The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-06-03

needs call upon your imaginative facul-
ties to shadow forth the lofty pile, as it
will be when the workman's last touch
has been given to it.
''This is a reproach that must be re-
moved at once. All else here in the way
| of building is but accessory to
| this. This is, or will be the
fountain, the others viii take place as
feeders or off-shoots, for in this
massive structure will be congregated
| all the recitation and lecture rooms. Be
sides it is to be at commencement times
veritable home for the Alumni.
"Spite at the good fortune of others
never had place here and never will
have. Mud-hooks were never part of
our equipment. We faced and rode out
the storm, ever deeming the craft sea
worthy, and have been through more
than century singularly fortunate in
commanders and pilots. / think history
will bear me out that this is 4 claim cap
able of the fullest verifcation, and GER
tainly it is in no boastful spirit that /
present it now.
"Your selection Of q speaker in my per
son was not in all respects fortunate, yet
in one point ! may with you say that
You made no mistake.
"You secured lover, if not a man of
letters, for | am n native here and
hreathed this air during all my early life.
The giant oaks in which you take so
much just pride were my childhOod's first
friends, the wide streets in which you
take your afternoon walks and drives
have each of them for me a hundred
memories sacred. solemn, withal sweet
as kisses after death or those by hope
less fancy feigned on lips that are for
Others
"'Victory or place in the Abbey
Nelson is said to have cried as upon one
occasion he went into battle. Your abb
hey is Memorial Hall. and if the future
can be booked from the past, you of the
young set, who now listen to me are
sure of Il place there, if you win the
victory.
"The basis of cost was $4,000. of
which something more than n third has
been paid in. Presuming MS / must. that
the residue Of the subscription viii be
met as called for, / am informed that
about $4,000 is vet needed to make the
list tally with the estimate of eXpendi-
lures. That by classes or by individual
members of the classes, this deficit will
be subscribed Mt once | do not doubt for
one moment. All the past negatives
doubt as to this.
'Ne must call attention to it, the press
must advert to it, the scattered members
of our organization must be advised or
our needs and when this has been done, l
feel that the result will be in accord
with our highest expectations.
And referring to the press | pause to
say. that the University in all the host
n.
ones than the States editors. In the re-
cent trials to which this ancient seat of
learning has been subjected ut the hands
of the enemies Of higher education, the
press of North Carolina with compare
tive unanimity stood forth in behalf OF
the States reputation for conservative
wisdom and progressive development.
with both Of which the University is
bound up in lasting links. The result
was. the blow intended for her breast. fell
to the earth unnoticed and uncared for
by even the most time serving of the
politicians. and over the exploded smell OF
sectarian spite and with the plaudits of
good men in all political parties, our an
cient banner was carried by those worthy
successors OF Swain, Stevenson, Battle
and Caldwell, George Il. Winston and II.
A. Alderman,
.'All honor to them and their co-worlx-
ers wherever scattered.
SIN all wars the University is ut the
front. The modified camp ut Raleigh
is freely sprinkled with her children-so
many indeed that it would be invidious
to name them Chips Of the old block,
are they, scions of fathers, some of
whom were here with me, so swiftly does
time throw its shuttle.
''Those were happy days to me, though
the great civil conflict was Mt its height
and soon interrupted our students with
a call. which none in our ranks capable
Of bearing arms could or would resist
And so from students we became soldiers
and gave to this dear Southland the best
service Of which we were possessed.
'sYet the bell on the old South con-
tinued to call together for morning pray
or and recitation a handful of what
President Swain used to call the seed
corn even when the village saw for the
first time the blue coats of the Northern
cavalry.
But what war could not do recon
struction most effectually accomplished,
and under it's whitening blight the bell
ceased to sound over the campus and
town. Wherever else reconstruction may
here III the then desolated village, in
pundered libraries, in mouldered walls
in ruined groves and defaced buildings.
I'm the village Of Domremy in France
for more than three hundred years the
tax -gatherer wrote words opposite his
list, which on being translated means.
nothing on account of the Maid Thus
did the Bourbon remember Joan Of Arc.
1t was her poor wish in return for all her
mighty service to the monarchy.
I'VE sometimes hear criticism Of the
triling aid given by the State to this
seat Of learning. / say boldly that if our
Alma Mater had never rendered North
Carolina other service than the training
and presentation to her Of our great
war governor Zebulon Baird Vance, the
Lawmakers might well write in their es-
innate of appropriations anything the
University wants on account Of Vance
"Such would have been the wish near
est the noble heart of him who was
in war and peace our great deliverer
from foes without and foes within. from
calamities more CALLING than death from
dishonored statehood, from a turning