The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1901-06-27
NORTH CAROLINA, ITS VICTORIES OF
PEACE.
BY LILLE A. GOODRICH

~
(Paper read at the closing exercises of
Henderson Graded School May II. 1eo1.)
In writing of the incidents in North
Carolina history the most common
method will be to narrate such incl
dents as appeal Immediately to our
patriotism and excite our love for the
martial spirit of the State. We might
mention its heroes of many wars, it's
battles and their result; but peace
hath it's victories no less than war,
and it is always more pleasant to re-
late these victories than those of
bloodshed and carnage.
We therefore desire to roll back the
curtain of time for a few decades.
The growth and development of our
State is found in those charitable in
stitutions so necessary to the relief of
the unfortunates of the State.
The first incident we wish to men
ton is the establishment of the insti-
tuition for the deaf, dumb and blind
of our State.
The establishment of such an in
stitution was brought before the Leg
were formed for its establishment,
but not completed. However, the
Legislature of 1S4S made appropria-
tion for this noble charity, and since
that time many unfortunate creatures
have been sheltered within its walls
and have become useful citizens of
the State
har tnr
forward had been taken in the estab-
lishment of another institution equally
beneficial and humane.
Also, during the session of the Leg
islature of 1913, our State was visited
by Miss Dorothy Dix, who came from
New York, and was noted for the in
terest which she took in the ameliora-
tion of the condition of the unfortu-
nate insane of the country. She
made her appearance at the capitol
of our State while the Legislature was
in session, and began to importune
the members for the passage of bill
to establish an institution for the in
sane.
These opportunities seemed at first
to be of no avail.
However, Miss Dix. through the in
fuence of the wife of one of the lead
| ing Senators, obtained the friendship p
OF the Senator, and the bill was intro
| duced that gave us the hospital 50
useful in all its appointments and is
the pride of the State.
Before it's establishment the insane
people of the State were confined,
| sometimes, in county Jail, and some
| times in the home of some friend,
where their piteous wailings were to
be heard day after day.
Now they are no longer treated as
prisoners, but as patients.
The institutions at Morganton and
Raleigh show the progress the State
has made since 1913.
Following upon these incidents
there has been established, under the
supervision of the Masonic fraternity,
the orphan asylum at Oxford, which
has for years been a monument OF
usefulness to the orphans of the State
Then we have the Odd Fellows orphan
asylum at Goldsboro, the Presby
terian asylum at Barium Springs, the
Episcopal orphanage at Charlotte, the
Baptist orphanage at Thomasville
and the Methodist orphanage at Raj
eigh, all of which are vieing with eact
other in their aids to the helpless Or
phans.
Nor has the colored race been for
gotten in the dispensations of charity
they have an orphan asylum al Oxforc
aided by taxation, an asylum for thei
insane. 4 deaf, dumb and blind insti
tuition, beside normal and industria
schools all supported by the State.
There has also been established il
the State many schools and colleges
among which are the University a
Chapel Hill, Dividson, Greensboro
Trinity and others. but among all tn
most important is the Henderson
Graded School.
This is enough to show that if wa
has its conquests, peace has its vic
tories that are equally sublime, an
the North Carolinian can point wit
: pride to his native State as being full
, abreast with her sister States in he
efforts for the improvement and al
: of her people.