The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-08-22
THE MEMORIAL ACADEMY.
4 Forecast of the Work To Be Done
for the Educational Upbuilding of
Sumter County.

~
County more Of the interesting char
acter whicn will attach to the open
ing exercises Of The General Sumter
Memorial Academy on Monday, Sept.
18th.
am sure that the time is coming
when the county will feel a very great
pride in the Academy which is erect
ed at the grave Of the famous hero
whose name it bears. The intelli-
gence and patriotism of the people
afford full guarantee that an en-
terprise of this character will enlist
their hearty support.
In the momentous period of the
country's history, Genera! Sumter,
with unsurpassed personal sacrifice,
did such service that his name and
fame have reached the utmost bounds
of civilization, and his unconquerable
and aggressive spirit find recognition
in all the years as they pass, in the
sobriquet Of the Gamecock of the
Revofrtion.' Counties in many parts
of the union are called in his honor
and good fortune attended his name
when one Of the most celebrated war
ships on the seas, during the conflict
between the North and South, was
called the Sumter" and carried to all
parts Of the world the name which is
inseparably connected with splendid
heroism. The Fort in Charleston
harbor, which is named for him is
certainly one Of the most interesting
forts in. te history Of he world, not
surpassed even by Sevastopol and
Gibraltar.
Now the enterprise Of erecting
school at his grave in place Of
costly monument (for his grave has
no stone upon it and is today un-
morhed, except by a stately oak that
grows at its head was not lightly
undertaken. The difficulties Of the
task were fully understood by those
who entered upon it. Yet teachers
were found who were willing to re-
linquish fine and paying positions to
assume this patriotic work, knowing
1,,11 we'll that for a, considerable time
the pecuniary remuneration for their
labors would have TO be very small.
AS they toll in the arduous enterprise
they derive a high satisfaction from
the thought that they are building in
honor of one who halted at no sacr!-
fee for his country's welfare, and
whose sufferings We're such that no
hero Of war has ever been called up
on to endure greater. 1t is q, privilege
and strengthening Of purpose to
encounter trials in the erection OF
proper memorial at his tomb.
Fortunately for the perpetuity Of
the institution, Gen. Sumter's tomb is
in one OF the lovliest and healthiest
sections of the world ard a section OF
the State made famous by the number
Of distinguished men and women who
have had their homes here for more
than a hundred years
OF these hills Light Horse Harry
Lee (the father Of General Robert
Z. Lee) who camped on them, with
his celebrated Legion during the
Revolution, wrote with the greatest
enthusiasm and characterized as the
benign hills Of Santee" and General
Greene refers over and often to the
benefits its encamprents here brought
to his weary and sick soldiers, be-
cause of the delightful hleezes and
the health-giving waters Which they
enjoyed while refreshing themselves
for furt, er struggles With the British
invaders. John Rutledge issued some
Of his proclanlaConS, as DICTATOR q
South Carolina, from Sans soucl, on
these hills. The grave OF Joel R.
Poinsette, one Of the most celebrated
diplomats of his day, is here and that
of the famous lDemosthenian orator,
McDuffie, is at the foot Of the hills
On these hills was born Fighting
Dick Anderson the ranking officer
from South Carolina in the Confed-
crate service. Here was the home Of
the gifted authoress, Mrs. Harriet
H. Ravenel, whose former residence
is now the academy building OF the
Memorial shool. These and many
other interesting memories are con-
nected with the Acaden1y's environ
ments. Then the fact that this is
rural school enterprise, at the time
when rural schools are the chief
thought of the people, in connection
,,.;+,, 4J,e Further e1JcatiOnOI progress