The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1913-04-29
NEWBERRY'S REPRESENTATIVE.
Synopsis of Mr.. Ballentine's Grafton
Delivered at Rock Hill on Friday
Night.

Friday night at the intercollegiate Or
atorical association. The following is
from the News and Courier Of Satur-
day:
George Heber Ballentine, of New
berry college, was born and reared in
the Rockwell section of Lexington
county, S. c., where he received his
early training in the common schools.
After spending about six months in
the Palmetto Collegiate institute, at
Lexingston, he finished the Sth grade at
that school in May, 1907. The next
two years he taught at Pineville acad-
emy. In September, 1909, he entered
the freshman class at Newberry col
lege and became member Of the
Phrenakosmian literary society and
the Y. NJ c. A. In December of the
same year he was delegate from the
college to the Students Volunteer
convntion at Rochester, N. Y. He was
the winner of the Sophomore declaim-
er's medal June 1911; winner of prize
in annual story contest, 1910-1911; as
sistant editor-in-chief of the Stylus,
1911-1912; vice president of the Y. NJ.
c.. A, 1911-1912; secretary-treasurer
of the college boarding hafl, fsf1-1912;;
president of the Phrenakosinian liter
ary society, March, April and May,
1912; winner of the Junior oratorical
! medal, Juno, 1912; president Of the
Woodrow Wilson league, 1Sf2-191S;
manager of the baseball team, 1912
1913; editor-in-chief of the Stylus,
1912-1913; member of the Phrenakos-
mian debating team in the annual in
ter-society debate, March, 1913. and
winner in the preliminary contest for
representative to the c. I. o. A.
On the subject, ''The Uplift of the
Rural South" Mr. Ballentlne spoke III
part as follows: -
"The great problem that is project
ing itself into the social conscious
ress today is the uplift and improve
ment of our agricultural class. We are
just beginning to realize the great pos
sibilities of our soil. A great agricul-
tural revival has begun. Our farmers
are building better homes and schools
and social conditions in the country
are improving. But the agicultbrai
class is not progressing nearly so fast
as we imagine. We are apt to judge
rural conditions by the more prosper
Gus farmers near the towns. On the
average backwoods farm the famlllrs
are virtually bound to the soil, and
ignorance, ISOLATION and povery reign.
Divine capacity and untold genius lie
hidden in many boy and girl through
out our rural sections, but they are
bound by the chains of poverty and
ignorance. These are the two great
enemies to all rural progress. Farm
ing must be put on profitable basis
and poverty on the farm reduced if we
would elevate country life to the plane
it deserves and check the march to the
cities.
Lying back of all our rural back
wardness is the monster Ignorance,
Our rural school system is repros.ch
upon the South. The country school
teacher can make himself wonderful
force in the uplifht Of community,
the average country school teacher IS
is a positive force to depopulate the
country districts. Teachers idealize ci-
ty life, and the general tone and IN
fuence of the country school tends to
drive the youth to town. We need In
the South, not a tstay-on-the-land'
movemet. Let the school idealize coun-
try districts. Teachers idealize city
life and show the youth the advantages
tages and opportunities, as well as the
beauty and satisfaction, Of life the
country. Teach the country boy that ne
is not inferior to his city cousin and
thus generate in him feeling of rural
pride and the march to the cities will
cease. Give him the conviction of the
honesty and dignity of rural life.
''The Southern farm is calling for
the thousands of her choicest sons who
are flocking to the cities, to lead in
this battle against ignorance and pow
.erty. Here lies one of the greatest
fields of service to the South. He who
founds good school and develops the
minds of boys and girls, who would ,
walk in darkness and lg-
norance. should have the praise OF
H.. +I,op ;f he had oiVen lis