Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-08-14
THE EDUCATIONAL RALLY.


Wednesday and Thursday, was an un-
usual success, especially In point Of at
tendance which, according to people
who have been at every gathering at
this place since. the first, breaks all
previous records. They estimate the
crowd of Wednesday at fully. three
thousand, including not less than one
thousand children. The attendance
was hardly so good on the second day;
but the same we'll qualified judges have
It that the falling off was hardly more
than one-third. Good feeling and good
order prevailed during both days, and
there was no untoward incident. to mar
the pleasure Of the occasion.
1t was a typical York county crowd,
with representatives Of every neighbor-
hood between Broad and Catawba riv-
ers, and between the Chester and Cas-
ton lines, and the polite hospitable
element was represented in large pro-
portion. There were hundreds OF
baskets of good things to eat, and al
though there was no pretense of a
common spread, everybody was prop
erly taken care Of at meal time.
The Gold Hill band, under the lead
ership of Mr.. c. T. Crook, furnished
the instrumental music, and the large
choir Of trained voices under the d.
rection of Mr.. w. M. Stowe, was a
most successful feature Of the enter
tainment. 1t received many compli-
ments from appeciative members of
the audience.
There were six educational speeches
during the rally-three on the first day
and three on the second. All of the
speeches were of a high order contain
ing much that was Of practical value
to the audience; but unfortunately the
crowd contained few good listeners
Most of the young people preferred to
seek entertainment that was more to
their liking, and the crowd around the
speakers stand was discouragingly
small.
Hon. o. B. Martin, state superinten-
dent Of education, was the first speak
er.. He explained the working Of the
common school system of the state
briefly and intelligently, and told OF the
efforts that were being made for Its
improvement. He Is strong believer
in the benefit to be derived from rural
libraries, and advocated their estab-
lishment in every neighborhood In or
der. that both young and old might
have easy access to helpful books. He
argued the advantage Of stronger
schools over weaker ones and advo-
Gated the policy Of consolidation, show
ing the benefits that were to be ex-
ncfed and how. He also deploref an
Objectionable tendency that is to be
seen in almost every school district of
the state in the shape Of short sighted
smallness on the part Of individuals,
who without good reason, would raise
embarrassing questions as to the loca-
ton Of schools and as to the fitness OF
teachers, etc. He characterized such
people as clogs on the wheels Of prog
ress, and stated with emphasis that
there could be no first class schools In
the face Of such obstacles. He also
gave his hearers to understand that 1t
was foolish to expect anything good
without cost and told them that they
should. by all means, suppliment the
local school funds by special taxation.
Prof. A. G. Rembert made an able
scholarly address in which he discussed
the possibilities Of the child with ref
erence to what could be done by means
Of education. He did not underrate the
Importance of the common schools; but
looked upon them only as means Of
attaining to higher things. He gave
his hearers to understand that In his
opinion a little education Is good
thing; but no parent should ever be
content with the idea of allowing the
education. Of the child to stop with the
common schools.
Prof. ]. G. ,Clinkscales; although he
came ldSl dllu COIlleIlueu Will Tic us
advantage of speaking after dinner,
made the hit Of the day. He illus
trated a good speech with amusing
jokes and anecdotes, and had not pro-
ceeded very far until the scattered
crowd began to collect around him.
His general theme was the industrial
habits of the people south as compared
with those of the north. His argument
was that the northern people had ear
lier appreciated the practical value of
thorough education, and had devoted
more attention to preparing themselves
for the requirements and responsible
ties of life. He drew an amusing pic
ture of the energy and thrift of the
average yankee in converting all
kinds Of apparently worthless raw
into articles Of value and
showed how this characteristic was
a development of educational rath-
er than Of superior natural abil-
ity. He reproached the southern