The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-03-15
:Berea Teachers
4 1fsh Fos DI rSsirc Arc NJ TO ; ""'
-NS1GO &. ID. LEwis, BEREA, Ky
Berea, KY, Feb. "a, 1908.


Dear Friends-I am visiting Berea
today, and as / can't be here very
long, and il will be impossible for
me TO see you all, feel like writing
you a letter.
Many Of the young people from
the mountains, who have been fortu.
nate enough to get an education in
the past, have left and gone to make
their homes in some more favored
section. Why should they do SOY
The mountains are indeed a great
place, and the mountain people are
great people.
| see, dear friends, in the near
future, clear as the noon day sun, a
new Kentucky. And where do see
itf l see il in the foot hills of the
Cumberland mountains.
True indeed, we are not blessed
with 80 muea wealth as our cousins
in the blue grass country. Our land
does not flow with milk and honey.
But while our cousin in the blue
grass is thinking what the spring
style OF oyercoats is going 10 be, or
where he is going TO spend next
Sunday, the mountain boy is think
ing how he can better his condition.
socially, morally, politically and re.
ligiously.
What God has withheld from us OF
material wealth, 40 far as dollars and
cents are concerned, he has made up
in bruins and the natural ability and
foresight 10 do something and be
something in this life, and secure the
greatest blessings in the life 10 come.
And as the mountain boy plows his
short legged mule around the hill.
side, dare say that he sees farther
into the future than his seemingly
more fortunate cousin.
While we may not be as cultured
as some, we are not uneducated. In
almost every town Of four hundred
OF more inhabitants there is a good
school. Our public schools are bet.
ter, our teachers are better and our
schools are better attended. | am
speaking from actual observation,
having taught in both sections aud
having had the opportunity TO meas
ure the success Of the schools in both
sections.
Then let us be proud OF our homes,
and instead Of scattering abroad,
seeking easier aud better places 10
show our Yankee spirit in the race
for hOnors, let US stay at home and
develop our own country.
Gov. VIM. Bradley recently said:
"The reason kentucky has 10 few
great men Is that she has furnished
NO many for other states" aud | feel
that this especially applies 10 the
mountain region.
Why should we leave the noun
tainsS would rather have a share
in the beginning OF a good genera.
tion OF people than in the ending
There is no better place. The
God Of nature has in many respects
made this the garden spot OF the
world. He has placed here pure air,
ripping waters, broad coal fields,
blooming forests, green pasture lands
and rock ribbed Gibralter mountains,
raising their hoary heads heavenward |
as il 20 say, "Young man, look up, /
lift up, set your mark high, and be a
man among men"
Young man and young woman: 49,
Let me say that am glad to see you
here. | want TO see you all finish
your education; want 10 see you all
return 10 your mountain homes,
full-orbed, we'll developed men and
women. | want to see you begin
your LIES work there. want 10 see
you occupying beautiful cottage
homes on those hillsides. with green
grass growing in the yards and beau
tiful flowers waving by the paths.
Your friends expect great things
OF you. Your county expects great
things Of you. Your state expects
great things Of you. Your country
expects great things Of you.
Let us be up and doing. Let us
be men and women in the highest /
and truest sense Of the term. Let us
make church and school house the
land marks in every county, in every
town and in every rural community
Let us cherish everything great and
good. Let us do all we can 10 devel.
op our country. Let us do all we
can to help our fellow man, and by
No doing we will best help ourselves.
Long live the mountains and the
Long be honored the
name of this great institution that
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