The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-05-23

and hence there are among them no in
ventors, no scientists
Upon man has fallen the duty OF
going forth and conquering, and we'll has
he done it, He has harnessed rivers,
bridged oceans, tunnelled mountains,
opened communication with the uttermost
parts of the earth, and brought distant
cities to our DOORS While man has done
all this, woman has played equally well
her part. and her work and her in
fluence constitute the most admirable
part of the worlds drama
Here the names and achievements OF
the most prominent women in the world s
history were recounted, after which the
speaker said:
You will therefore see that while wo-
man has filled second place in the heroic
achievements of history, in that higher
sphere of living, breathing humanity, she
occupies first place Her silent power
and blessed influence always has and ever
will penetrate every spot of civilization.
Mr.. Kitchin did not like the New Wo-
man and he said so plainly. 1t was the
dear Old Woman that he held up as an
ideal to his hearers. 'She whose gentle
nature, tender love and constant prayers
constitute her richest gifts"
In the ideal woman of the savage, he
found a slave; of the semi-civilized a
servant and of the civilized a companion
and helpmeet. To letters and religion he
attributed this change in condition.
"As civilization has advanced, so has
woman's condition until now she is in this
country nearly the equal of man. You
are the equals if not just little SUI
perior to men. Well, not in the eyes OF
the law. You have not yet the same
control of your property that a man has,
though these things are being attained
step by step. Civilization may change it's
place of abode, but it never goes back
ward and so woman is continually adj
yancing in the world.
rs pleasure and vanity the end of all
things for women? It is a great thing
to be a social leader, but there are. things
above and beyond that. There are high
and noble spheres to fill. Consider well
your duty, therefore, guard well your
conduct, act we'll your part. 1t is not for
your delicate hands to develop the des-
tiny of materially; it is not for you to
control politics, or sit on the judicial
bench There is a nobler duty-that of
guiding and directing the men who do
these things, inspiring them to high pur-
poses and strengthening them in the
performance of those duties.
while few women can hope to occupy
even line in history, all may contribute
something toward shaping the worlds
destiny through her influence. Never was
there a great man that had not a great
mother; never a useful man that did not
carry with him woman's influence; back
of every man of great thought or great
deeds there are home and mother and
wife and sister and daughter; in short
back of mans best deeds you will ever
find woman's inspiration and sympathy.
" Fair are the flowers and the children,
but their subtle suggestion Is fairer
Rare is the rose-burst of dawn, the
secret that clasps it is rarer;
Sweet the exultance of song, but the
strain that precedes it is sweeter;
And never was poem yet writ, but the
meaning outmastered the metre.
Never a daisy that grows, but a
mystery guideth the growing:
Never river that flows, but majesty
sceptres the flowing:
Never a Shakespeare that scared, but a
stronger than he did enfoId him:
Nor ever a prophet foretells, but a
/ mightier one hath foretold him.
"In short the home is woman's best
sphere and the heart is her empire.
In saying these things, the speaker
would not be understood as discouraging
women who contemplated entering the
world of business enterprise. On the
contrary he honored those who had the
bravery and industry to take up the bat
tie of life. 1t is a terrible contest-this
battle for bread-he declared, and neces-
sity knows no age or sex He therefore
urged every woman to prepare herself to
make her own living.
Altogether it was a splendid address
a familiar. candid discussion OF present
day conditions and problems confronting
young women. Also it was an address
that no synopsis will do justice to-
Astounding as it did in incident, frequent
references to current events and lighted
up always with a. quaint humor that
made the honor he spoke seem short.
After the address President Vann an
nounced the award OF certificates to the
following students:
Music-Emmie Rogers.
Stenography, Bookkeeping and Type
writing-Mary Emma Powell.
Stenography-Kat Louise Ford, Cottie
owen Pittman, Ada Gertrude Gunter,
Margaret Leta Cain, Eva May Simmons,
Lilly Herman Bradley.
The prize in the Art department given
by Mr.. Fred A. Watson was awarded to
Mamie Thompson, and the presentation
0 fit made by Rev. Dr. Skinner.