The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-05-26
WATCHWORD, PROGRESS
Montgomery's County Seats Growing
in Every Good Way.
COMMENCEMENT OF TROY HIGH SCHOOL
A large Crowd in Observation-Disclosures
for IGvestmenl.--hew Discover
les Of Rich Gold
Fields.

IttIUSs
Troy, y. c., May 23.-There are two
/ sides to every question. For some time
, nent in the newspapers, and it has been
mainly over conspiracies and crimes. But
these stories represent the smallest and
worst side of that good county. There Is
another and a better side.
During the present week 1 have had the
| pleasure of attending two commandments.
At Peace Institute banquet IN honor of
the senior class l had the pleasure OF
sitting by the lovely president of the
class, Miss, Hazel Dones, of Wilson county,
who won her position by her high mark.
Today the honor was given me Of an in
PRODUCTION by a native Wilson county
boy to Mr.. ]. T. Lilies, the successful and
progressive principal of the High School.
You find Wilson boys and girls every
~where-and you find them at the top.
The commencement exercises Of Troy
High School attracted a large crowd here
today, embracing many of the first citizens
of the county, with a sprinkling from ad-
jacent counties. This school is closing the
most prosperous session of it's history and
the commencement exercises nave marked
the progress which the children nave
made under the excellent corps of teach
ers. Prof. Lilies, principal of the school,
has declined a reelection, and will study
law under Judge Philips at his home III
Tarboro. He graduated with honors at
Trinity College and has won success of a
| hIoh Or1nr in fnooh1ro bpf hn hoe oor
had his heart set upon being a lawyer and
will now dive into Blackstone. He has the
stuff out of which the right sort of men
are made and he will succeed. The head
of the music department of the school,
Miss Emmie Rogers, the beautiful
and lovely daughter of Mr.. w. NJ.
Rogers, of the News and Observer staff,
has won the hearts OF this whole con-
munity as well as Impressed upon it her
superior skill as a teacher of music. She
graduated in music with the highest hon
ors at the Baptist Female University and
reflects honor upon that institution and
upon Raleigh.
The other teacher, Miss Susie Mcdonald,
is a very popular and attractive young
lady and very capable teacher. There
are larger schools, but there are no bet
ter teachers than have made up the fac
ulty of Troy High School during the
year that has just closed.
Another pen will give the details Of the
commencement exercises. The auditorium
OF the academy was crowded with an au-
dlence OF handsome women and intelli-
gent men-an audience as appreciative
and as helpful to a speaker as any au-
dience could be, even on a hot May after
noon. TIL changes in the faculty open
the way for Troy to take a long and pro
| gressive step. Since the Pages completed
their railroad to this place, Troy mas
gone steadily forward. Its population has
grown rapidly, its industries have multi
piled and prospered, business of all kind
has increased, and it has received desir-
able additions to its population. The new
cotton mill, a large one, always pays
well because it is managed by men of
superior business capacity. Mr.. Smither-
man, It's president; Mr.. Capel, secretary
and treasurer, and Mr.. Thomas superln-
tendent, understand their business as
well as n trio of mill men in the State.
Its other industries and business enter
prises are doing well. The future outlook
is bright. The time has come when to
grow rapidly, every town must offer the
best school advantages to prospective set
tiers. Troy is fortunate in it's successful
High School, but In the very nature of
things no private school can meet the
need of all in the community. The pri-
vate teachers have been generous beyond
computation In giving tuition, but it is
no more their duty to educate the whole
community than the duty of any other set
of men. 1t is the duty of all the citizens
to pay for universal education upon the
basis Of property. The last Legislature
nc SSp6 an act 911tbnrIzlnp tho naODla of
this community to vote a special school
tax. 1t ought to be carried-it will be
carrled-and the blessings of education
placed before every child in the COM
munlty. With such a school Troy will
not only secure more new settlers, but
will also be doing it's full duty by its
whole children who constitute here, as
elsewhere, the best population of any
community. In presenting a medal to a
young lady. ]. R. Blair Esq, made one
Of the strongest and finest arguments for
education I have heard. 1t was prac-
teal, foTcible, eloquent. to the point. and
the applause he received showed that the
people here appreciate the necessity of
providing more ample facilities in the
shape of a modern free graded school for
the children. Other splendid speeches were
mad by Congressman R. n. Page. c.. T.
Luther, R. T. Poole, W. A. Cochran and
Rev. Mr.. Robertson. In eloquence Mont
gomery Is at the front, as well as in gold
mining and other interests. Inasmuch az
this is q gold producing county, I sup
pose it would not be proper to call these
orators Silver tongued" but "'oolden
mouthed' orators, though they are real
bi-metallists.
The gold mines of Montgomery county
yield as much gold as all the other coun- |
ties combined. Recently two important
discoveries OF gold deposits nave been
made near Blscoe. one by Mr.. Hunsucker
and one by Mr.. McCaskill. There is mo
doubt in the minds of people of this conn !