The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-06-01

benefit. But against their exercise the
serious argument may be urged that
they trespass upon classroom work,
that they exact an d proportion
OF the Students strength n time,
and that parents, when sending their
sons to college, have no such activi-
ties in view. This argument it is not
my purpose to either confirm or re-
flute. This, however, must be said.
Those activities are in keeping with
the spirit Of the age. AS long as the
age desires them they will constitute
an integral part of college life. I, at
least, would not enter a son of mine
or, if the h%alcyon period of youth re-
turned would 1 wish to enter myself
as a student in any institution where
such activities were not found.
The glory of h American col
lege and Of the American scholarship
is mot the refinement and culture,
which the college develops and which
that scholarship displays. It is not
the splendor and luxury of the lee
ture rooms and libraries wherein that
scholarship is nursed. It is not the
erudition of it's teachers, though that
erudition is profound. These things
are indeed precious, but they do not
constitute its crown. h distinct
i've features of the American schol-
arShip are it's readiness to receive, its
faculty to adapt, and its many sided
breadth. These three are the inner
itance Of h American scholar which
the American college a ~bequeathed
him. To an equal birthright the
alumnus on no foreign institution is
the heir. Herein is the American
college unique. In disposition and
ability to confer such bequest the
American college stands alone.
The Alumni Banquet.
An unusually large number OF alum
-. - -, -,
of the Dialectic and Philanthropic Lit
erary Societies at 7:3G p. m The chief
speaker was President Finley, of the
southern Railway, whose subject was
The Relation of Railway Transporta-
ton to the Prosperity of the South
superintendent w. II. Swift, of
Greensboro, was the principal speaker
for the Dialectic Society, and r. O.
Everett, Esq, of Durham, for the Phil
anthropic Society. Messrs. Clifton Fra
zier and w. NJ. Gady represented the
student body of the two societies in
excellent addresses, which indicate
that they are both to be heard from
in the future. Charles w. Tillett, Of
Charlotte. acted as POSTMASTER with
his usual grace and ready Wit.
Prof. Swifts Address.
The address by Prot w. II. Swift
a member. of the Di Society, and Sup
erintendent Of the Greensboro City
schools, was something out OF the or
binary because 1t was something really
fine. Bold, strong, pathfinding in its
conception, the address was we'll cal
culated to stir the blood and arouse in
terest from these educated and gift
ed, these p~urposeful sons OF
the university. 1t stirred them to en-
thusiastic applause, when the weight
of the speakers thought, its holiness,
its ruth, pressed down. Prof. Swift
earnestly pleaded for a higher conse-
Grafton of the lives Of these favored
sons Of the university, citing the great
need for eachers in the land, the need
for leaders Of the new impulses, which
were stirring the great mass as they
had never been stirred before. His
call for recruits was a clarion one and
will be answered.
Prof. Swift said in part:
Throughout the entire South there
seems to exist with our people Q Very
great demand for intelligent, modern
leadership. We need at least one man
who can interpret the thoughts Of the
South as il exists today. We hay no
such interpreter and if you had come
hot from the life OF the people as |
have lately come you could not fail
to feel how very eagerly, with what
great longing, With what peering into
the future, the people Of the State are
looking for this man of power who
shall lead them to better things. With
in nv own acquaintance there are
many men, university men and men
trained in the other educational lnstl-
buttons of the State who are looking
with eagerness and who stand ready
to follow him who is able to show that
he is able to lead.
Il doubt not, gentlemen, but that
this leader Will ONE l think perhaps
that he is still on the spring side Of
thirty, but l feel sure, that he is COM
ing for such demand non the peo-
pie, in fact, such demand for the civ
ilization of the entire country, makes
a place ready for him and God has
never failed his people IN time Of
need.
Now where could he learn the fun
damentals of true statehood or drink