The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-06-21

in polishing. 1t may not have been the
arch. It is enough TO know that IL was
needed. and IL wifi be a glorious thought
that the work was well done.
Literature does not lack for accounts
Of teachers VINO have thus maenihed
their office. 1 need scarcely remind you
of Socrates. OF Epictetus. of Troebel-
the lover of children-and of Thomas Ar
nold-uhe great master OF Rugby. And
there have been countless others as 10
whom the pages of history have been
silent, but whose lives have been
The sweet presence of a GOOD diffuSed
And in diffusion ever more intense
These belong to that
choir invisible
OF those immortal dead who live again
In minds made better by their presence:
live
In pulses stirred to generosity.
In deeds of daring rectitude. in SCOTT
For miserable aims that end with sell.
In thoughts sublime that pierce the
night like stars,
And with their mild persistence urge
mems search
To vaSter issues.
I knew one such. the teacher OF my
youth. and. next to my own father. the
model and inspiration OF my own life
ing and they do not flow easily for
me as / attempt to describe TO you my
loved and revered master: He was eV-
cry inch a man. erect ard Soldierly. for
he had fought bravely for his country.
He showed a quiet dignity and a thought
full gravity. to tighten which into an at.
fectionate smile was one Of our most
priced rewards. Himself the very soul
Of truth and honor. he taught Us to
scorn all lies and subterfuSe. Impurlty
and malice found no harbor in his heart
nor ever crept into his words. Firm IN
the maintenance of law, just in all his
dealings. merciful where mercy best con-
served the ends of justice. we feared
his anger. but loved him for his truth.
Is it strange that the gracious memory
of such a man should inger IN the
- nc u hnr-co a IN iii
ence of such a character upon the plaS-
tic young minds brought into contact with
1t ever be fully traced or estimated. I
tell you that one Of the sweetest gue--
dons which the years have brought to
me has been the kindly smile granted me
by this. my dear old teacher. now crown
ed with whitened hair. the old mans
crown of glory. when L have brought to
! him for his approval such few successes
of my life as 1 hoped were worthy. And
| each time has come back to me the VS.
ion of the little old school house. and
| the small urchin standing before the
J teachers desk. with slate all covered with
| laboriouSly scrawled examples, waiting
! hopefully for the same smile which was
the signal Of success and of release for
home. And so some day must we all
stand. with states most painfully wrought
| over. at the feet of the Great Teacher
and wait for his glorious smile and the
glad inward. We'll done, thou good and
faithful servant"
! a little more than two years ago one
of the great teachers of the University
finished his course. having fought the
good fight and kept the faith: L refer
! you knew the grandly simple character
: of this man. his nobility of soul and per-
feet courtesy. One Of the truest and
: most tender hearted of men he was a
: rarely perfect teacher. He loved his stu
dents. They were his boys" He gave
freely Of his learning and of his strength
to them in their troubles. We was their
adviser. their friend. their helper. and
in the end he gave his life for them h
. sought no gain, accumulated no wealth.
He scorned all lies. hypocrisieS and petty
meannesses and taught his students to
do so. He followed these young men
jostling world. rejoiced in their sue
! cesses and s~ympathized with them when
they suffered from the worlds rude
b~uffelngs.'
ure. whose life and teachings had served
to mould and strengthen the character
Of hundreds Of young men and through
them to elevate a great profession and
a great state. because its cash value
seemed to be represented by a few thou
sands of insurance money? L pity the
man who can thing such a thought. one
so blinded by the 'glittel of the guinea.
so besotted with the greed OF gain that
he cannot truly measure the beauty ana
he had helped. the pupils whom he HAD
taught and befriended. the friends who
knew and loved him. che strangers who
II TAU Oul - VI ILAAl u SPSSN$ AAAAA
all these, numbering hundreds and thou
sands throughout this broad state. bow
ed in sorrow when the news OF his
death came. and stopped awhile to do
him reverence
Il would die the death of the righteous
And may my last end be like his"
Herein. my friends. lies your exceeding
great reward. To drive away the ignoc-
ance and darkness by your teaching is
a noble work. and. nobly done. it brings
a grand reward. How little will seem
~ --;,T - NJ 1iSa0 70 amt =
the and and MISUNDERSTANDING
which once almost made us to faint
when. in the light OF that day. We shai
see unrolled before US the glorious re
suits of even some little effort at doing
our whole duty a sculptor models Il
the plastic clay or carves by sharp IN
c!sion in the yielding stone the vision
of grace and beauty which has filled his
SOU. There is but one vision however
and it stands immoble and unquietabi,
through the ages. The painter has hi:
colored oils and canvas, and fixing Their
a beautiful conception. leaves 1t for gen
erations Of men to admire. The teache'
and receptive material. Plastic youns
minds can be moulded into nobility ans
beauty itself. Truth and honor can l.
inStilled into the child. The seeds o
great thoughts can be planted and tn,
fruitage is a grand and useful life whicl
will influence other lives through IN
generations and the centuries. The Wis
ion of grace and beauty has been carve;
in a warm and liking soul. Perhaps W
have slight skill in thus imparting tn
vision OF the beautiful. and the good. blu
there is much comfort in the though
thai some hearts hold our teachings Il
loving remembrance and that some i've
have been lifted upwards towards tn
light.
: Now as to this sordiG view of IN
: m~oney-yalue of life. IL the teacher Shoul
l in his own view OF life relegate tn
money standard to a subordinate place
[ il is also his duty to instill into tn
minds of those whom he teaches IN
: II Same irrSrar hrra6nr viaU S1Hh reaCn
Ing was never more needed than at pres
emf. The enormous material development
of our country in recent years. the rus
, of our own state into manufacturing an,
: industrial life. into money-making an
l feverSh speculation. bring great danger
which must be wisely met or they W.
I everwhelm us. The restful peace an
dignity and beauty OF the life under tn
; old conditions is rapidly disappee ring. Tn
! unfailing consideration and courtes
: which was once the mark Of every gen
I tleman is now spoken of as 'of the oil
= school, and the name carries with 1t
: world of meaning. Our world has be
z ,--