The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-10-23
MONUMENT To SIR
WALTER RALEIGH
The Historical Society Adopts
Gen. CARTS Motion.
A CELEBRATION PLANNED
In Honor of Sir Walters Colony at
Roanoke Island.
A BRILLIANT AND NOTABLE EVENING
The Annual Meeting Of the State Historical So
ciety Last Night Took important
Stepsto Honor Raleigh's
Memory
A CELEBRATION PLANNED
In Honor of Sir Walters Colony at
Roanoke Island.
A BRILLIANT AND NOTABLE EVENING

The State Historical Society is one OF
the States institutions. Young in years,
il is among the most useful of e1uca-
tional agencies 1t has already done
much to stimulate historical investiga-
tion and it took steps last night tc
strengthen and deepen and broaden it's
work.
The Olivia Raney Library from bottom
to top was brilliantly Illuminated The
brains and beauty of Raleigh and many
other sections of the State were gathered
in the lovely hall. It was more than a
historical society meeting: it combined
a reception which made it also social
function. The beautiful library was
thronged with bellies charmingly goEncd,
and the social pleasures were SO much
enjoyed that it was more than half past
eight o'clock when the feast of reason"
began.
Hon. Walter Clark, president, presided
and Secretary Alex. J. Field (whose MEL
ligent zeal has done much 10 advance the
association, Dr. Eugene Daniel (who Of
fered a prayer of exquisite beauty, Gov
ernor Aycock Senator Simmons, the
speakers of the evening, and other dis
tinguished speakers had seats on the
platform.
Judge Clark, president of the associa
tion, read his address, in which he re-
viewed the work of the association. The
full rural library was born here and al
ready 200 are established. 1t proposed
and secured the establishment of North
Carolina Day October 18th. He touched
briefly upon the idea of a celebration al
Roanoke Island and General Graham
Dawes great work for the State at faoa-
noke Island: General Julian S. Carr's
proposition 70 erect monument TO Sir
Walter Raleigh in the capital city: Mr..
Q. W. Blacknall's proposition to rrpIblish
early histories and other kindred topics.
1t was in Judge Clark's usua, vein, coIG-
bfning practical wisdom With literary
taste.
JUDGE WINSTON'S ADDRESS.
Hon. Robert w. Winston, of Durham.
spoke first of how Durham lead the
State in /. More rural libraries; 2. Lon
ger school term 3. Larger attendance
in proportion to population; 4. Deeper
interest in public education He then
terest and Importance, boldly advocat-
ing the reversal of the Barksdale VS..
Commissioners decision which has re-
tarded public education. He said in
part:
I'VE must learn to look things square
" in the face, and then VIC must learn
TO speak of things rs they are. Faithful
are the wounds of a friend The public
schools of North Carolina are not what
they should be. A four weeks school
taught in a log house; without suitable
desks, blackboards or books, brings and
has brought the entire system into dis
favor So it has come about that many
of the more aggressive and ambitious
families have left their homes in the
country and have gone to GRADED
schools in the city or town, while those
who remain on the old homestead are
almost ready to cry out against the
form Of school system which gives the
word Of promise 20 the ear and breaks
it to hope. What must be done, and
how shall it be done? First and fore
most, NORTH CAROLINA MUST
HAVE FOUR FULL MONTHS OF
SCHOOL TEPM IN EACH AND
EVERY COUNTY IN THE STATE.
More than this and in order to bring
this about North Carolina must have
harmonious and state" system of edu-
cation. This is the language of Calvin
II. Wiley. the patriot, the friend of hui
manity, the tireless Let it be under
stood that the precarious appropriation
OF SO much money each year by the
General Assembly for the cause of pub
al 1n0f lion, x,,;n l.,I1
is desired; and let it be more fully un-
derstood that license to have an cleo
tion in this county or in that, to vote
TAX TO supplement- the general school
fund is but firing along the picket line.
Eleven precincts only out of 200 avail
ed themselves of the law of 1897. and
only $4,000 raised in that campaign for
popular education! Nor will it. in nv
judgment, be wise to select one indus
try in our State, such as the railroads.
and make them the object of attack
whereby to raise revenue to run the
schools. These roads should pay their
full proportion Of taxes just as an in
dividIal does If they fail thereof they
should be compelled to do So But when
we come to so universal thing as pop
uiar education each father ought to
know and to feel, even down to the bot
tom of his pocket that he is taxed to
run these schools. Thus the interest in
public schools will be increased and di-
versified-for where mans treasure is
there is his heart also.
To accomplish this end the whole
State should be aroused at one time,
with common purpose, and with the
spirit, dash and enthusiasm which must
attend all large and good and great
movements. The head of family as
he casts his net into the waters of the
Ocracoke and returns at night to greet
his little ones, ought to know that he
has common cause with him who
plows his OK up the steepest sides of the
Grand Father, and this cause is and
must be TO move North Carolina from
the foot of illiterate States. The fire
must not be kindled about in spots. 1t