The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-07-08

responsibility is on the people, the
power Is theirs, and they should see
20 1t that official life should be
mark Of moral as well as intellect
ual distinctoin There should be
no lodging OF the question no resort
TO doubtful expedients. but a stern
resolve that our representatives
and Officers shall measure up to
high standard Of efficiency / be-
ieye We have little TO complain OF
In Virginia; / know OF no graft In
the official life OF the State; | know
Of no spot upon its judicial ermine
believe the officers, legislative, ju-
dicial and executive, as a rule. are
striving to meet the responsibilities
placed upon them; that the State
Is making substantial progress In ed .
ucation, industrial and manufactur-
ing pursuits. and in the advance
ment OF the great agricultural in
terests. and what | have said are
not, therefore. words OF reproach,
but are intended AS a stimulus and
incentive to higher ideals, better
laws, and a more faithful and eff
cient administration Of them, TO the
end that Virginia shall set an ex-
ample safe for the other states to
follow and vindicate representative
government and the wisdom OF our
fathers in establishing il
Surely we should congratulate our
gnlpaas that rrf
hundred and thirty-fifth anniversary
We are permitted TO gather In the
historic city Of Fredericksburg TO 4
lay the cornerstone OF the Admins /
tration building OF a great Normal /
School. While buildings are neces-
sary. they are the smallest essen
tial in the visions and plans OF your
able and efficient representatives
and those associated with them, TO
whose wisdom and efforts the peo-
pie OF Virginia are indebted for an
institution having for its object the
higher education Of their daughters
A great school is to be establish
ed. What is the first essential af
ter the buildings have been erected
answer, teachers Of high charac
ter not less learned than wise; men
and women who have not only stud
led and taught in other schools and
who have the methods OF those
schools as their inspiration and
guide. but men and women whose
Initiative is 80 strong that they can
not be bound down by precedents II
precedents do not suit conditions, but
must and will strike out for them
selves, walking. II need be, In un-
trodden paths and in unbroken
fields il in them is to be found any
good for the institution with which
they are connected.
They must be men and women
who thoroughly understand what
their school requires, who will not
be willing to adopt any but the
highest standards and ideals or be
satisfied with mediocre results. In
deed. they must be men and women
who are never satisfied with their
own achievements but are always
striving that every future shall be 4
better than any past year. They
must recognize no limit TO their
mental and moral capacities, but
must use the strength acquired to-
day for greater achievement tomor-
row.
The teachers are ninety per cent
Jf the schools; they must be sympa-
thctic, lovers OF learning and OF
men, enthusiastic and capable OF
communicating their enthusiasm and
knowledge to the pupils committed
TO their charge. They must have
the power OF making the pupils feel
the value Of an education. and OF
determining that under all circum-
stances and regardless of all OBJ
stacles they will acquire it, When
this conclusion has been reached the
battle has been fought, the victory /
won, and nothing remains but guild /
ance OF youthful minds, rejoicing |
in their own strength, rioting in
the exuberance OF their ambitions
and always striving for the highest
and best.
That you have a president whol
will measure up to these require
mems. | can vouch, and that the
teachers selected by him and the
board of this institution, in whose
wisdom and judgment / have the
greatest confidence, will measure full
up to the high mental standards re-
quired, there can be no doubt.
But the influence OF your teachers
will not end here In addition, they
will be true to their higher calling
and will remember that they can
shape the morals as well as the
minds of their pupils. They will
be mindful of the opportunity thus
given them of God and will by their
lives and example inspire their pu-
pills TO earnest endeayor after that
full womanhood, which means a pure
life, a strong body, on alert mind
an exalted spirit. They will labor
for uniform development, not dwarf
ing the spirit or mortifying the
flesh in the pursuit OF knowledge
but exalting all to be the Temple
of Gods indwelling.
And your teachers will do even
more. They will lift here that
lamp of culture which illnmines the
soul and shines through the dark
ness Of ignorance and prejudice. A
great school is as much an institu-
tlOH lIuC NulNhAt % ~ - ~ 49,
knowledge; the very oaks OF OK
ford inspire, as do the surround
ings OF our universities, and the
humbIest towers OF Cambridge breed
culture. Your teachers, giving OF
themselves to this great school, will
give It their character and their
ideals. The impress made thus by
the teachers through the school will
inspire every Virginan girl who at
tends this institution to exalt
the same lamp Of culture and live
the same noble life. even though
she be placed in the remotest ham
let OF this Commonwealth. Your
teachers will make culture a tradi-
ton and this tradition will make his
tor.
Members OF the board OF trustees,
Mr.. President, teachers. ladies
and gentlemen who hear me on this
auspicious occasion, project your
mind in the future as far as your