Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1905-02-22
No. SO.
Mr.. ESSleStOn Strongly Endorsed,

C'"O' uptIlnlenuenCN or Public
instruction of Virginia will be re-
ceived with marked interest in
Asheyille and throughout North
Carolina. He has a host of friends
and admirers in this city. whore
he left deep impress on the
educational and civic life of the
community.
Coming here almost youth. his
brilliant qualities and substantial
success As a teacher soon placed
him in the line Of promotion. and
upon the resignation Of Prof. PIP.
Claxton as city Superintendent he
was chosen by the unanimous vote
of the school committee to succeed
him.
1t Is only right to say that when
Prof. Eggleston stepped into a
position 50 ably filled by Prof.
.CIaxtOn, there was grave doubt
whether one so young would be
equal to the burdens and difficult
ties that awaited him. The boom"
days had been followed by reac-
ton, and the schools of Asheville
We're $4,000 in debt. There was
serious talk of closing the doors
for one year; of cutting off the
high school; of shortening the term
for series of years to six months:
and of reducing salaries. Dissen-
sions necessarily arose and these
were the conditions young Eggles-
ton had to face. The difficult sit
uation thus created was due 10 the
force of circumstances. and was I'm
no way the fault of Prof. Claxton.
who had shown marked ability in
organizing the system and in lay
ing the foundation deep. broad and
strong.
Prof. Eggleston soon inspired
his coadjutors-of the school COM
mittee with the courage. faith and
enthusiasm with which he himself
faced these difficulties. The schools
were not closed: the high school
was left untouched: neither terms
nor salaries were cut down: and
before the seven years of Mr..
Eggleston : administration ended.
the debt of $4,000 had been ex-
tinguished. From its trials and
perils the school system emerged
! stronger than ever in the confd-
ence and affections of the people.
The buildings were beauufied.
libraries for pupils and teachers
were placed in every building. and
the manual training department.
which has grown To such fine pro-
portions under Superintendent
Tighe. was inaugurated.
One of the strongest points
about Superintendent Eggleston
was his ability to arouse In his
teachers a spirit of enthusiasm
and devotion 20 school work. They
believed in him and were ready to
follow him, because of his energy.
sound Judgment and sympathetic
insight.
He held the hearts of the child
rem, too, in his hand, and his :nhu-
ence over them was very remarka-
BILE.
1t is a matter of record in the
school annals of Asheville that
Prof. Eggleston never lost a fight
in the seven years of his superin-
tendency. He was never known
to lift a finger in his own behalf,
but when the schools were at stake
no influence or friend or foe could
hold him back from an aggressive
fight, and more than once he did
not hesitate to jeopardize his
tenure of office when the interests
of the school system were threat
ened.
Mr.. EggleSton was one of the
most pubhc-Spirited of Asheyile'S
citizens, and gave his strength
without stint 10 every progressive
movement in the city or country.
= His activities were varied, and his
energy was unbOunded.
~ a patron of the public library,
aS 4 co-laborer with the county
superintendent of schools. aS a
helper in the work of the church
= and the Young Mems Christian
Association, his services were al-
ways in demand because of his
readiness and efficiency i'm taking
hold.
5 He was one of the leaders i'm the
= movement for good roads, lending
{ the influence of pen and tongue to
, the betterment of our highways.
! The city press was indebted 10 him
for many valuable contributions on
+ a great variety of subjects, and the
Il people read his articles because of
their SprightlineSS and good sense.
Mr.. EggleStOn has the best