The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-30

done in the Academy, and that while some
names were new to him, that he congratu-
lated all.
Here he spoke Of his early schoodays,
the small schools and the short time given
20 instruction by teachers who required
stud yta home and used the rod to keep
from being too long in the school house.
If these teachers, he said, were not lazy,
it wa sto be wondered at, and in this con-
nection told the history of an earlier
teacher of his, a Greek scholar, who Is
still alive and in the county home IN
Nashville, Tenn These lazy teachers he
put in comparison with Mr.. Morson's ac-
tivity and work, under which. said Mr..
Battle. 81 have seen him grow bald and
pale because of his labors. but I have OBJ
serve dwith pleasure that all the grad
yates of the school are his friends, for
while doing his duty he has made them
do theirs"
Entering upon the question Of Habit
ae said that he never lost an opportunity
to talk to boys and children for he loved
hem and liked to have them as his friends.
AS a type of the value of Habit he
spoke of the remarkable character of Day-
id L. Swain and of the stress he laid upon
habits, frequently lecturing his gradual
ing classes at the University on that sub
iect. He told Of SWANS small opportun-
tiles and how he grew from half edu-
Gated boy a legislator, solicitor, selected
from the west, judge, governor of his
State and President of the University
which held open the position from six
months to get him. THESE he used as IL
Illustrative of Governor SWANS good rabbits
an dspoke Of his lecture on Habit de.
livered in 1892 found twenty years after
and read annually to the Senior Class at
CHAPEL Hill.
The period of young habits, he said, was
in youth, for as 1.-The twig was bent the
tree was Inclined and he urged that those
he addressed should not give way to vic
ious habits, for these would deprive them
Of happiness. Duty neglected, he said,
makes men unhappy and duty performed
makes men happy
81 never loved work. said Mr.. Battle
but I enjoyed my vacations more because
| had worked" Bad habits he continued
never come quickly and quoted from
Juyenal "Nerns repente turpissimus fiut, .
which be translated, Nobody ever got to
be q great rascal at once as they had to
learn to be such by having bad habits
As practically illustrating this he said that
he was graduated from the University
somewhere in the pos with a class of 60
Out of that class 10 are still living. All
10 those 13 were boys of good habits-bOys
who spent their time profitably in school
and who, during vacation, enjoyed them
selves hunting and fishing rather than
ioafing on the streets.
Then Mr.. Battle made an earnest plea
against the use of tobacco. He said his
father had not used it and that he had
not, nor had he ever heard a smoker ad-
wise others to smoke. Here he told of a
four year old boy smoking a cigarette and
advising his grandfather not to smoke.
He told the boys that if they must smoke,
not to smoke cigarettes and referred to
/ the laws of Tennessee where they could
not be sold, and of North Carolina where
it was unlawful to sell cigarettes to min
/ ors.
/ He spoke strenuously against drinking
ardent spirits and rejoiced that it was no
longer necessary to offer spirits to guests
Though we now live lives that are tense
strung up, faster than in the old days, he
declared that even then many who drank
had ended their lives because Of this in
dulaence.
He urged politeness as a necessary habit
and cited Washington and Lee as the very
essence of politeness. AS these names
were mentioned there was much applause
Kind words in place of harsh, he declared.
would make the world happier and bright
or. In politeness and kindness he said
Robert z. Lee excelled, and that there
wa snever character so splendid. that
Lee was "prince in appearance, in NOR
ais and in character" AS a boy, soldier,
president of university and officer in
the church duty was his guide and emf
nent politeness his rule"
Don't. waste time on cheap novels, -
said Mr. Battle, and then he declared
these were worse than cigarettes Tie
urged the reading of standard books, and
told of their value.
He closed his excellent address by wish.
ing the students most happy vacation
which he urged them to use wisely and
we'll vacation due to them and THEN
faithful teachers, earned by hard and
earnest work.
Then Mr.. Morson spoke a few words
telling of the faithful work Of his assist
ants. He thanked the audience for the
attendance on the exercises and announced
that the next session began on the first
Monday in September.
The benediction was pronounced by
bishop Cheshire, and the closing exercises
Of the thorough and solid school came tt
an end as the visitors passed out, congrat
ulations being extended to Mr.. Morsor
on the years work.
: Kieptomaniacs draw the line at takin: