The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-10-24

LECIURESAT THE CAPT TAI
President McIvtr Makes Practical
and Eloquent Address.
1.-THE SEED CORN OF CIVILIZATION"

Nothing less than woman was the sub
ject in the Hall of Representatives at the
capitol last night topic which the
chairman, General William r. Cox, said
had been much discussed in that room
especially when the members of the House
looked toward the galleries.
The North Carolina Agricultural So
ciety had invited the public to hear Dr.
A. A. Marshall, of the First Baptist
church, and Dr. Charles D. McIver, presi-
dent of the State Normal and Industrial
College at Greensboro discuss the SUBJ
ject: 1.-THE Elevation of Woman and it's
Corresponding Influence on Civilization"
and there was goOdly crowd present.
DR.. Marshall began by defining civili-
zation in it's broadcast sense as denoting
the manner and type Of individual and
national life.
ut not only" said he, expresses in
terms of measurement the character of
life, but it also in turn reacts upon life
and becomes determinant as well as an
exponent. One of the most important
standards by which we may judge the
value of a civilization is the position of
the domestic tie. In the worlds retarda-
ton and progress the position of woman
has been both an index and factor.
When the current Of the worlds history
has moved sluggishly along the position
of woman has been lowly and ,servile, but
when as in the past century the worlds
advance movement has seemed moving
like an irresistible current, woman's
hoc nd cha
made more than queenly enthroned in the
circle of home and placed in dignity
by the side of her brother man from
which as in figure she sprang, and with
him lifted into a sacred apotheosis."
The speaker referred to the influence of
the knight errantry of medieval times
as exerting some influence on the position
of woman in the world. The question was
raised and discussed as to whether the
progress of the world had brought about
the elevation of woman or whether the
elevation of woman brought about the
progress of the centuries, and he declared
that in woman's elevation the world found
if not a cause at least necessary con-
comitant of it's own freedom and advance
ment. He said there is a necessary con-
nection between the intelligence of
man and the dignity of woman. So that
man cannot degrade woman without him.
self falling into degradation; he cannot
raise her without himself becoming bet
ter. So that women, instead of being the
mere flowers and poetry of life, have
been the beacon lights Of an advancing
civilization, the terrestrial planets that
rule the destinies of mankind.
Speaking of the mistaken notion as to
the education of women hundred years
ago he said: ''It has been reserved to
the latter half of the past century to
recognize higher function in woman's
life than merely hushing the sobs of in
fants or of applying liniment and shingles
to growing young America
DR.. Marshall called attention to the
opening up of various fields of work in
which women might earn an honest and
self-reliant living. Il do not believe for
one moment" said he, that these larger
spheres of work will render her less
womanly or unfit her for the almost divine
functions of wifehood and motherhood.
So long as it shall continue as it was at
the beginning, when male and female
created He them, SO long will love like
bands of steel bind hearts together. So
long as the birds mate and chirp their
roundelays of joy so long will the heart
of the man cleave to the woman, and the
heart Of the woman cleave to the man and
homes will be maintained and babes like
cherubs from the skies will bless the
homes and hearts Of human kind. The
larger privileges of woman have always
brought larger liberties for men, con-
firming the doctrine that the elevation OF
woman is inseparately connected with the
progress of the world. In conclusion he
said, LET us continue to respect the home
as the center of our civilization and seek
to elevate her who alone can make or
home the dearest spot this side OF
heaven"
DIR. McIvcr had prepared an exhaustive
manuscript on the subject, but did not
read it, confining his address to com
mon sense, business-like talk, punctuated
with several eloquent outpourings of
mind thoroughly in sympathy with the
theme it dwelt upon
He began by saying that as far as he
should treat on woman, he would treat
her as human being. Men, he said. have
been thought of as the people, and wo-
man as a sort of extra appendage there
to.
1.-The education of race he continued,
lis the supreme question Of civlllza-
ton.
Tho teachers Of children are the seed
corn of civilization, and nothing but the
best and strongest are good enough to
use. Have we in all seriousness selected
the host ord the strongest men and wo-
men to do this work? We have paid bet
ter compensation to our cotton pickers
and tobacco stemmers than we have to
our public school teachers. Nothing in
this room can be produced by labor at
so cents day except people. We have
s-ifed with the biggest question we have,
and we are paying the penalty Of poverty
for it. We are land poor. If we could
convert some of our land into ideas, we
would be rich people. The fortunes OF
the world have been made by the people
who have ideas a little ahead of the rest
OF the people,
THE records of the patent Office said