Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1904-06-30


evidences of prosperity in all sections
of the State. Our towns are rapidly
growing into cities. our villages into
towns, and our rural communities are
taking unto themselves the ways and
the conyeniences of towns. This is
all as it should be, and each fresh evil
dence of progress gives us reason to
rejoice. But the greatest among all
these reasons for congratulating our
selves lies in the steady Improvement
in our schools. The manner in which
cities, towns and neighborhoods are
bestirring themselves to better the
conditions of their children by i'm
proving the schools in which they
study the first lessons of life, is most
encouraging, and we hope, ere the
summer is ended. to be able 70 tell
our readers of many notable improve
ments throughout the State.
In glancing through few of last
weeks exchanges, we learned that
both Greenville and Water Valley had
voted to issue bonds for the building
and equipment of fine up-to-date
school buildings. These ought to be
ready for occupancy by the beginning
of the year 1905, by which tiGe, we
hope and believe, many other towns
will have followed this most excel
lent example in providing the best
possible opportunities for the chill
dren of today, and thus, for the men
and women Of tomorrow.
The Normal now in progress at the
University is as great success as
its promoters hoped it would be. Last
rnonbpA ahnnt
hundred and fifty, ana it is safe to
state now that this years Will reach
the thousand mark.
And it ought to pass 1t. With the
attractive grounds, comfortable ac-
commodations and unrivaled teaching
force, the State has provided for her
own the very best she could procure
for love or money. And 1t il great
encouragement to the men who nave
labored so earnestly TO see that the
teachers are recognizing and EN-
bracing their opportunities.
For several years past great num-
bers of our teachers nave been assidu-
ously impressing upon the world at
large their belief in the truth that
prophet is not without honor save IN
his own land To do this thoroughly
and completely, they have, with their
trunks full of lovely summer raiment
bought their tickets for knoxv1ile.
Tenn. and most of them have passed
serenely by or through our classic
little Oxford, with but heetlng
thought of what great things might
be in wait for eager seekers, behind
the ivied walls. or meath the splendid
oaks of the campus. On swiftly
speeding trains they have fastened TO
the quaint old college town OF Tennes.
see. all eager to sit at the feet OF
these great teachers and learn wnat
thev could never get at home. 1t
must make one of this summers look
ers on smile to hear Mississippi
teachers salving their conscience with
this good reason" while every one
knows that one of the chief attrac-
tions at the Knoxville Summer
School'-one of the very best of the
many good men in that faculty
comes from Mississippi One of our
own university men-Dr. Saun-
ders Perhaps if our teachers should
stand by Oxford as our own sisters
from over the line stand by Knoxville,
and if every Missisippian would do as
every Tennessean does IN adveftls-
ing their summer school, we, too,
might count our students by the thou
sands instead of by the hundreds, and
would then have money to pay, and
the need to keep, all of these splen-
did teachers who are so eagerly and
so wisely sought by other States to
lend attraction to their summer nor
mails.
Knoxville isn't so very much higher
and cooler and safer and better than
Oxford and Columbus--you know the
climate is the chief reason for this
annual flight across the line-and one
has but to try it, TO be so convinced.
However, if one won't go to either
of these great summer schools right
here at home, and among ones own,
by all means go to Knoxville.
Go somewhere. to drink long
draughts from fresh fountains OF
knowledge, and seek anew the
strength on which your pupils must
lean through the coming session
months until you give this opportunity
to yourself. You can not realize how
much you need refreshment and new
strength, nor how infinitely it will
benefit. through you, the children in
your charge.
Now, that each and every one of the
States great institutions of learning,
her public and private schools, have
closed for the summer and commence
ments are dreams of the past, our
young people should give themselves
up to the very best and truest form
of rest and recreation. and spend as
much time as they possibly can in
the open air and sunshine with the
beautiful children of Nature as their
companions There will be no lack of
interest and pleasure, as wefl as bene-
fit In this association, we assure you.
The commencement exercises of the
States great public school for girls
took place early last week, thus clos
ing the long and brilliant series OF
commencement exercises in the Mis-.
sissippi schools. Because of the sad
accident which brought to so swift
close the bright lives of two
of the l. l. and C's. most be-
loved pupils, with the sorrowful
story OF which our readers are
familiar. the closing exercises were
of a quiet nature. and at no time
was it forgotten that upon two OF the
many hundreds of young students had
the great silence fallen.
This remembrance tempered the
natural joyousness of the commence
ment occasion so that in the music of
each of the happy young hearts, there
throbbed a minor chord whereon the
names of these young friends who
have gone before were written.
But for this, there would have been
no shadow to mar the splendid glory
of the close of this years great work.
AS there are students from every
town and hamlet and remote corner Of
this great State on the college roll, so
were there gathered guests from every
portion of our commonwealth to share
in the triumphs and pleasures of the
ambitious girls who are so eagerly
taking advantage of their unparalleled
opportunities, Some one has said
that a man needs no monument other
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