Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1912-06-26
Address OF Welcome.
(Stiles Stribling.)


OF South Carolina, in the beautiful,
picturesque and fertile county OF
Oconee, near the foothills of tho
Blue Ridge mountains, two streams
rise some miles apart and wend their
way Southward, gradually nearing
each other until they finally unite in
the southern center OF the county.
These streams, long years ago, took
the names Concross and Richland.
For years they have noisclessly
borne alons, locked in their bosoms,
messages and greetings OF fertility,
wealth and contentmcnt.
In the junction Of these streams,
and for several miles back and on
either side, for nearly Il century, has
been section OF country called
Richland--notcd in song and story
for its beauty Of nature, its Surpass-
ing climate. its wealth Of soil and it's
splendid and cultured type and
mould OF churchmen and noble citi-
zenship. The very atmosphere here
seemed imprcgnated with noble
thoughts and high aspirations.
The Richland mothers, as they
nurscd and nestled and rocked their
little ones to sleep, quictcd and en-
couraged and nerved them by telling
and singing to them Of their high
ideals and noble lives yet in store for
them. The Richland fathers. as they
awokc their SONS from their morning
slumbcrs, badc and urged them to
be men. high-mindcd men-men the
greed Of Office could not faint, men
that money could not buy-men that
dared to do the right or die. With
all these forces OF nature and grace
to guard and guide and inspire this
,f NJ rio
Piedmont" this Garden Spot Of Oco-
nee" still it was far from complete
it was as a ship without rudder,
Il landscape without stream, Il des-
ert without Il Spring-ycS, 1t was a
world without a sun.
Listeners, do you ask me what it
lacked? About thrce-qnarters OF a
century ago, back on the hills be-
tween these streams, on somewhat
disputed spot, was erected small
log hut. This building was dedi-
Gated as a temple OF learning by the
name Of RichInnd School. This lit
tie wcll-spring Of knowledge at once
began watering the desert around;
this building gave the ship rudder;
from this small spring a tiny stream
flowed forth that beautified the land
scape in the picture--the rays Of
from this diamond in the rough, soon
supplied this world with sun.
From this humble birth and crude
surroundings has evolved the load
stone OF education, culture and re-
finement that has drawn together
and ccmented and uplifted and land
ed in the front rank this Richland
section in primary and higher edu-
cation, material prosperity, high
claSsed citizenship, statesmen Of
royal type and churchmen or the
humble and Chrits-like mould.
To-day this old Richland school is
only a hallowcd name, cherished
memory. stream Of influence that
has flowed onward and outward and
upward in its ccaSclcsS course until
to-day it, kisses the early rays OF the
morning sun as they strike the shores
OF the Atlantic on the east. It's ten
der touch has helped to soften the
wild borders OF Texas and Mexico
and the Pacific on the west Even the
dreamland Of Florida has felt it's
magic touch on the south. Long
since this influence has been felt in
the great capital Of our nation on
the north. To-day my mind is too
young to think, my tongue unframed
to tell. my voice too soft and youth
full to herald this ever widening in
fucnce that is yet to gush forth and
flow down the endless stream OF
time.
Some twenty-five years ago the
citizens OF Richland caught up with
the spirit OF building the New South,
raised their stakes and jOurneycd
southward a short way and pitched
their educational tent on the spot
where | now stand, on this command
ing hill. in this grove Of stately
oaks. and erected this building near
which we are now assembled. and it
was at once christcncd the New
Richlnnd School. At once a new
stream OF knowledge, culture and in
nuence gushcd forth. and the old and
new school, like the natural streams
that mark their boundary, convcrged
toward each other until they were
united and locked in each others
embrace. and so stand united to-day.
There is no marking to show where
the Old quit off and the new began.
The Old South and the New, the
C0ncroSs and the Richland, the Old
school and the New School-united
We stand. We could not separate
them il We would: we would not
separate them if we could. Then
since W" ar" one inseparablc, u"di-
vidcd School--all glory in the anne
and achievements. all proud that we
SpranG from one common source, all
glad 20 wander back again to where
We used to play and drink from this
old spring OF knowlcdgc-thcn it is
not inappropriate that |, born on
yondcr Richland HILL OF a long line
Of Richland ancestors. with whatever
| am or may be due largely to train
ing in the Richland school. should
| stand before YOU to-day, and in the