The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-05-27
CLOSING DAY Al
SCHOOL FOR BLIND
Best Year in History of
Institution.
GRADUATING EXERCISE
GRADUATING EXERCISE
OaIY Two Graduates This Year, w. M.
Crook, of Moore County, and E.
N. loyner, of Franklin County,
Annual Address Delivered BY
Col. ]. Bryan Grimes.

Yesterday morning were held in thu
auditorium at the Institution for the
Blind in this city the graduating exer
cises of the State School for the
Blind. The program illustrated the
scope of school work at the institu-
ton, and especial delight was mani
tested by the audience in the musical
features of the program, which were
of uncommon interest. The essays
delivered by the two young gentle
men who received diplomas were OF
unusual excellence, and Indicated
strong and promising talents in the
speakers. After the exercise in the
auditorium the students of the handi-
work department exemplified the
work done there, and an exhibition
of educational gymnastics was given
in the splendid gymnasium.
The graduates were Mr.. William
Murphy Cook, of Moore county, and
Mr.. Edward Apperson Joyner, of
Franklin county. The annual literary
address was delivered by Col. j.
Bryan Grimes, Secretary of State, and
the enthusiasm he evoked by his
wonderful speech received frequent
response by prolonged applause.
At II o'clock the exercises We're be-
the devotional, after which the adj
vanced chorus class sang the anthem:
Send Out Thy Light" by Gounod.
The stirring strains and the charm
with which the anthem was sung by
the sweet and even happy voices of
the blind touched the heart of every
person in the audience, and there was
expressed in every eye the deep SYM
pathy reflected from the soul
William Murphy Crook, of Moore
county, read an essay on English Lit
erature in the age of Queen Eliza
beth. He reviewed the great events
of the time of the court of Elizabeth,
relating the names and works and
achievements of the immortals of that
period, and its productive impulse.
Mr. Moore showed keen perception
into the spirits that moved that age,
and the genius that controlled it. His
conceptions were clear, ard his essay
was concise and replete with striking
sentences.
Mr. Frederick Pigford rendered de-
lightfully piano solo, waltz Sc
lected from Judassohn. His artistic
execution was loudly applauded.
An essay on Education in the
South" was delivered by Mr.. Ed
mund Apperson Joyner, of Franklin
county. He said the rural schools are
the stratgetic point of education in the
South. The Civil War, he said, re-
duced many intelligent women to pow
erty, and out of this devastated South
land order was raised out of chaos
the country was rehabilitated, and
these pOverty-stricken people became
teachers. The land is no longer desc
late. but the South has q tremendous
drawback in the fact that here the
receives only SO cents for
each person for education, but in the
North it is more than $500. But the
wealth of the South is al
ready assured, and the intellectual and
higher wealth will surely come.
The annual literary address was
delivered by Col. j. Bryan Grimes,
Secretary of State. Col. Grimes talked
about the institution, its work and its
future. There are few occasions in
the institutions in the State,' he said,
$50 important as this. About 1913 a
Mr.. Cooke from Virginia came to
North Carolina with a band of chill
dren who were blind. He gave en-
throughout the State,
and there was popular awakening,
and a public demand for an institu-
ton for this afflicted class of persons.
Governor Morehead, in 1S45, asked
the Legislature to establish such an
and $4,000 was appropriate
ed. In 1S47, a larger sum was appro-
Driated To- this cause. At that time
the only institution for the deaf, |
dumb and blind was in Virginia, and |
that of North Carolina was the second |
in the South. In establishing this |
institute our forefathers thought that
IL would grow, and this beautiful
square was selected, and from it has
this wonderful institution grown, andf
it is monument to those who
it to be established and to the
Legislature of 1S45, and from it |
sprung the great Institutions like it i
i'm the South. While this one still leads |
This institution is one of the four
largest in America, and that means |
one of the four largest in the world |
1t is the largest in the South, and its
principal, Mr.. John E.
Ray, is one of the most eminent edu-
Gators in the country. The State is
proud of this growth. and the last
Legislature evidenced this by its in
creased appropriation. A few years
ago the school had grown to such
large proportions that an institution
for the deaf and dumb was established
ut Morganton, and the deaf and dumb
were separted from the blind. That
1chool now has 242 pupils and this
now has 357 with capacity for 1O0l
more. We have as our Governor
Robert B. Glenn, and it is his great
est ambition to be the industrial gov
ernor of North Carolina, and you