The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1903-02-21
exalted heights, the very sum-
nit of poetry and emotion.

The other occasions on which
heard him speak were in
Natchitoches. He visited the
Normal School for a day almost
every year after his return from
Spain for he Immediately re-
sumed the work of the Peabody
ad administration, and was also
appointed general agent of the
John +. Slater philanthropy.
He had very real interest in
our Normal School, and regarded
it as the most effective inStitu-
ton of it's kind in the South.
His coming always brought
feeling of great gladness to the
whole school; not for the half
holiday his presence usually
caused for the students, nor for
the substantial assistance his
visit meant from the Peabody
Fund-sincerely not for these
but because of the charm of
his own personality. He could
entertain and instruct all; he
could talk to teachers or stu
tends, to boys or girls. to Legis-
latures or to little children, with
equal simplicity and ease-most
especially to little children. He
told the little tive-year-old and
six-year-old classes about the
little king of Spain. When he
finished he asked, Now who
wants to ask me a question about
that little king?" Immediately
he drew forth bright, apprecia-
tive questions from them. One
child asked if the little king
could speak English; another
asked if he had any playmates.
DR.. Curry thought this last a
very human, sympathetic, intel
ligent question. He replied,
NO, no other little boys were
fit to associate with king!''--
and in a few minutes the whole
class were $50 sorry fer P0o'' AIf|e
KING ILoholso.
A visit from DR.. Curry used
to fill our hearts and heads and
note books with food for retlec-
ton, discussion, and apprecia-
ton to last for months.
And to name one other per-
sonal "Reminiscences of DR.. Curry,
l may tell you that, soon after
receiving the appointment to or
ganize and preside over your
Industrial Institute, l went di-
rectly to Washington to visit this
man, to acquaint him with the
good news for the cause of edu-
ton in Southwestern Louisiana,
that the people of Lafayette had
resolved to do great things for
their children, and had contrib
uted with great liberality and
self-sacritice for the establish
ment of a State institution of
learning in their town and parish.
I found that he was already in
formed. He knew the news per
haps before 1 did. He prompt
ly, kindly, and fully advised me
what course to pursue in prepar-
ing for building and organization.
He gave me personal letters OF
introduction to DR.. William T.
Harris, U. :. Commissioner of
Ed ucation in Washington, to DR..
Macallister, of the Drexel Insti-
tute in Philadelphia, to Professor
Nicholas Murray Butler (now
Presidency, of Columbia Univer-
sity, and to number of the
great men in education who
might make my visit to them
profitable to me and to the inter-
ests of my institution. And
everywhere his name was an
open Sesame With it l got
all that 1 wanted and more than
1 was entitled to.
Now what is the character
value of a man like this? 1t ism t
necessary for US to have see" him;
he is there, strong, active, con-
spicuous, an immense energy
for good. The gold of his life is
indestructible and is as effect
ually ours as if we had known
him intimately. 1t is true; it is
solid: it will pass anywhere. Let
it be coined and made to finance
the grandest enterprise of our
times-the lifting up the minds
and hearts of a whole people.
Such a character deserves to
stand on the worlds utmost
summit, eternally clothed light:
serene, inspiring, and hearten-
ing example, an influence that
will raise the level of character
in all receptive minds; and the
term of its gracious work is not
measured by heeting genera
tons, but only by the lingering
march of centuries
His tomb and his epitaph will
be in Virginia-but such as he,
like Pericles' heroes, write
their epitaph in the hearts Of
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