The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1900-12-20
ROMANCE AND HISTORY.
DR.. Hufham Delivers Delightful
Lecture Before the Young Ladies of
ST. Mary's School, Raieigh-"f The
Romance In the EARLY History of
North Carolina" Ills Theme.

Lecture Before the Dung LADIES' OF
St. Mary's School, Raleigh" The
Romance In the EARLY History of
North Carolina" Ills Theme.
From Saturdays Raleigh NescS aad
ObSerCer we take the following:
At the St Mary's School last night,
Rev. DIR. j. ID. Huffman lectnrcd on
Romance in the History of tie Caro-
l5naS."
It was the second OF Il series oi lee
tlres that will be giv.n there this
winter, and it was most charming
enacted in the carly settlement Il this
State and her Southern sister.
DIR. Huffman began his discourse
with "A definition of the word romance,
which he said was "a description of
men and women at their bcst-brst
in sentiment, highest in thought and
noblcst in achievement
He then gave instances of this, most
OF them drawn from local happenings,
but all showing the human mind and
sentiment striving upward. "Ihis
feature OF character the tendency to
higher and nobler things-runs
through all humanity" he said, land
crops ont here and vondcr like the
strata Of rock that forms the back
bone of some noble range of mount
aims
Thus he briefly discussed the ro-
| mantle in literature and divided it
into t"o great classes: Realistic and
Romantic. The Realistic, he said
describes humanity at its worst, with
| a tendency to sUrdidness and dirt.
The Romantic describes humanity at
its best, shows its longings for the
higher things Of life and how they are
reached.
Authors illustrative of these two
schools were named, and the speaker
warned his friends against what is
| known as Realistic literature. He
added:
'.Pcoplc laugh at romancc-;tt the
| girl who dreams dreams and the Young
man who walks on air and bumps his
| head against the stars. But they are
| to be envied rather than laughed at
| They represent humanity at its best
The Bible from first to last" said
| DR.. Hufham. lis a historical TO-
nance"
He gave instances: The story of
Ruth, the biography of Abraham, the
transactions of Jacob and others.
| ..Iu the record oil Abraham's life.
God throws in much romancc-al
/,
shows us ever the old patriarch S
downfaling, and upri-ing-. Il long
ing,fa striving for the better and the
nobler.
" And the lesson of it all i. that to
| be men and women we must be ro-
mantic-you must dream dreams and
have high thoughts.
| This brought the speaker to the
central thought OF his disCourse-the
romance in ear, North Carolina his
tory. and this lie discussed in most
charming and familiar manner: Civ
ing many interesting happenings in
| North and South Carolina history
during the time that they were one
| province.
1t was & discourse such rs no svnop-
sis will do Justice 10. A delightful
talk of an old man to room full OF
young women-such talk As one
| would imagine the venerable Dr.
| Oliver Wendell Holmes or the de
lightful George William Curtis would
have made under similar circum-
stances and To such an audience.
The lecture was enli,cned by many
quaint savings and delightful salle.
OF wit; and the hour for the lecture
had passed almost before anvon,
realized that it had we'll begun.
In conclusion. DR.. Huffman sail:
Young ladies, there are Two things
that | would tonight ask you to re,
mem Der:
/. The humdrum and ordinar,
are no, the true life and true char.
acter. Do not be afraid to dream
dreams and have high thoughts
.. The man who rises above tina,
which is sordid-these are the mer
and women that upli:t the world ant
bring it nearer Heaven and bring
Heaven down TO the world.
1t IS the romance in our histor,
that makes us proud of it."
| Loud applause Sreetedihc close O
DR.. Hufham lecture.