The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-04-24
THE ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS.
Col. r. A. stovaII's Eloquent Appeal
to Bethesda's BOYS.

The anniversary address was
delivered by .FCol. Pleasant A.
Stovall. After the meeting had
been concluded the members of
the society marched from the
school building to the rustic arbor in
the center of the grounds and in this
appropriate setting of forest oaks Col.
Stovall spoke.
Surrounding him in the arbor were
the members of the society, its presi-
dent, Col. j. H. Estill, at his side. Di-
rectly in front of the speaker were
ranged on benches the boys of Bethes-
da, with the officers and teachers of the
institution. and beyond these the crowd
that had come from the city and from
outlying. districts of the county to take
part in the observances of the day that
marked the 152nd anniversary of the
society. ,,Yt,a.
The exercises at the arbor were be-
gun with prayer delivered by Rev.
DR.. James Y. Fair, pastor of the In
dependent Presbyterian Church. 1t
was an eloquent and feeling petition
for the divine blessing and for divine
guidance in the work the society is
doing. ~
The orator of the occasion was in
troduced by Col. Estill, who referred
to him as one of the most gifted and
eloquent of Savannah's gifted and elo-
quent sons. During the course of his
remarks Col. Stovall was frequently
interrupted by applause, and at their
conclusion, was the recipient of much
sincere congratUlation. On motion of
Mr.. D. Ri Thomasaa vote of thanks
was extended him, and ahis address will
be published in the proceedings of the
society. +agN eas
An Honor TO savannah.
Col Stovall commenced his address
by congratulating the management up
on the prosperous appearance of every
thing at Bethesda. He said that many
people were now-~-visiting the place for
thes first time eandAFealizeds that this
was charity which was an honor to
savannah and to, the state of Georgia.
He had Been struck by a remark the
president had made to BOYS at dim
ner. ltbwas that adBethesda boy had
as good a chance in life as any boy in
the city or county. The man or boy
who put forth strong effort to counter
balance early povertyruSually gathered
momentum which carried him beyond
medfocrity. Col. Stovall said that the
man he was TO speak to them about
had been a poor boy at school. He had
risen by his own industry and his own
genius to the highest position of any
man in modern times. He had made
himself master of Europe ard was
the. wonder of the world. Col Stovall
said. he could not hold up Napoleon as
a model for imitation by boys; still
there were traits and forces which
he developed which went towards the
making of a successful man and these
-
Watson, a Georgia boy, who had him
self worked up from poverty to dis
tinction in literary and professional life,
had written altogether a most delight
full book about Napoleon. Col. Stovall
continued:
The Character of Napoleon.
Il never look upon struggling, am
bilious boy, or think of the trials of
youth, that l do not remember the ex-
ample of the young Napolean. To me
the most interesting chapter of his ca
reer was when he was unknown and
friendless going to the school at the
Military Academy in France He was
slender. sallow, unsocial and badly
dressed. His companions made fun of
him and delighted to TO tease him, for
he was fiery and in1petuous. But he
was earnest, studieus. and tireless. He
mind loved to wander to the lone rocks
in the sea, where his own home lay
among the mountains of Corsica and
his own people were struggling for in
dependence. Napoleon built a fence
around little plat of ground and used
to lie in the shade reading his favorite
books and dreaming, doubtless, of flu
ture greatness.
Napoleon was a poor boy at school
and some of his companions made
sport of his dress, his manners and his
poverty. The little sister Of Bonaparte
also complained bitterly of the indig-
mites heaped upon her by the children
of the rich. For this reason he also
had the greatest sympathies for the
poor struggling boys and girls. He
realized that
'''Honor and shame from no condition
rise ~
His Love of Country.
"The first thing that strikes us
about the boy was his patriotism. He
loved his native land, not France, for
that was his adopted home, but Corr
sica, where his father had died
and where his mother was working
hard to keep body and soul together
and to maintain his little brothers and
sisters at school. When Napoleon be-
came lieutenant in artillery one of
his first acts was to return to Corsica
and to strike a blow for his home peo-
pie. He grew to be a favorite with the
patriots and the idol of it's fierce, war
like spirits. His superior officers in. the
French army called upon him re-
peatedlN to return to his command,
but his heart was with Corsica and he