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

this building assumes majestic pro-
portions confronting its sister in
stitution the Public School Building,
the pride OF our city, these two in
terdependent educational forces will
herald and proclaim, the echo shall
resound through the Tidewater sec
ton and re-echoed from the noun
tain TO the sea, for upon this apex
OF this edifice another device shall
be unfuried TO the view of the com
ing ages, Novus Ordo Seclorum. for
surely a new order OF things is es-
tabllshed.
President Russell's Address.
Prof. +. II. Russell, president Of
the school, made the following brief
address:
At the close OF the Civil war.
when our country was reduced TO
a state of poverty. when men were
striving in every honorable way to
regain their lost fortunes, Robert
T.. Lee, who represents the highest
type OF manhood in profane history,
set his Southland the exalted ex-
ample OF sacrificing immediate per-
sonal interest by declining lucra-
tive offers OF the commercial kind
TO accept position as school teach
er with an Insignificant salary. lie
recognized that the hope OF the
South, like that of every other coun-
try, lay in the education OF its peo-
pie
This noble example had its immed
ate and wholesome effect In all the
Southern States. And We look in
vain to the history OF the world for
parallel to the heroic efforts the
patriotic self-sacrifice of our South
ern country in her struggle for the
past forty years TO establish and
maintain under the most unfavorable
conditions a system OF public educa-
tion for all the people. To this
of her contribution.
Our public school system from its
beginning enjoyed as teachers the
highest type of womanhood, and
what they lacked in profession
al training was compensated for
in culture, refinement and scholar
ship But no State can main
tain an efficient system OF public
education without providing means
for the preparing of teachers.
The problem today is 10 give OPP
portunity for professional and aca-
demic education for those who ex-
pect to be teachers.
For twenty-seven years we have
maintained a magnificent institution
at Farmville. An institution whose
beneficent influence has been felt In
nearly every community In the state
For two years we have main
tanned another similar institution al
Harrisonburg that even now Is send
ing out for valuable service profess
ionally trained teachers. And today
my friends, we assemble to mark
another mile post in our educational
progress, and on the 26th OF nexl
September we will open the doors ol
the state Normal and Industrial
School for Women at Fredericks-
burg.
We appreciate your interest as
manifested by your presence. We
extend you a most cordial vel
come and trust that our pleasure IN
having you here may be equalled by
the pleasure you may experience by
being here.
The Governors Speech.
Gov. Mann was introduced by Mr.
G. r. Swift in Appropriate terms. The
Governor spoke as follows
One hundred and thirty-five years
ago the colonies declared their in
dependence of British rule and laid
the cornerstone of the greatest coun
try OF the world. A country which
Is not only rich,- great and pros
porous, but one In which the oppor-
tunities and power OF the Individual
Is greater thaa in any other; a coun-
try which has opened its doors "a
the oppressed OF every nation and
demonstrated the great principle thai
all power is In the people. That we
have to face problems In govern
ment from time to time is to be ex-
pected and Of necessity grows out ol
the wonderful progress we
have made and the wonder
ful wealth We have been
able to accumulate, a wealth which
Is at the same time our glory and
our menace. 1t is not the part OF
wisdom to ignore these problems oI
to postpone their solution, nor is II
wise 10 resort to methods which dc
not strike at the root OF the evil. II
representative government does not
meet the needs of the country 1t Is
not because there is fault in the
system but in its execution. III
good men are selected to represent
the people In State Legislatures and
Congress, IL good, pure men are Sc
llected to act as judges and con-
strue our laws, IL men Of high char
acter and eminent fitness are made
our executive officers. laws VIII be
made for the good Of the people,
will be construed by the courts TO
effectuate the purposes for which
they were enacted and will be so ex-
ecuted that peace, good order, hap
piness and progress will distinguish
our country as one blessed OF God.
II these conditions do not exist the