The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-06-05
THE BLIND ENTERTAIN
Gov. Aycock's Address al
Their Commencement.
Judge Womack Spraks and Presents Diploma
to Luther Baldwin. ADeIig tfuI Con-
cart at Nigh.

! and one of revelation to those VINO, Tor
| the first time saw and heard what the
blind children of the State within it's walls
were doing
| At the exercises in the morning there
was a musical paper by the only grad
uate, Mr.. Luther Baldwin, an eloquent
| talk by Governor Aycock, the presenta-
| tion of the diploma by Judge Womack,
| and q series of splendid gymnastic eXer-
| cises by the male and female pupils. In
addition there was a display of the in
dustrial work of the school. At night
the annual concert was given, concert
that was a real treat.
The exercises were held in the audito
rum and closed most successful years
work. In the morning these began with
the invocation by Rev. Eugene Daniel,
who offered most touching prayer.
This was followed by a band selection.
| The music was well rendered. Some OF
| the players are some of the younger boys
of the school and all have been we'll
trained by Prof. w. A. White.
Next Mr.. Luther Baldwin, the only
graduate this year, delivered, an able pa
per on Shakespeare's Characterization of
Henry Y. which evinced care in it's prepa-
lowing this was an enjoyable baritone solo
by Cador Cox.
In few well chosen words Principal
John E. Ray presented Governor Aycock
to the audience as Chief Executive who,
young man and less than half year
in office, had become known as THE Edu-
cational Governor"
Governor Aycock in opening said he was
no young man, that he had at home seven
children and it was long time since
he had been a boy. He had not come to
make an address, as he had never made
one even when he secured his wife. Then
he only talked and said Il love you, do
YOU love me?' and when the answer
Eyes" came and she had promised to be
his wife he did not speak again for an
hour
Then the Governor talked, if it may be
so termed 1t was a heart to heart talk,
coming from a man who loves his State
and the education of all her children, the
unfortunate as well as the fortunate.
He spoke of the great value of the Blind
school, referring to it as one of the great
est Of the States educational aids and
said that education was business that
the State was engaged in, no matter
whether it was for a child with all its
senses, or with some of them lacking
He said the blind were brought here
to strengthen them and make them self
supporting. To cultivate every faculty
possible and to bring them UP to the high
est possibilities of life.
second thing they were brought
to the school for was to make them happy.
1--WE are all seeking happiness" said Gov
ernor Aycock, land | am sometimes
tempted to believe that happiness only
comes through suffering, and that no man
has yet come to his full development and
no womanhood has reached its nobiest
height except through a baptism of fire.
Here he spoke of Jesus, the Captain of
our Salvation" being made perfect
through suffering and applied this to the
children before him, using the words OF
St John who said that these are those
who have come out of great tribulation."
He spoke of the loving Saviour who as
he walked took clay and spat upon it and
| placed it on the eyes of the blind man,
| vino saw North Carolina" said the
! Governor. cannot give you eye-sight, but
| it can bid you see through an educated
/, mind God said, Let there be light and
there was light, ard to you the State
! promises an education that yc2T mind
may see the light of TRUTH
| The third point to which Governor Ay-
! cock referred was that the State expected
the children educated here to be useful
4 to others He did not feel that time or
! money was wasted. He was not in this
| like the president of a great steel trust
i who believed that too much money was
! being wasted on education. He believed
/, in work 1t was idleness that was dis
honorable, and he rejoiced that this IN
j sttution taught work. He was glad that
girls would work in this twentieth CEN
! fury, and here came CLINT OF humor IN
the Governors eyes, for sometimes they
had worthless husbands to- take care OF,
! and it is a good thing that they can 90
/ it," lust as Christ came to serve, SO we
must serve. The highest education is
| that which teaches US to help others.
| The fourth point which the speaker en-
| phasized was that the blind were educa-
ted SO as to help the State, to make 1t a
! great State, for it is not in It's lands,
! streams and mountains that its greatness
! lies these were here five hundred years
/ ago but in it's men and women. 1t IS
| not an education for some that we need,
/ it is an education for all, and that IS
| . purpose North Carolina will accom-
! plish. :.
! Il have never been nero WoIShlPpoA'
! declared the Governor, Il have never seen
the rich. the successful, without my heart
| going out to those who could not reach up
to them" Hence he would in such school
as this take all those in the State who
| needed it's help 1--WE cannot rest, We
| cannot be still. we cannot sit down, eat
| or Sleep" were his eloquent words, It'll
| every child in North Carolina who cannot
see is brought here to be taught, and
| then the audience applauded wildly
In conclusion Governor Aycock said to
J the pupils. "You are not objects of char
itv. The State is only doing it's duty to
| YOU as it did to me at Chapel HILL Ny
trust is no less than yours, for it is
| trust and not a charity. Go to your homes
and go as missionaries to bring others
here. go to work in the cause OF making
| others better and happier and may Goo
bless you"
The diplomas were then presented by
Judge Womack, president of the board o
trustees. who said in part: The objects
of this institution are educational and mo-
charitable It is not an asylum any more
than any public school in this city Z
legislator recently spoke of this school a.
noble charity The Chief Executive hai
: | 49,. S,.,I +ol1tpcy tbaeo hOyS and girl,