Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1902-08-14
AMERICUs, Ca, AUG. IA. 1902.
GIRLS AND BOYS IN COUNTRY

JSStSiN ~ NnAS' ~. L. III LAch u6AOf6
the State Agricultural Society at
Its annual session in Macon. Mrs.
Myrick's theme was tGirls and Boys
il the Country" and the Address is
herewith given in full:
President Hughes, Gentlemen of the
State Agricultural Society Ladies and
GeRtlemen.
A promise; how lightly made, how
heavily falls the fulfllment, A little
piece of paper sixty days after date,
such short time, I promise to pey,
and with a smile and a flourish our
name goes down, and we enter upon
tina false fruition of note of honor
glowing optimist. SIXTY days, andthe
little piece of paper comes back. The
day of reckoning is ct hand; the world
grows dark. Did promise to pay !?
Frowns Euffle the brow. Yes, sixty
days / have lived upon food that was
not mine, only sixty little days ago,
how short, I promised my distinguish
ed friend President Hughes that
would come and presume to tell this
august body something. 1t seems but
yesterday, yet it was months ago. And
endless things that never were said or
even thought of before flashed across
my optimistic vision. The warning Of
reckoning came. and I sat down last
Saturday night after an ardnous weeks
work to try and gather these wonder
fal ideas, and truthfully I had to search
my mind and aistrustfully eGclaIm,
where in the thunder have these ideas
drifted Tt is never we'll to promise,
Better leave that 30 omnipotence. In
matters of man and nature it is steal
ing golden leaves from tomorrow that
too frequently crumble to dust IN the
hours Of realization, and leave the
heart and soul sdrift. love the things
that do, I love the man and woman who
accompIishes. lore the boy and girl
who accomplishes. One well inten-
toned though mediocre act complete is
worth a dozen triumphs asleep in the
misty film of an imaginative brain, and
thus abruptly introduce to you the
saving salt of the earth ''The Boys and
Girls Ia the Counky."
The rising youth are such important
characters in American life. They fill
such leading roles in the household
and the hearts OF people that no one
need ever stop to apologize for chronic
ling their movements, repeating their
sayings or eBtolling their virtues.
come to you today with one idea
prominent in my mind, and that idea
is to pray that you dismiss fallscy, if
such you entertain, that the boys and
girls of today are reeograding, becom-
ing less practical and energetic than
were their fore-fabhers OF the last de-
cade.
have invaded the refreshing seli-
tude and enjoyed the hospitality of the
humble as we'll as the beautiful, pre-
tentious country home, and / have
found the industrious young farmer
and his lovely, rosy checked sister
breathing that atmosphere of peace and
sunshine which is real; dischargirg
their respective duties with that con-
tentment which is crowned by the
blessedness of strength and hopeful
ness. They have caught the inspiring
idea of the times which is, that IN actu-
al honest work lies the basis of indlYid-
ual success and happiness and that all
else is vanity and vexation of spirit.
And I'm proud to say that the boys and
girls of the country are to be cengratu
lated upon having been ushered into
the world under such favorable circum-
stances, and should be grateful for the
sweet privilege of living in this age
of progressive, enlightened Christian
civilization which does not tolerate
mediocrhy but teaches, inspires and
requires excellence from the laborer in
the harvest field and the machiHe shop
as we'll as from the professional man
and the skilled fnancier who engineers
the marts of trade Nothing succeeds
like success, and with broader educa-
ton on this line, broader opportunities
are presented Then the ambitious
country maiden will be found taking
rank in culture and information with her
City cousin, while the stolid, healthy
country boy is getting there with
both feet and bids fair to take hand in
dominating the commerce as well as
the politics of old Georgia
There are pessimists who will doubt
less argue that the cycle of crime is
spreading over our prosperous country,
and that the youth of ithe twentieth
century, is even more vicious and de-
prayed than during the chaotic period |
of the dark ages, grant there may
be class IN the upper crust of swell
dom throughout the country who are de-
vastating our social strata, and for them
the bitter dregs lieat the bottom Of the