The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-05-25
BLIND BUT LEADS HIS CLASS.
Edward Ray, a Union County Boy,
Now in Harvard College the Won
der of that Institution.

Correspondence of Monroe Enquirer
Newton Center, Mass, May 16.-
Some of the most pleasant memories
that come to one after he has pushed
out into the world are those that
come to him when he dreams of his
native State, and more especially of his
native county. Especially do 1 think
this is true of a North Carolinian.
Somehow or other the native tar of
son of Carolina never wears away.
have been sitting here at my win
dow dreaming for an hour and all
my dreams have been provoked by
long interview with a man, a son of
Carolina, of whom any State might
we'll be proud. l am writing this short
letter hoping that the story | tell of
Union boy will do good, and hoping
that what l may say will inspire some
Union county boy to push out to do
the noble things of life.
When l first walked across the main
part of the Harvard College city, little
did / dream that there was a soul
there whom | knew. In fact l was
wholly oblivious to such thoughts, for
l was dreaming of what the future
might bring to me from the hidden
treasures of great knowledge here to
be gained. l was hungry for what
literary prey | might find.
/ got on a street car to go to another
part of town A news boy came along
crying paper" In a moment he had
his penny and / had my paper. The
first thing to arrest my attention was
this name, Edward Ray, THE Blind
Man at Harvard" candidate for the
Masters degree from this the greatest
American college. Further down 1t
said he is from Union county, North
Carolina If / had been shot | would
d. fal1 n cd or
moment. To myself l asked this
question over and over, can it be Ed
ward Ray, the man who once occupied
the school room with me at Morgan
Academy?
Well to be brief. after a long. tire
some search-it is no easy task TO ma
a Harvard man, one among six thous-
and, all of whom are scattered over
territory several miles in circumfer~
ence-I found my man, Edward
Ray" who had already become the
gossip of the city because of the pecu-
liar mission that brought him to Har>
ward They thought it was the height
of daring presumption for pima man
to come as a candidate for one OF Haf'
wards graduate degre, s. that of Nj. A.
But their wonder and astonlshment
was not yet spent After he had been
led around the city and TO the various
class rooms he began to go alone ana
now hundreds of men marvel as he
walks erectly and briskly anywhere he
wishes to go, and that all alone. Nor
do they cease marveling until they fol-
low him into the lecture room, ana
there see him leading men from all
over the continent in his work He
stands head in every department OF
his graduate work, and in six months
will go back to Union county or some
where else, having carried away ms
masters diploma, while others OF ms
class will be left behind to make UP
time lost on bad exam
Here is a man who was poor put
thought it no sin; here is man who
was blind but still down in his soul
he saw and knew that there was no
reason to fold his hands. This should
be an inspiration to every Union coun-
ty boy. 1t does my heart good TO see
this man climb upward Climbing Is
hard work. But once the summit is
reached the climber is the stronger
for the effort.
Hundreds of young men plead pow
erty. 1 declare that poverty is no
hindrance to one who resolves TO
climb 1t is no sin to be poor, but 1t
is a sin to remain ignorant when all
the wealth of the worlds knowledge
is at ones feet. What this man has
done hundreds of others should do,
Let us analyze this man and see
what it is that has led him thus TO
high and rare scholarship.
| feel that | am not oVerstepplng
my bounds when I attempt to say in
a word something about the inner
life of this rather remarkable man.
For one year we labored side by SIDE
and this year / have been near him.
First, he has never been convinced
that he knew it all. Lots of people
do reach that place and they are not
the better for it.
Second, he hungers for knowledge
real, true and honest knowledge which
is founded on truth.
Third, he is ambitious. But this is a
noble ambition, consecrated ambition.
He longs to be of service to mankind.
An unholy ambition is most ruin
Gus thing But a holy ambition is
one of heavens rare gifts and Is a
blessing to mankind
| hope some Union county boy Will
read these words and catch this blind
mans inspiration.
C. LEWIS FOWLER.