The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-06-10

every FORM or venice was Inefe' Ill iTOHl
was a gaily decorated chariot drawn by
four Arabian Steeds selected from Pick
ards stables; guarding each bit, with
hand upon the rein for sake of safety,
were expert horSemen of the Numidian
race, Respondent from crown to toe III
college colOrs. 1t was the car of triumph.
In it, side by side, the one with satiSfac-
ton of victory which even great Her
culeS might envy, the other Il feeble
echo and a silent shadow, sat the captain
of the victorious football team and the
president of the rejoicing University.
The organization of the alumni must
not be omitted, for the new University
realized that she must grow with the
help of her sons. Local associations
were organized throughout the State and
the central association was qulckened
into new life and energy. Meetings were
held, with banquetS, tOaStS and speeches,
where college memories were revived,
good fellowship was strengthened and
plans for the growth and extension of
the University were set forth by the visit
ing president. At the annual commence
ment the alumni were gathered together
in large numbers and the alumni ban
Quet became the most attractive feature
of commencement. Class reunions were
organized ut intervals of five, ten, fifteen
and twenty years. and great occasions
in the past life of the University were
great enthusiasm. On one of these oc-
casions in celebration of the centennial
of the charter, Il fund was raised for the
endowment of the chair of history, and
later, at the centennial celebration in
1890, of the rcOpening of the University
one hundred years before, amid much
enthusiasm, Il movement was started
for the erection of alumni hall, and Il
large fund was subscribed for that pur-
pose Previously to this the enthusiasm
and devotion of the alumni had manifest
ed itself in the erection of this splendid
building, as Il memorial to the dlStln-
guished SONS of the University, who in
peace and i'll war gave Their lives TO the
service of the State. Thus the new Uni
versity wisely organized into active
benehcence the devotion of its alumni.
Recently Il loyal son, born III this vii
lage within the sound Of the college bell,
mindful of the happy hours which youth
and childhood brought him here, and
mindful Of the duty which goes with
wealth and power and talent, has added
to the gifts of other sons and TO other
gifts from his own generous heart, a
splendid dormitory, to be the home of
future generations of North Carolina
boys and to stand as perpetual mo-
mortal that Il mothers love is sometimes
cqualled by sons devotion. fIty years
ago the name of Carr was written upon
IL little store in this humble village. 1t
is inscribed today upon this University,
and in the coming years it will grow
brighter and more enduring.
Lack of time permits me to mention
only one more problem solved by the
new University. the problem of public
influence, or the direction in which the
University's life should be eXerted. |
have already discussed the problem of its
existence and the problem of its organiza-
ton, and now | will speak very briefly
of the problem of its line of influence.
There was IL great temptation for the
new University in 1870 to turn its life
into new channels and devote itself to
| industrial and technical education. Had
| the reopening been postponed until now,
| it is more than probable that this change
would be made. During the past twenty
years the State has advanced so rapidly
into new fields Of Industry, with large de,
mandS for skilled labor and technical
education, the opportunities for wealth
| have become so varied and so large for
men of industrial talent and training,
and the public recognition of the neceS-
Sity for this industrial revolution has
been 50 clear and so general, that it may
well he doubted whether, if Il beginning
| had to be made now, the requisite funds
| could be obtained for reviving the new
! University solely along the lines of gen
eral and professional education. 1t is
| well that it was SO. The experience of
the world has shown that there is
loss of power to both institutions when
ever universities for general culture and
colleges for technical training are blend
cd together.
| But the new life of new State pro-
duced another great necessity, which the
new University undertook to supply, and
did supply, with excellent results. This
was the promotion of education. To TINS
task the new University devoted itself
with untiring energy. Its president and
| faculty canvaSsed the State. Its sum-
mer normal schools furnished enthusi-
assn, inspiration and power to teachers
in il hundred communities. Its alumni,
! full of enthusiasm conducted teachers
institutes, superintended city schools,
secured increased taxation for public
education and became the recognized
leaders in the great movement for public
schools. The establishment of its chair
of pedagogy was the first recognition
ever made in North Carolina, or i'll any
southern university. of necessity for the
distinct and special training of young
men for the teaching profession.
The great work of the new University,
| like that of the old. has been i'll the
direction of general; to fit men for tech
nical and professional education by broad
and thorough general education; to ham
mer iron into steel before fashiOning it
into tools.
No words can describe the labOrs and
difficulties that has attended the life of
this University during the past twenty
five years of its childhood. The presence
ut this time on this platform of four
presidents of this university, each re-
jocing in the work that they have all
wrought. scene probably unparalleled
in the history of colleges, testifies to the
great and eXacting labors required, as
well as to the University's powers to
equip her own leaders. All four are
practically her sons.
| need not call the roll Of those that
laid these enduring foundations. Some
are still here, laboring with zeal, fidelity
and modest merit. Others, elsewhere,
are upholding lofty ideals of life and
rearing other temples of culture. Many
have finished the tasks of life and re-
turned their talents to the Master. My
mind beholds them now, even as they
were when we worked together within
these sacred walls Andrew Mickle, eS-
sence of integrity; William =. Mallett,
good physician and upright gentleman
John Wesley Carr, thrifty merchant,
steadfast friend and model citizen; Eos
ter Utley, thorough workman. strong,
cheerful and true: Wilson Caldwell
faithful servant in humble station; Paul
G. Cameron, majestic figure of Southern
planter. citizen and patriot; Walter l..
| hZl. .ief hpi ~