Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-06-01
T |NE ADDRESS
Delivered by Honorable Frank
Springer at Normal Com
mencement Exercises.
ELOQUENT LOGIC.
Sensible View on Teaching of
English. Plea for Science.
Man OF Three RS.
MANNERS AND PATRIOTISM

The following is resume of the
mastery address Of Hon. Frank
Springer at the normal commence
ment:
At the outset he said that during his
term of service on the board Of re-
gents he had done nothing which hal
afforded him greater pleasure and sat
isfaction than when at the very be-
ginning of the work OF the institution
he had inducted the presidents chair,
the man who had since filled II SO
worthily. What the institution had
been able to accomplish he attributed
mainly to the splendid support of the
citizens OF Las Vegas and TO the wise
and intelligent efforts Of the president
and the members OF his faculty.
Importance Of English.
Mr.. Springer proceeded to develop
logically and eloquently what he be-
lieved TO be the most important func-
tion OF the school. First in order he
placed the study OF the English Ian
guage. His remarks on this subject
were eminently sensible and it may
be said the address itself was a fine
example Of what the speaker advo-
Gated Hc wishac the ssuuanis in
school might emulate the enterprise
of the printer and deplored the fact
that, Notwithstanding the progress OF
educational ideas. few pupils leit
school able TO express themselves
either in speech or writing in correct
and elegant English. English, said
the orator, was the language OF the
noblest ct human sentiments. the lam
guage OF logic and courage, OF poetry,
humor and oratory, the language in
which the worlds greatest classics
since the days OF Homer had been
written. A splendid tribute TO the
tight little isle" i'll which the tongne
had had its birth was made, examples
Of surprising eloquence we're quotede
and to the auditors was presented
an alluring array OF names Of famous
writer's with whom none could afford
to remain unfamiliar. The greatest
| defect in the school system of the day.
Mr.. Springer found to be its failure
to equip the young with a practical
knowledge of English. He urged the
Importance of study of good models
and diligent practice in the art OF
writing and speaking.
Scientific Study.
The speaker said that no one could
be fitted for life Of use in this world
who had not learned to commune with
Mother Nature. Shafts of sarcasm
and ridicule were directed at the man
of the three RS who had for genera
tiuns attempted TO stay the wheels Of
progress on the theory that what was
good enough for them was good
enough for their children. The three
X man was represented as placing
himself in opposition to every al
vancement along scientific lines, per
scouting the men who had expert
mented with the steam engine, The
electric telegraph, the printing press
Over against this apostle of stagna
tion the speaker placed the man O
science, observing the phenomenon
OF nature, who investigated plodding
| ly and patiently until some day tn,
world was enthralled with some mar
vell0ns invention The speaker les
irresistibly to the conclusion that al
most all that was worth while which
had been accomplished in making dis
tinctiye and glorious the present age
had been the result OF the mcl VIII,
had studied some Of the myrian sJrml
OF nature. To those who objected stili
the speaker said. he would answer al
the mighty Franklin had answered tn,
man who had said TO him he wrcstel
the lightning from the clouds "cu
Bono? "Of what use sir, Of what us,
Is the new born babe?s The illimit
able possibilities Of science wer'
measured only b. the boundless poteu