The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-05-19

Commencement Exercises at
Au!ander.
A Community Where Thrift, Religion, Educa'
ton, Good Cheer and Hospitality Make a
Happy and Progressive People.
Editorial Correspondence.)

Out of a population OF little over SIX nun
dred there are two hundred children of
school age in this progressive young town,
and though no graded school has yet been
established, more than one hundred of these
children are enrolled in Aulander High
School. 1t is a splendid school, one of the
best in the State, and has closed the most
prosperous session in its history. Its tWo
principals, Misses Lizzie Mitchell and Eu-
genia Roberts, assisted by Miss Woods, are
Justly esteemed as among the best teach
ers in Eastern North Carolina. They nave
in addition to knowledge, the thing of
greatest value in teaching: love OF child
rem and capacity to win their hearts. For
tunate the parents who can have their
children taught by these lovely young Wo-
men. AS / saw how perfectly drilled the
children were, / recalled a statement |
heard a thoughtful Northerner make at
the Educational Conference in Richmond.
He said 81 have often been impressed
with the fact that your Southern children
have a great advantage in being instructed
by the first ladies of your section. They
learn higher lessons than are taught III the
books All over this good State, lovely
young women are pouring their sweet lives
into the children whom they teach, and
doing it with a Joy, a cheerfulness, a hap
piness that is an inspiration to all who see
in the education Of the child the chief hope
of the State.
Miss Roberts, one of the principals, IS
the sponsor for North Carolina at the Con-
federate Reunion at New Orleans next
week, and Miss Mitchell, co-principal, is
first maid of honor. They go fresh from
the school-room to grace a great social oc-
casion, fit representatives of the best Wo-
manhood in North Carolina, and fit follow
ers Of Lee, who went from Appomattox to
the school room, spending the last years
of his life in teaching the youths of the
South. Happy and fortunate the boys,
who after the war were taught by Lee,
and the boys who, before the war, were
pupils of Stonewall Jackson
The commencement exercises by the stu
dents of Aulander High School were up to
the high standard. The medal for spelling
was won b. Miss Bertha Harrington, who
had missed but one word during the whole
session. In presenting the medal to the
beautiful young miss, Rev. L. M. Curtis
took occasion to show how the education
of great men had been neglected in that
they couldn't spell. He packed as much
good sense into a five minute speech as 7
ever heard. The medal for the best reel
tation was awarded to Miss Helen Harrell,
a lovely little miss. It was presented by
Hon. Jno c. Scarborough. He is one man
who can always be depended upon to DO
what you expect of Il noble man. His
speech was happy and wise. 1t was graft
flying to learn that Chowan Baptist Female
Institute under his management is grow
ing steadily in increased patronage and
wider usefulness. The attendance during
the session just closed has been twenty-five
per cent. larger than the previous year,
which was an increase of the year that pre-
ceded it. 1t has an honorable history and
before it there is a grander career.
Ex-State Senator w. P. Shaw. of Win
sion, who introduced the writer. who de-
lvered the commencement address, before
making the introduction, spoke briefly of
the educational progress of the day, and
the efficient work Of this school. His
speech was a gem-ornate, beautiful, pa
triotic and uplifting. After the writer had
finished he was presented with a handsome
boquet in an eloquent speech by Senator
c. w. Mitchell, president of the board of
trustees and a leader in educational prog
ress in this section. I have but one COM
plant against the good people here. They
We're guilty of putting up four men, each
one of whom made a better speech than
the visitor. l would hold it against the
speakers but l know they couldn't help it.
They have got into the habit of making
good speeches, and couldn't quit it even for
o day. Habit is the strongest chain that
binds man.
This is a solid town, fifteen years old.
Less than fifty years ago, the thirty acres
upon which the own is built, were sold by
a man named Harmon for a single barre
shot gun. Today all the land in the place
IS worth from 500 to $500 an acre. 1t is
situated between the Roanoke and the Che
wan rivers, near the point where BERTHE,
HEREFORD and Northampton joins, and is
the centre of a fine farming section. The
unprecedented rainy weather retarded crop
prospects some, but this industrious people
made hay after it became fair. and their
Widespread acres are all planted. Cotton
ana peanuts are the principal crops of this
section. Lately some tobacco has been
planted with good results. All paid vel
last year, and the thrifty farmers here are
hopeful and cheerful. 1t is a fine nonula