The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-02
COMMENCEMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY.

ance with Mr.. Boutell. We now know
that it is a matter wholly apart from
| geography, for he is a native of Mas
sachusetts. reared and educated in
| Illinois. You could not tell his Sec
| ton from anything about him. That
is truer of all accomplished gentlemen
than has been supposed, for letters
and learning and broad patriotism
wipe out all lines of section and for
bid any provincialism in manner or in
speaking.
When the time arrived for the selec-
ton Of an orator for this commence
ment, President Venable went to
Washington to confer with Represen-
tative Pou and other North Carolina
Congressman with reference to the
best man in public life to invite. Mr..
Pou suggested Mr.. Boutell, both be-
cause of his scholarship and because
of his Union League speech. He was
invited, frankly declared he would be
delighted to come to North Carolina,
and he says he is happy that it was
his good fortune to have been hon
ored with the invitation. He came
walking on no stills, but like a
man who wished to learn as well as
to impart knowledge.
Ordinarily when a public man ac-
ceDts an invitation to deliver a COM
mencement address he gets out an old
speech, revamps it a little, rushes to
the place, speaks his piece, and hur-
ries away. He learns nothing of the
people or of the institution and they
learn nothing of him. Mr. Boutell
pursued no such hurried method.
When he accepted the invitation to
speak here some two months ago, he
began to get in touch with "No'f Caliny
ways" He read everything he could
lay his hands upon-hstory, fiction.
diaries, journals-and about ten days
ago reached the State, coming here
by Elizabeth City, studying the his
tory of Northeastern North Carolina,
the section that produced Iredell and
most of the leading men in the early
history of the colonies; then New
Bern, studying the early history of
the Swiss, and visiting the scenes of
special interest to him because as q
boy he read letters written home to
his mother from his father who was
a Federal soldier at New Bern; then
Wilmington, where he walked on
ground made sacred by Cornelius Har-
nett, Ashe. and the patriots who, in
advance of Boston men. and in the
broad daylight and without disguise,
threw the tea into the Cape Fear
River; sought to visit Moore's Creek
tie over the Tories was won in Ameri-
ca, but was greatly disappointed in his
projected trip to that Mecca of pa
triots, because of a delayed train;
then to Charlotte to mingle with the
people who stung Tarleton into calling
that town "the Hornets Nest" then
to Chapel Hill to mngle with the five
hundred ambitious young men,
faculty who. for its learning is
unsurpassed, State officials and
ion. All who met him were
charmed with his unaffected and SIM
pie manner-(the graciousness and
courtesy of greatness) Sand astonish-
ed at his knowledge of North Carolina
history. There were few men pres
ent who were as well posted upon
many important events of North Car
DINA history as Mr.. Boutell, and he
had picked up the traditions and ro-
mances in a surprising way. Except
a few of the older students and pub
licists, he was probably the only man
who had read the diary of Waightstill
Avery, and seen in it picture of the
men and customs of the times. He
had read every line of the debate in
the famous Hillsboro Convention that
declined to ratify the Federal Con-
stitution without guarantee of free
dom of the press, liberty of conscience,
the bill of rights, and protection to the
rights of the States.
who is the greatest man North
Carolina has produced-that is, what
is the opinion of North Carolinians
upon that subject?" Mr.. Boutell ask
ed of a company of trustees and other
alumni. He was told there was some
difference of opinion, some giving the
place to Macon, some to Iredell, some
to Badger, some to Graham, some to
Vance-that opinion was not nearly
enough unanimous to enable anyone to
say that the State had ever determined
which son was the greatest. Mr.. Bou-
tell then said that his reading of
early North Carolina history caused
him to give the foremost place among
North Carolinians to VIM. r. Davie
He said he more nearly resembled
Alexander Hamilton in ability, in
character, in his personal history,
than any man in the thirteen colonies
and was North Cardinals greatest
soldier and seer Inasmuch as VIM.
r. Davie was the leader in establish
ing the University and locating it on
this spot, the high estimate he placed
upon the public service of Davie was
-. 4 !