The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-07-30
INSTITUTE AT SHELBY.
The Closing Lecture of Prof Joyner Much En-
loved and Highly Complimented
Especial to News and Observer

Shelby. n. c., July 29.-Last Friday the
Institute for the teachers of Cleveland
county closed at Shelby with large crowd
in attendance, and very practical ana
interesting work was done for the cause
of popular education. On the last night
a lawn party complimentary to the teacn-
ers was given by the management OIL
Shelby Graded school. Ice cream and oth-
err refreshments were served. The sign
keep off the grass" was hauled down,
and Joy was unconfined. A large NUMBER
attended. and when the thirsty, truly
rural nedaeo got down to business,
frozen cream disappeared from the eyes
of men.
DR. Ruffn Osborne, the wit of Shelby,
gave us a good talk during the session on
the care of the teeth, which was practl-
cal, and in a very happy VEN. frol
Thos. Plank, of Shelby Commercial Col
lege gave lecture on the rise and prog
ress of the school system in this State
Much was said of an inspiring nature
and it was rich in information and status
tics Prof. Joyner, gave his closing lect-
ure, intended for the public as well as
teachers.
He said: ''No more important duty
confronts the citizen and patriot OF North
Carolina, than the education OF little
child Strangely, but truly, God has
placed in the centre of our civilization
this little child. The man of sorrows who
trod the burning sands of Galilee, who
was the great teacher, said: Suffer the
little children to come unto me for of
such is the kingdom of heaven Down
the corridors of nineteen centuries, ALSO
comes his message feed my lambs
That injunction still comes to you and to
me. Beside the cradle of every lisping
infant are the three agencies, the parent,
the community and the State. We are
proud of our towering mountains, our
limpid streams and balmy skies, but more
important than all of these is the dest-
inv of the little children. Upon this is
sue depends the peace and prosperity OF
our institutions.
"When Reynolds was putting one of his
masterpieces on canvas, young artist
asked him what he mixed with his paints.
Without looking up the great painter an
swered: Brains" The great overtower-
ing questions are how to get better
schools. and get the children there. Two
thirds of our 900 children are out and
one third in. One out of ten are IN
private schools and nine tenths are de-
pendent on public or State education.
Were all aware of the blessings OF educa-
ton, and the evils of ignorance, it would
not be necessary for me or any one else
to sound the note of solemn warning.
Ignorance is a great blind Samson, strik-
ing right and left Unfortunately malm-
| ing friends and foes. BY the blessings
of education we must save ignorance from
| itself.
LET me say, without mincing matters,
| that our relief will come from local taxa
! ton. We sustained one defeat, but the
clans are gathering. Twelve elections
| this year show that the skies are break
| ing. At the election for local taxation /
| saw a stalwart yeoman who had seven
children, no property and no education
! With the suspicion born of ignorance ne
| asked: is thar any honest man in this
here crowd? Eff so, / want ticket TO vote
| az gin these here schools?' Taking from
his children the bread of life and his glory
was his shame. / thought of the for
| gotten mother and her crushed offspring.
/ "Need | give you examples of what ed
/ ucation has done from the dawn OF crea-
| ton? Look at Egypt, the cradle of learn
| ing and consider her amount of material
| prosperity Later Greece rose to tower
| ing eminence and Rome, on her even nils
| became the Imperial city Of the Caesars,
i the home of learning and national glory.
| Prussia one hundred years ago, was In
| the ashes of humiliation A wise king
| and his cabinet promoted general educa-
ton and a trained mind welded the
| sword Prussia became a great power
| and so remains today. In 1920 on the ster-
! lie rock-rib- bed coast of Massachusetts
/ landed pilgrim bark, and ere her crew
! landed a school constitution was adopt
ed rude dwelling and rude church
| were built, and, by the side of the latter,
| was reared the temple of knowledge.
| While another colony South of this was
! planted, of as good chivalrous cavaliers
as ever lived, the school was neglected.
| This latter we represent, and Massachu-
| setts has ten dollars to our one, while
! one seventh our size. and we have all the
advantages of soil and climate. Gentle
men, take the case.
you consider your mule worthless UNI
| less trained, and is not the destiny OF
! your child more Important"
| Other remarks were made by Superln-
tendcnt Anthony, Prof Chambers, and
| Squire Lovelace, of the Board of Educa-
| ton Teachers are highly pleased, and,
under the instruction of Prof. J. G. JOY
ner feel like thanking God and TAX
| Ing courage.