The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-07-30


ers Of The News and Observer will
pardon me if | adopt the suggestion
OF the editor and write in a somewhat
personal strain. | am the more I'M
PEELED to do so because [ am today
say wistful-mood, really homesick
for the Old North State. With the
perspective afforded by time and by q
temporary abode at the University Of
Virginia, | can somehow see things in
their true light. Today North Caro-
lima, where it has been my happy lot
to work for more than sixteen years.
is no abstraction, but a real vital
commonwealth, made up Of men and
women Of several institutions and
many communities State around
wh1eh cluster and Will always cluster
many of the most sacred associations
Of my life.
| rejoice that it was my lot to be
associated with Trinity College in the
formative years Of its new life at Dur
ham and in many Of the achievements
Ct later years. Whenever / try to
realize what the faith is that removes
mountains and the love hat endureth
all things, hopeth all things, | think
Of President KilgO'S tremendous cor
structive work in lifting a struggling
institution into the ways Of progress
Ill dAII1SN tIIl01l-Ol - ~ pol
heart into its faculty, inspired the
students with enthusiasm, rallied the
alumni and trustees, and won the con-
fidence Of wise and generous benefac-
tors. However | may have differed
| with him in his views and judgments,
there has never been q time When
have not in my heart Of hearts paid
homage to his inspiring leadership in
a critical and TRANSITIONAL era; nor
shall | ever fail to hold in tenderest
emo the colleagues with whom |
worked and whose friendship |
shared and the students now scattered
in all parts of the State and the world
who permitted me to have some share
in shaping their ideals Of literature
and life. h privilege ] had at the
last commencement Of being the guest
Of the class Of 1907 at its reunion ban
quet served to reemphaSiZe the large
part that successive classes from 1895
to 1908 have in my heart. Surely the
not allow to go unanswered the APP
peal for a larger endowment now be-
ing made by President Few and his
co-Workers. Too much is at stake fol
the future growth Of the institution
| suppose that l am one Of the few
men who have ever had or will have
the experience Of teaching in both
Trinity College and the University OF
North Carolina; and yet | shall al.
ways be glad that | had the opportu-
nifty. With all their differences O
constituency, government and points
OF view, they are yet working at es-
sentially the same task Of enlighten.
ment and social welfare. While a
the University only two years, | fee
that | have some right to speak from
experience and observation Of its ira
! 0lf1OnQ ito history and jfC ideals r
too, have lived in the Already of Chap
el Hill-a NJ that unites at once
all who have ever live there. While
the State has heard much Of the grea1
men before the war, [ doubt if We
have vet realized the significance Of
the chapter in North Carolina history
which centers about that generation
Of students which includes the name!
Of McIver, Aldermen, Aycock anG
JCyner. There was something in the
atmosphere of the place that was :
transforming influence in the lives O,
these men; and the democracy anc
Self-initiative and freedom of the stu.
dent body OF today are a guarante.
that North Carolina shall not wan
for leaders in the future. The young
er generation Of alunni-Georet
Stephens, Julian S. Carr, Jr., and w
D. Carmichael, in BUSINESS; the Fousts
and Judds, in education; Ferrell. il
Il mia " puDlI lcdItn, NOnnOr
in historical activity-to mention onl,
a few whose work l have had the on
portunity to knoW-are constructive
aggressive forces in the life Of RI,
commonwealth.
While I would not at all underrat,
the Importance of the work Of hi
predecessors, / am sure that no presi
dent Of the University has ever la
bored more i~nsistently, more wisely
and more effectively for the intensiy,
inner york Of the institution, than Or
Nenable. It is not SO generally an
preciated that in the matter Of scien
tifc instruction and equipment j,
the management and endowment aDf
) efficiency Of the library, in the size q
{ its departments Of instruction. tn,
5 University is in the vanguard q
southern universities That this is s,
is largely due to the executive ah;,t,
of DR.. Nenable and his co-workera
among the latter especially Dean I'D