Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1899-03-06
ELABORATE BANQUET AT THE CASTANEDA
Members of the Legislature and Notable Visitors
Royalty Entertained by Las yegans. ss',
SOME FINE MUSIC BY THE oRAToRI0 SOCIETY.


p. M, the dedication exercises of the
Las Vegas Normal University were
held at this handsome educational
structure. The hall was elaborately
and artistlcally decorated with flags
and. palms. The front of the stage
was reserved for the speakers, members
Or the legislature, President Herrick. of
the Albuquerque University. and the
clergy. The Oratorio society occupied
the rear of the stage.
The band arrived a few minutes be-
fore the hour for opening the exercises,
and in front Of the building played
several airs. Promptly at o'clock the
band entered the hall and opened the
afternoon program with waltz. "Pleas-
ant Dreams" Miss Bessie Cooley and
Max Nordhaus then rendered the
plano duet bohemian Dance. It was
ertistically executed aud highly appre-
ciated. Following this came the pa
triotic song america" by the Oratorlo
chorus OF sixty voices. in which the au-
diencs joined. This concluded the mu
steal Introductory, the venerable Father
Defoun arose and thanked God for the
occasion of the gathering and invoked
His blessing upon the school. The
chorus then sang Gounod's beautiful
anthem Praise Ye the Father and as
the words "Praise ye the Father. give
thanks for all his benefits" broke forth
from the magnificent chorus, the hearts
of the listeners were raised in thanks
giving to .he Giver OF every good gift.
Frank Springer, president Of the Nor
NAL board, deliveredth dedicatory adj
dress. He said:
The Dedicatory Address.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: The inaugu-
ration Of a school of learning is the lignt-
Ing Of . new lamp along the pathway .of
Civiliz alton and Progress. Hos bright
its light shall be,-how long and how well
1t shall iIiumine the way, will depend
upon the liberality and far sic htedness of
those who are charged with It's mainte
nance and support, and the fidelity and
intelligence OF those who are entrusts
with its care. Whenever thev establish
seat of education, with good Judgment as
TO Its location and purposes, the govern
log powers perform one OF the highest du
tiss ts their constitu nts.
That thu education of the people is one
OF the legitimate functions OF government,
IL a truth so universally admitted that no
argument for its support Is needed at the
present day. Macauiey said: "Whoever
- -. a. As... .rlsss. -
The spirit OF this age goes farth sr, and
says that the power TO govern and the au-
thority TO punish, carry with them not
nnlt the right but the OBJ igation, to en-
Hghtsn. Washington last ad n nitlon to
the American people was, "educate your
children.n "Educat7 the pc PIE" said
Jsffsrsof, though in all things else he con-
demned paternallsm in government, as
the crowning heresy ink statecraftk And
the great eulogist OF both, in one of those
grand sentences which come down the
agesto stir the souls Of men. said: ''If we
work upon marble, il will perl i; If We
work upon brasss time vii efface tt; If We
rssr temples, they will crHmhie into DUST
hut five work upon immortal minds, II we
fmhus them with principles. with the just
fear OF God, and love Of oug feilUwmen. we
engrave upon these tablets something
which will brig hten to all eternity.n
With these ilIustriOus precepts, confirm
ed hy the experience of the people to
whom they were address d. legistAturs
at this day need have no misgivipgs as ito
che validity or propriety q any act WHICH
tends to the mental elevation of those for
whom they make the laws.
rHzM EAsURE OF USEFULNESS
20 tbs commonwealth Of any educational
establishment depends upon 9 number OF
conditions. For public Institution, TO !.
she creation and support OF which the1l
psopIss' money Is appro 0riafed, two con-
stderations sh nld Be param0unfs 1rst.
location, which BY reason Of Inviting ssur-
roundinRs and couvenience OF access
shall render its benefits ayailabieato the
largest possible portion Of the inhabitants,
and, second, purpose aud pI An Of, WORK
which shall meet and serve the most im-
portsnt needs OF ths people by whose rev.
snues IL Is to bs supported. In short, \
there should be applied neres as In other
matters OF public concern, the hotnely
maxim OF government greatest good
20 ths greatest number. = Judged By this
standard. feel warranted In. saying that
she New Mexico Normal University, for
whose formal dsdiosfion weare assembled |
81 this time. Iurnjshes-like beauty In
aoman--its own excuse, for being and i
slmulv steps int, q place which ths time
aud circumstances held open for It. The \
proef Of thIs depends not upon tha cpl ai0u
8f aay man. ms artu4I resuib5 alreauy
shown have furnishtd be facts.
Opening its ors. I've months ego, In an \
upfiuishsd buiIdiueffhis institution began
with an setendeuee of ninetg-four pupils
tba largest FIRST snrolIment Shown BY any
similar school II the United States. Since
fheu the attendance has gone on incfeas-
ing untIi i has nov reached the number
81 l5o. not including its preparatory class,
femporafIly provided Tor those pupils
whose scholarship L net quite up to the
<Eeudard of admission into its normal
zckas}> This attendance is larger than
6kaz of eav other institution n the Terri
kore. in equivalent grades.
This Territory bee the establisnmsnt
of fhs higher seats Gt fszrninR ten years
ago. and two Of them have been ID aotlye
opsratinn f.r eight searz, With proYifiIns
for maiHtananos from tbs pablo fnndn Tar
20 excess Of any thing zt onr upaH4
IasarfheIsss fhis Normal UaIveTsi ,. in-|
Isss than half year. has already exceed
"a bath oE "a n IN that which Is the 81
zimeEs test OF ]. eiuInees 20 ths public, W
zhe anlueer of np pills who avail themselves
~ Iks opportunities. make this stsfe-
me1k not Tor the purpose of Roafslng qI L, !
1ef Hifh Ehe intention oI Drawing pdloqs
zoNa1arisone With our 6sI4hhuF4 HHd /
#rI4zHn n whom We #Iah ell prosperity