The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-05-06
Yours truly.
Andrew BrOaddus
NIr. Saunders Address.

Friends and Old School Mates. II
has been years since We We're all
together and many changes have
taken place since the days when
Wa attended school
The times have changed since
then. The country has changed and
We have have changed.
We were then boys looking for
ward with joyful anticipatiOns TO
the life before us We are now
grey-haired men looking back upon
the follies. the trials and the reali-
ties of lives past. Many. many Of
the friends of our youth have gone
TO that land from which no tray
eler returns. Among these our old.
respected and honored teacher. And
it saddens us to realize that before
many more years roll over our
heads we, too. shall be summoned
to join that ranks.
would ask how have we used
the time that God has given Us up
on this pilgrimage? Is the world
any better that We have lived? Or
will We be missed. except by our
immediate families. when We are
gone?
said the times have chang
ed since our school boy days Yes.
The schools have changed We no
longer see the old log schoolhouse
in yOnder pines; the one considera-
tion that its location be near some
spring from which we may quench
our thirst In its stead il reared
the modern high school building with
its glass Widowed front. its heating
plant. its plastered walls. its pat
ent desks. its spacious blackboards
and other paraphernalia TO assist
the youth Of the present day TO ac-
Quire learning
+ Its teachers no longer look TO
the patrons for their pay, but Sc
cure their salaries from the public
Golfers. and while We may rejoice
TO know that our children have
more comfortable quarters than we
! had. yet after all the old adage.
There's no royal road to learn
ing" is as true today Ak II
was when we were boys. All these
things may assist but the boy who
would acquire an education has got
TO get it by hard study. You can't
pump It info him with an air pump.
You can't beat il into him with a
stick
once asked Col Massie. the
professor OF mathematics at the v.
NJ. l., If descriptive geometry would
be of any service TO me in after lie
His reply was none whatever unless
you are called on TO teach II IN
some college. In fact. many OF the
things we teach you here will be OF
no earthly use 10 you hereafter. All
We propose to do here is to train
your mind TO study, and If you
are ever learned man you VIII
have to become so after leaving
school
And. friends. my observation has
conceded with that statement. The
learned men of today are those who
have acquired knowledge since leav-
ing school So | repeat that there
is no royal road TO learning" and
whether in the old log schoolhouse
OF our day or the glass front high
school building of the present. one
has to work and delve to acquire an
education or knowledge.
Even the games We used to play
are unknown to the present school
generating. How many boys of your
high school can plump the middle
man from taw today Roly holy
and churmany are today unknown
sports They may be numbered
with the lost arts. well remem-
Der how in hard ball everybody ran
when Joe Garnett got the ball An
other one of the sports of our day
now past is turning the teacher
out" when we wanted holiday. But
/ friends, | must not take up too
much of your time. but give place
to others, and wishing to express
my great qualification at meeting
you today and with my sincerest
! best wishes for you and yours in the
future, ! close