Henderson gold leaf., 1911-06-29

ATLANTA Journal. }

tOIIeee anu LDe Univ tISICS. W. Cldlc
in the South is forging ahead with
more commendable progress and
substantial growth in educational
lines than the Old North State.
She is setting the pace in the form
ing of school improvement societies,
who's chief aim is to beautify and
improve the school houses and
grounds of the rural communj'i--
In recent years the good women OF
the State have undertaken a great
work in this line, and it is largely
due to their zeal and untiring energy
that the country school has under
gone such a remarkable transforma-
ton.
s .Ores of schoolimprovement clubs
have been formed in North Carolina
in recent years, primarily to make
things look better, but the good wo-
men did not stop here, however. for
material improvement was only a
part of their campaign-the visible
part. Better teachers, better meth
DDS and higher standards in teach
ing were demanded, until today
North Carolina occupies position
of honor among her sister states.
Nor is this remark true alone OF
the rural schools A recent visit by
the writer to this great old State
convincps us that no section of the
country has more excellent prepara
tory schools, especially for boys,
than North Carolina. One OF the
oldest and best known military
schools in the entire South is found
in this State, where for over 70 years
the Bingham school has trained
young men for varied lines of activi-
ty and usefulness. In fact, through
out its entire history, this school
has undergone no change of manage
menb, the son succeeding the father
in this great work.
Other excellent preparatory schools
are scattered over the State, some
of them with an equipment worth
anywhere from $50, 900 to $780,,
600. These schools have brought
students from every State in the
union, and from many foreign coun-
tries, they being attracted in part
by her ideal climate and in part by
the splendid reputation OF her State
schools
But the crowning glory of the Old
North State and the climax of her
educational greatness, are her col
Ieges and universities. Among them
Wake Forest, the great Baptist in
stitution; Trinity College at Dur
ham, the pride OF the Methodist and
of the entire State; Davidson Col
lege, the aggressive and progressive
Presbyterian school near Charlotte;
the great Agricultural and Mechani-
cal College at Raleigh; splendid
State Normal at atGreensbOrO, tOgeth-
er with a dozen or more excellent
schools for girls in the various parts
of the State, constitute galaxy Of
educational stars of which any State
in the union might we'll be proud.
Somehow, there is something of
vitality and virility in these schools
and colleges of the Tar-heel State
that impresses itself tremendously
on the lives and character of their
students. Rugged in character, like
the grand old mountains of the Blue
Ridge around them, and pure OF spir-
it like the mountain air they breathe
these sturdy sons of the old North
State have from early colonial times
down to the present day, made their
impress upon history. In peace Or
war, in prosperity or adveIsity,
wherever the voice of duty called or
whenever the nation needed valued
service and loyal manhood, North
Carolina 8 sons have always respond
ed cheerfully and promptly.
True, we cannot ascribe all the
glory of this splendid fruitage to ed
ucation. 1t is difficult to analyz ze
the greatness of any people. Indeed
no one cause alone produces such re-
suits. There are many composite
factors that enter into the warp and
wOof of the character of people.
Good blOOd-nOt always blue, mind
you-a favorable physical environ
ment and wholesome moral and re-
ligious as we'll as secular training,
are some of the determining factors
in the moulding of a peoples charac-
/ ter. No one of these alone will make
greatness but the combination un-
doubtedly will.
! 1t seems to Us that North Carroll.
na possesses all these advantages
and more. If any one element more
than another predominates in hel
makeup apart from her school facil
tiles and splendid educational re-
sources, it is the splendid Scotch
Irish Presbyterian ancestry that lies
/ back of her, that constitutes the
chief back bone of her past and pres
ent greatness. This sturdy stock o
folks has always stood for high
standards of education. twould be
hard to write the history of North
Carolina without writing the history
of Presbyterianism and Presbyterian
schools And when We say this, We
are not forgetful of nor do We reflect
on the splendid and valiant service
in education rendered by other de
nominations. Like a mighty bul
wark OF conservatism and strength
this hardy, loyal and serious minded
Presbyterian people, though but {
few in number have more than one,
changed the current in history, re
sisting tyranny and bigotry in relig
ion aud politics alike.
1t is not North Carolina sublim
mountains, nor her cotton factories
nor her material worth and natura
resources, that constitute her rea
greatness. 1t is her people, her en-
lightened citizenship-sturdy, wei
developed, and highly educated, no
: alone in books but in the fundement
: al principles OF American Democracy
with its backbone of civil and rel
gious liberty, that makes her req
strength.
Like Cornelia of old, thy sons ar
thy jewels, dear Old North State
Build high thy college walls and la
, the foundations broad and deep, TO
in them lies thy real glory, and tn
crowning glory of thy people.