The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-10-16
NORTH CAROLINA
| DAY CELEBRATED
Public Schools of Raleigh
Have Fitting Exercises
PUPILS MUCH IN TERESTED
The History Of the First Anglo-Saxon
Settlement Told.
In. c. STATE FLAGS WERE DISTRIBUTED
The Teachers at the Centennial, the Wiley and
the Murphy Schools Make the Day
a Most Valuable and IN
sfr,irfvo 0oo

North Carolina Day was celebrated
in Raleigh yesterday, and celebrated by
patriotic young North Carolinians under
the guidance of patriotic teachers who
love the State and it's glorious history.
Exercises were held in the three white
public schools of the city-Centennial,
Wiley and Murphy-and in no other in
stitution in Raleigh, so far as is known.
The law passed by the last Legislature
providing for the celebration of the day
says that it may be devoted by appro-
pirate exercises in the public schools OF
the State to the consideration OF some
topic or topics of our State history to be
selected by the Superintendent of Public
instruction"
The law named October 18th, date of the
discovery of America, as the day, stipu-
lating that when this came on Saturday
or Sunday the Monday following Should
be used. AS the twelfth came on Satur-
day this year, Monday, October 14th, vas
the time set. The topic selected was
1.-The First Anglo Saxon Settlement in
America" and a programme OF songs,
readings and declarations was sent out
by the State Superintendent, this making
possible most fitting celebration of the
day. all having as their key note the
settlement at Roanoke, on the Eastern
shore of North Carolina, the first English
settlement in America, the birth place
of Virginia Dare, the first English child
born in this country.
At the Wiley school the exercises were
held by the members of all the history
classes gathered in one room. with
map of the State in front of the pupils,
Miss Belle Fleming talked OF the geo.
graphical situation of Roanoke Island
and of Virginia Dare and the Virginia
Dare monument Mrs. NJ. B. Sherwood
next gave most interesting talk about
Sir Walter Raleigh, this being followed
by most interesting description OF the
three attempted settlements in the col
ony, by the principal, Miss Ada " Wom-
bic, the story of the Croatans and the
last colony being aptly spoken OF by MISS
Daisy Waite who has spent some time
in the section of the State which is the
habitat of the Croatans> at the present
time The day at the Centennial school
was observed by all pupils above the
third grade, the programme being earn
estly engaged in by teachers and pupils
From many eyes flashed the determine
ton that the valiant deeds of North
Carolina should live, as alternately the
boys and girls recited the verses OF the
poem by H. j. Stockard, Il Love My Ma
tive State"
love thee, fairest of all lands, my home
From lonely HatteraS where the breakers
come
To where reared in the heavens, stands
thy dome,
North Cardinal
When others faltered, yearning to be free
Who then first dared to strike, for liberty
foe whose empire stretched DER every
sea?
North Carolina!
Were l as loud voiced as Euroclydon,
I'd tell to earth's far ends in thunder
tone
won,
North Carolina!
Till wizened Time shall pen his latest
Long as the sea chafes at thy granite
gates,
Thy valiant deeds shall live, thou STATE
of States,
North Carolina!
Interesting talks were made by Miss
Loula Riddle on Sir Walter Raleigh;
Mrs. Mamie Terrell on Virginia Dare. ;
and the principal Mrs. j. M. Barbee 'or
Roanoke Island" A map of the State
with the points spoken of indicated by
, red chalk was before the pupils, and was
consulted with interest
At the Murphey school the Introductory
/, talk on the day. it's history and the
meaning of the celebration, was made
by the principal, Mrs. Charlotte M. Will
hanson, to whose charming description
the pupils gave strict attention. This
was followed by a talk from Miss Laura
M. Devereux on the Amadis and Barlow
settlement. Then came several compo-
sitions from the older pupils on Search
ing for Gold" Virginia Dare, and kin
dred subjects relative to the early his
tory of the colony. Finally Miss Edit
Register lectured on the subject of tn:
Lost Colony the exercises being con
cluded by the reading of an extract from
1.-THE White Doe" by Mrs. Sallie Gotten
At all of the schools pictures of tht
State flag were distributed to the pupils
who will treasure them as a souvenir o
the first celebration of North Carolin;
Day. in the schools of Raleigh. There
was no ostentatious display attempted
all the exercises being marked with sim
plicity and good taste, and being Of suci
character as to be of real value in i'm
pressing the truths of the great histor.
of great State on the children of tht
commonwealth.
There was no celebration in the pub
lie schools of the county, we are in
formed by County Superintendent Gle
ments, the reason being that the schools
are not in session. This is the case il
many counties of the State, and it is un
i fortunate that date was not selectet
by the Legislature that would have foun;
all the schools of North Carolina in SEES
sion.
/ However. the day was we'll observes
in the capital, and the people of the Stat,