The Columbus weekly dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 1908-19??, 1908-10-08
1.-THE OPTIMISTIC
SPIRIT OF THE Age
Is THE SUBJECT OF FLOWERY
ADDRESS DELIVERED By
HON. j. y. POWERS AT
l.. L. Il C. OPENING.
A Large Number of Students Have
SIatriculated, and Prospects
for a Successful Session
Are Very Flattering.

The twenty-third annual session of
the Industrial Institute and College
opened last Wednesday, the inaugu-
raj address having been delivered by
Hon j. y. Powers, State superintend-
ent of education. The exercises were
held in the college chapel at ten
o'clock Wednesday morning, and the
spacious auditorium. looking spick
and span in its new coat of paint,
was filled to its capacity by students
and friends of the institution who
were present to grace the occasion.
The exercises were opened with
the reading of passage in the Scrip
lures by Rev. S. l.. Pope, pastor of
the Second Methodist church, after
which Gods blessing was invoked by
Rev f. V. Hope, pastor of the Chris
tian church. Next came an instru-
| mental solo by Miss Mary l.. Prince
one of the new members of the mu-
sic faculty, after which Miss Matte
Lou Brown rendered, in that delight
1
to the music lovers of Columbus, an
enquisite solo, and the charm with
which she sang added new laurels
| to the crown of this gifted queen
| of song.
| Following Miss Browns song came
an instrumental solo by Miss Evelyn
Windham, after which Prof. Powers
was introduced by President Whit
/ field. In presenting Prof. Powers TO
| the audience President Whitfield de-
clared that Mississippi is making rap
/ i'd progress along educational lines,
and said he was glad to have as the
orator to welcome the young ladies
at the opening of the new session a
man who is recognized as tiie leader
of this great movement, and who ts
doing so much to advance the cause
of education in our beloved State.
Selecting for his theme THE OPP
timistic Spirit of the Age" Profes-
sor Powers delivered an address that
was scholarly, erudlite and eloquent.
In an easy, graceful manner the
/
plished in literature, science and art
| by men and women who look on the
bright side of life and who believe
that the world is growing brighter
and better instead of degenerating
into sordid mart, where the value
of a man is estimated by the num-
/ Der of dollars he has accumulated,
rather than by the good he has ac-
| complished, as the pessimists would
/ have as believe. The speaker in
vited pessimists and cypics to go with
/ him to the large cities of the world,
/ and there view the splendid hospitals
4 which have been reared to care for
i the sick and jnflrm, and gaze on the
4 public libraries and institutions of
! learning, where mental pabulum is
! furnished to rich and poor alike and
I where the poorest boys and girls
have advantages co-equal with those
/ of the sons and daughters of million
( aires He pointed with price to the
! college within whose walls he stood,
and declared that the institution was
one which would reflect credit upon
any State in the Union.
The speaker averred that a spirit
of altruism had even invaded the bat
tlefield, and that the dangers of war
We're far less than in past centuries
He pictured the Red Cross nurse min
istering to the wants of the wounded
soldier, and showed that the work
of this noble band was attributable
solely to a spirit of brotherly love
and the bond of sympathy uniting
mankind the world over.
During the course of his remarks
Prof. Powers took occasion to pay
acter of the late Gen. Stephen D.
Lee, declaring that he was not only
one of the bravest soldiers, but one
| of the best men that the world ever
produced. He said that Gen. Lee
was as valiant a soldier in the vine
| yard of the Lord as he was on the
| field of battle, and that his entire
life was one not only devoid OF blame
but unselfishly devoted to the service
| of God and his fellow men.
| The address in its entirety was
literary gem, having abounded In
crisp epigrams and pretty Smiles.
During its delivery the speaker was
interrupted by frequent applause.
and at Its close received hearty and
sincere congratulations from the men