The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-22
'STEARNES MAKES
PRINCIPAL SPEECH
First Annual Banquet Held by
Blacksburg Board of
Trade.
Ispecial to Tho Times Dispatch. |

lSpeclal to The Times DiSpatChI
blacksburg. VA. February Ell
Among the 100 guests at the first an
nual banquet OF the cksburg. Board
OF Trade in the college dining hall on
Wednesday evening were the State Su-
perintendent of Public Instruction. II.
Z. Stcarnes: President T. Il. Barrinser.
| OF tho Virginia Polytcchntc Institute.
DR.. 5. w. Fletcher director of the Vir
sinia Experiment Station: tho thirty
SIN county demonstrators. the students
/ IN tho winter short course. members
OF the college faculty, business ana
nearby county. DIR. Fletcher presided.
kev. X Is. Nelson acted as toastnastcr
ana the institute orchestra furnished
excellent music. AS guest OF honor
ana principal speaker of the evening.
Superintendent Stearnes was last on
the program. and his speech WAS in
formal, dealing principally with the
felation of civic orEanizatio to tho
public schools and the good that bus
l'leSS men may do in cncolIra giir tho
dis'r,ct to invest school funds Judi
ciouslN literally and with an eve Ia
The future growth OF the community
Mr.. Stcarnes brought forth very hearty
applause when he said earnestly that
II was absurd to talk OF scparoti,,s-
me agricultural and mechanical sci
ence courses Of tho college whose .-ucst
he was at that time
An appctizine supper was served mn
der the direction OF Bicrnc Ellison
steward of the Virginia POLYTECHNIC
institute, and after cigars had been
| uEhtcd Rev. Mr.. Nelson introduced
lhc following to respond to toasts: Or.
,. w. Fletcher, Boosting Blacksburg:"
l'r' -. B. BarrinTer IAN Unused Asset
Tor the Advancement OF BlacI<shurc-:',
H. e. Catlett. "A Few Scattering Re
marks" Or. n. S. Mayo, "Opportunity:"
H. f. Galloway. "Carroltonian Pbilos
pat.,
onstration Work to Good Citizenship
Mr.. Blake. n demonstration of Craig
county, took the place of Mayor
i'heart, who was unable to be present
on account OF the illness of his son.
and made some remarks of interest
along practical lines. Owing 10 tho
late hour Mr. Stearncs could. only
sneak Tor less than half an hour. but
ms informal talk was full of helpful
ana encouraging suggestions.
Dr. Fletcher told of some of the
things that Black sburg must have he
Tore 1t can hope 10 fulfil its real des
tiny as place Of residence for those
wishing educational advantages for
their children. President Earrinscr
urged that steps be taken to make
nernaheht the historical associations
mat are connected with this section
oil the State, and the very spot on
which part of Blacksburg is now To-
Gated. and Mr.. Catlctt was very happv
IN scrio- comic speech that was aimed
particularly at his fellow -demonstra-
tors and their Instructors Mr.. Uo.c
made very telling speech, cinphasiz
ing what the county demonstrators can
DO in cultivating good citizenship. and
Or. n. >. Mayo urged his hearers to
avail themselves of what opportrni-
ties everyday life afforded the AVERAGE
man. Thc banquet was the first OF the
kind ever given here and n success i'm
every way.
H. {. Stearnes, State Superintendent
OF Public Instructions and Mrs. H. r.
Dashiels. of Richmond. rector OF Vir-
ginia Civic Leagues. spent two davs
here this week and were the rccipients
of much attention. they in turn inn
parting to all who heard their adj
dresses new enthusiasm in the cause
OF education and uplift. Thursday
morning tnere was a conference at
the school building between the State
superintendent the school board.
county superintendent and principal as
10 the best plan for charging the pres
ent building and securing funds for
an additional teaching force to meet
me needs or the community. At this
conference the chairman OF the school
committee OF the Board of Trade was
present and pledged the aid of that
body TO help in this matter Just
after the students dinner hour there
was an educational rally in the assem-
80 ''h'' VI 'i'C NpiiSSe Wntn IaIkS were
made 10y Mr.. Stearnes and Mrs Da-
shleis on subjects of interest to tho
large audience OF cadets. members of
The faculty and people of the commu-
nifty.
"Wednesday night Mrs. Dashels was
guest oil honor at an informal rcceD-
ton given by Mrs. r. H. HudnaIl.
when forty women Of the town and col
leSe were present At the same hour
Nj. Stearnes was chief guest OF honor
and speaker at the first annual ban
Duet OF the BlacksburG Board of Trade
the college djuiuo hill