The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-07-17
CONVICTION NORMAL.
Inspires Audience With Estimate
Of South's Sad Singers.

Especial to The Times-D ispatch.)
8$ COVINGTON. VA Jul y 16..--This Is the
busy week at the Covington Normal, and
each day Is too short to permit the wor's
that many OF those In attendance have
planned At every possible ID op portunity
parties traverse the 4surroundingf country
4 In search OF specimens OF flowers and
plants for al tur rt & study, NJ Of geological
FfornlntionE&to illustrate phyBical4 geo.
Apply, 5swhile sight seeing parties Il are
scattered over the mountain ridges 9
soon as Saturday, dawns as a holiday.
Almost every day new arrivals appear,
{ and old friends drop in to shake hands.
}58 a. y few days ago that prince Fof good
fellows, Judge Gooch, blew In with his
INFECTIOUS laugh and a good stock OF
stories. To-day the genial principal OF
the Richmond Aca DENY tarried lon
enough to extend to all "a hearty word
sof encouragement and good cheer,
THE soutfl's Sad sngerss, " as the
instant, II this lecture were printed II
every paper% and read by. every thought
$ful man and woman thYou ghout our dear
Southland, the benefit would be incalcul-
able. N ~ 2,5s x RE-. p y.
5;;5 After showing that the sparsely settled
country and the lack OF immedja te touch
Eof.life with life and spirit with \ spiri..
which makes the poetic fire burn pure
and bright. were causes of the failure
OF the South to contribute her fair pro-
portion OF poetry during the first three
quarters OF the nine tenth century, he
spaId a glowing tribute to those few 'wf1o
did shine with an unexcelled Il ory.:sEsf
why, = said DR.. Kent, does the world
3point to so few grea b Wri tiers In S the
South? Is II not because We K nee fleet
them and go to England and tosthe utter
most parts ot$the earth for our Il OK
amples Of nature painting In verse ?''7i
He further emphasized the thought that
we despise tho heroes, rs we'll as he
natural beauties, Just at our hand ana
leave! to others the appreciation NJ a nj
songs az nraise which should be sung by
us at home. ", AZ Il
Touching upon tho sad q but heroic life
OF IIayne that sweet singer for whom the
knocking birds, calling % first one to
another, Joined In q song OF praise and
cheer, until the air -Tes filled with "a
melody, not OF sadness like that Of tho
Nightingale. but Of the Joy OF life and
the glory Of living, he passed to that
grea ttlover OF nature, Timrod
1.-THE Cottonboll'' was taken x as the
best representative of the poets love OF
that which was simple and e common l'l1't'
place. rs ii B! "a II. III 5sl Oh d 81
RS Space does not permit me here to- even
outline Dr. Kent's beautiful tribute to
the life and genius OF the poet-musician,
to whom the incoming tide In the marshes
OF Glynn suggested the all-peryading and
all;covering love OF God; to whom
tho cornstalk, on the border Of the field,
suggested the Idea OF the poot standing III
tho forefront. ever ready to do battle
for humanity and for the right, 55l5i35
After touching upon the life OF Edgar
A r9oai $ho$ .c10Hpd with a
powerful appeal for a higher and juster
appreciation OF the traditions, the genius.
and the responsibility OF the South, FOR
said he, "out OF the South. with her
glorioup pas, her magnificent present and
her unlimited future, IN ust co me the liter
airy, as we'll as the industrial leadership
OF the nation. a A