
expression of heartfelt gratitude to you
for the kind consideration with which
you have regarded me. For the thirty
years or more during which | have
filled the position, which, in obedience
to the mandate of the powers that be |