The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1903-05-28
PROGRESSIVE ROBSON.
A County Of Good Schools.
sTINCEoN INSTITUTE.

STINCEON INSTITUTE.
The editor of The COMMONWEALTH
spent two days in Robson county last
week and it was positively an inepira-
ton to see the educational enthusiasm
which is stirring the people in this
good ana progressive county.
There are several good and prosper
Gus schools in the county and in seyer-
al places they WILL vote special tax for
the benefit of the district schools. If
all the State could become aroused like
many parts of Robson county North
Carolina would soon be ahead of some
States which now make better show.
ing educationally than we do.
We learned more of Simeon Institu-
tute at Drum, of which Prot. M. Shep-
herd is principal, than any other school
in Robson. In some respects this is
the most remarkable educational insti-
ton which we have known in the
State. The commencement exercises,
which we witnessed, marked the close
OF the first year.
Although the school is only one year
old, more than two hundred pupils had
been enrolled and the closing exercises
would have done credit to IN lnstitu-
ton which had been in operation for
years.
On Wednesday morning at IL O'Clock
Rev. G. l.. Greayes, of Reidsville,
preached the commencement sermon.
1t was strong and helpful discourse,
fraught with instruction and sueges-
lions that were especially appropriate
for teachers and pupils of young and
growing institution of learning. MI.
Greayes' style of preaching is some
thing like that of Rev. John E. White,
DOW of Atlanta. He speaks rapidly
but distinctly; and at the close of his
sermon before Simeon Institute it was
said by listeners on all sides that they
had never heard more packed into one
hour.
At night the concert exercises were
OF high order, and showed special
care in the training of the pupils. The
Rotations, dialogues, plays and music
were all good, and the large auditorium,
fifty by seventy feet, was packed full
with delighted audience.
On Thursday the buggies and other
vehicles commenced to roll in at 8
O'Clock, and by IL o'clock there was q
great throng of people on the grounds
to witness the exercises OF the day, a
number being present from Lumber
ton and other towns nearby.
The writer made remarks to most
respectful and considerate audience.
The afternoon hours were given to
other Rotations and declarations, and
the evening to general reception and
good time by the young people.
Simeon Institute has a history of
one year which is uniquely interesting.
Prof. M. Shepherd, who had taught a
year and acted as superintendent OF
public instruction for Robson county,
just after leaving Wake Forest College,
decided to deyote his life to the profes-
sion Of teaching. He cast about for a
location for his life.work. Most young
men look Tor field of operation away
from their home surroundings, think
ing that they can best succeed amongst
strangers. Not so with Prof. M. Shep-
herd. The site he selected on which
he proposes to spend his life and where
he proposes to devote his energies to
building worthy institution of learn
ing is within one mile of his fathers
home, where he was reared, where he
knows all and where he is known by all.
A college education did not unfit
him for strenuous labor, as it does SO
many. Leaving the school room and
other things for year, with axe and
pick and hoe, with adj and hammer
and saw, he led force of hands into
the forest and felled the very trees oil
which he has erected two splendid
buildings, and cleared from the woods
the grounds that are already taking on
a park-like appearance and which in q
few years will indeed be thing oil
beauty.
SCHOOL EQUIPMENT.
The main building is 52x72 feet, two
stories high, and its belfry shines out
amid the pines rising star of promise
for higher intelligence throughout the
surrounding county. The lower story
is cut into suitable recitation rooms
which are we'll equipped for successful
teaching; and the upper story is ont
entire auditorium designed tor com
mencement and other public occasions
and constructed much like the audlto
Irium at Wake Forest college. It Il
significant that this large auditorium