The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1904-11-23

town. When you walk the streets OF
Manning remember the debt which you
owe to DR.. G. Allen Higgins. Not only
did he plant the noble oaks which pro-
tect us from sun and storm as we 60
about the streets. but also the ever
greens which line the avenue TO the
city OF the dead were left by him to re-
mind US of the immortality OF q man
and to comfort the bereaveu with the
memory that their loved ones. though
dead, still live.
As said, we are today simply obey
ing the command of the Legislature,
and they lay down u certain object to
be obeved-that is to impress upon the
minds of the pupils a proper apprecla-
tion of flowers, shrubbery and shade
trees. And this is not simply 4 public
occasion. but the result of the exer-
cises of today are intended to be q les
son learned by the pupils. IN attempt
ing to carry out that intention 1 will
address my further remarks exclusively
to the pupils OF this school.
You children are now in the forma-
tive period of your lives: as the twlg IS
bent. so is the tree inclined, and the
endeavor of your parents and teachers
is 10 aid you in your growth to good
men and women: good citizens OF what
we consider the best State IN the Union
GLORIOUS old South Carolina.
Now, what is education: What is 1t
that prompts your parents to send you
here-that causes you to study lessons
and devote all of your energy to the
acquisition of knowledge? Why are
schooihouses?
Education is, first, the development
and training of the intellect. Second,
the storing Of the mind with useful in
formation which will be needed later in
life. It is not q matter Of mere crowd
inc certain facts and figures into your
minds, but it is the DEVELOPMENT of your
powers to think and of your reasoning
faculties and fitting you for the three
great duties which every individual
owes: his duty to his State, TO his fam
ily and to himself. The first thing q
man should DO, is to do his part in the
economic life of his country, and this
means with most of US making living
and taking cur part in the business OF
the world. In nothing that say today
/ do | intend to minimize the importance
of. being practical, of obtaining a
practical education, OF engaging IN
practical business and OF being
as successful in q material way as
| is consistent with honesty. However,
this is not all of life, as we are not dis
charging our full duty towards our own
natures if we develop only our practical
talents. It is considered by many peo-
pie, but luckily the number is decreas-
inc. that an education which prepares
a man TO attend to business and enables
woman to write a readable letter is
sufficient. That only what gives absc-
lutely tangible, practical results IN
money or it's equivalent should be con-
sidered. However, as I have said, the
number holding this position is decreas-
ing and the endeavor now is not only
to provide for the severel material
duties which an individual will have to
perform. but also to develop his charac-
ter on the spiritual side of his nature
(using the term spiritual as. the reverse
of materially, the effort being to obtain
well rounded character and the most
perfect development of all Of his facul-
ties and powers.
In accordance with this idea we have
Arbor Day. You learn in your lessons
the practical things of how many pecks
make bushel: how to write correctly;
how to think accurately and clearly,
and how to express your ideas. But this
is an attempt to teach you to pay due
respect and obedience to the other side
of your nature which enjoys and ap-
preciates the beauties of the world IN
which you are living. Under this head
[ would include literature. music, art
and all the works of nature, and you
will find that a proper appreciation OF
any one of these will aid you to see and
appreciate the rest, because it is only
in different form.
Flowers, shrubberv and shade trees
are, from commercial standpoint, are
of no value. They are to only limited
extent the subject of trade and com.
merce and he2ce your appreciation OF
their beauty, your knowledge OF their
structure and laws and your love tor
them will never add to your material
wealth. But it will add, and very great
lv, to your pleasure and also to your
development into the perfect man or
woman that you were intended to be.
An appreciation of plants and flowers
is simply one form of "a love for beauty
with which we are all created, and every
man, to at least some extent possesses
this love of beauty God created man in
his own image and one of the attri-
butes of the Divine nature is a love OF
beauty in all its forms. This earth IS
filed with beauty. if we are only train
ed to see and appreciate it. Not only
the flowers of all hues, shapes and sizes,
lofty trees, the ripping brook, the dash
ing waterfall, the delicate tints OF the
sky: feecv clouds overhead: the gor-
geous hues of a sunset, when the whole
heavens are avery riot of color which
is ever changing and assuming new
forms, new tints and new beauties; all
around US are very oceans OF beauty
thrown with reckless abandon into the
universe to enrapure our eyes, elevate
our thoughts and aid in the develop
ment Of our characters. For 1t has al
WAYS been found that man could easiest
look through nature to Natures COO,
and that any student of nature and any
person whose mind has been trained TO
appreciate the glorious beauties OF this
world is reverent and devouJ. and tlled
with veneration for the Creator OF all
things.
All nature is beautiful. We often pass
by unseeing, but we should train our
eyes to see the beauty that is around us
I sometimes think thatit was scattered
here with such lavish hand, to enable
US to appreciate the beauties OF the City
and Palace of our God whose gates are
pearl, whose walls are OF jasper, and
whose streets are paved with gold. The
inspired Apostle in his endeavor to de-
scribe its beauties beggared language,
and when his mind, attempting to grasp
and portray the beauties before him,
failed. putt down as things which can
not be uttered -
This is your lesson for today. always
look for the beautiful in nature and cul-
tivate to the artistic and esthetic side OF
your natures.
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