The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-06-10

Miss Pauline Glider, ''The Climb of
Life"
Tench Boozer, "Mcdern University"
Miss Pearl Langford, Zone Touch Of
Nature Makes the Whole World Kin"
Miss Mamie Parks, Thoughts on the
Poets /"
Miss Eula league, "Timrod "
The address by DR. Kinard was sehol-
arly effort, containing excellent advice to
the class and food for thought.
The following is synopsis of
THE ADDRESS.
DR.. Kinard, in beginning his address,
expressed pleasure at being in Newbersy,
his old home, saying that for one who
had been away for a long time it was
good to come home, to the place where
his mother and father lived, to look into
the faces of those whom he loved and
who loved him 1t had been fifteen
years since he had taught in the old New
berry male academy, and thirty years
since he had gone to school with the
present superintendent of the city schools.
But he wanted to say to the graduating
class, that when a traveller along the
proverbially rough road OF life has reach
ed the halfway milestone-it is a
pleasure to him to pause for moment,
and looking back on those who are COM
ing after, to shout to them message of
cheer to tell them of the bright fields be-
yond; and warn them, perhaps, of the
rough places over which his stumbling
feet have trod; or he may point out to
them path over which a steadier foot
than his has passed, path still radiant
with the lustre of him who pressed it.
1t was his pleasure tonight to tell them
of a traveller who passed along this road
thousand years ago His name was
Alfred, to which his loving countrymen
have added the title of Great" His
path was royal one in both uses of the
word royal, literal and metaphorical, for
during his life he reigned over his peop'e,
and for a thousand years since he has
reigned in their hearts. He told of AL
fred's struggles with the Danes, who
some time before his coronation had be-
gun their yearly descent upon England,
and for thirty years he was engaged al
most constantly in fighting the battles of
his country. He was the one man dur
ing that time who stood between England
and heathendon; but when Alfred died
Anglo-Saxon supremacy was assured.
But he did more than free his country
from the Danes. During this struggle
for their existence the laws of the land
had been forgotten, the churches had
been neglected, and the monasteries had
been deserted. Priests had turned sol
diers, and what little learning had exist
ed before was now completely decayed.
Here then was Alfred's work: to restore
the laws-to re-instate religion, and to
provide for the education of his people
He compiled code of laws, and upon
this code established system for the ad-
ministration of justice that has lived till
today as an essential and fundamental
part of English jurisprudence. He built
new churches and repaired the old ones;
he invited learned monks and priests fr m
other countries to come into England and
teach his people. In the cause of educa
tion he was ahead, even of our time, for
he did all that he could to establish uni
versal education. He becomes our first
English scholar.
What do we learn frou life like his?
Tuat we are to join the army and become
great soldiers? He hoped not. There do
come times in the life of men and ma
tions when they must fight, and if this
should come to US, then ought we to
fight? But he wanted it to be remembered
that Alfred was not soldier by choice.
His battles were fought not for himself,
but for his country. His greatness, like
the greatness of Washington, consisted
not in brilliant displays of genius, but in |
the faithful discharge of the duty that |
lay nearest to hand.
And here is the lesson for you and ME.
There was no glory in itself in fighting |
the Danes; they were like pestiferous
flies that must be beaten off time and
again, and you must learn that you shall
succeed or fail according as you have
heart or lack it for the thousand and one
little annoyances of life that need to be
overcome.
The Danes are not all dead yet! The J
world is full of them today-threatening
on on all sides-miud and heart and
,ody. AS for your body-remember that