Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1915-07-22
CHILDREN OF THE MOUNTAINS.

We find in the Florida Metropolis,
of Jacksonville, Fla, an editorial in
spired by the recent visit of the editor
of that paper to. Asheville, where he
ATTENDED the meeting of the Southern
Newspaper Publishers association,
which fits in SO well with the address
at Chick Springs last night by Rev
Mr.. Grain, We publish it, showing that
not only the man of the hills. but the
man of the coast who visits the noun
tains. see the situation alike. Speak
ing of the Ellen Wilson memorial. an
organization founded by the late Mrs
Woodrow Wilson for the education of
the children of the southern noun
tains, this writer says:
There has never been any move
ment started in America that has a
worthier motive. There has never
been movement that promises more
for the good of the country at large
and the benefit Of these people in par
ticular as this, and every good citi-
zen ought to encourage it with their
moral support and help with their
financial aid. rSf
How few of the public at large have
lived in these mountains, have met
those people, and know. their condi-.
tion? In the Elegy we learn that:
Full many gem of purest ray
serene,
The dark unfathomed caves of ocean
bear;
Full many a; flower is born to blush
unseen
And waste it's fragrant on the desert
air.
How true that is of the mountain
kchildren! Out in the hills, gathering
wild flowers, and fruits and berries,
and nuts-little waits of nature with
minds as pure and keen as those of
the most patrician birth; with limbs
as strong as lions and with heart as
pure as the pool at the springfield!
"And don't believe-don't be misled
that you shall send to the mountains
to educate these children as a benefit
to them alone. It is not true. With
their pure hearts and minds, their
rugged constitutions, their strong
bodies unused to excesses, with their
capacity to know and do, you will edu-
cate an army of young men and women
who shall go out into the world and
do it honor, and do you lhonr and do
the world good.
"And that term TChrist1an Educa-
tion' That appeals 10 us more keen1y
than those of you who have not known
the mountain and the mountain peo-
ple.. Their faith in God, their love of
home and church and state is so in
grained in their nature and the the
mountains have kept their minds open
and free and susceptible that when
they are educated. let them Be kept as
pure as they are at home as nure as
the mountains have always kept them
|. because while they have a high per-
eentage IN il1iteracy. they have q high
percentage In morals. . Give them a
Christian education.
"Don't be satisfied with making them
think. See that they continue to think
right, and the Ellen Wilson memorial
will do work that will bless the ma
ton so long as civic Righteousness
shall be held as the most priceless
Jewel, of civilization s'a.
President DeCamp, of the press as
sociation, presented Rev. J. D. Grain,
of Greer, to that body last night, and
that gentleman, in the course OF his
original and thoroughly interesting
address, presented the people OF DIS
native section. "The Dark Corner" to
his audience in words that brush away
understandings and bring out the
strength of their character and the
beauties of their simplicity. His idea
that these people, isolated through
years by natures barriers, the mighty
mountains, are to come into the civil
ization of the next few years a sa new
and fine force for good is being 1hown
correct in, many ways. Mr.. Grain
himself is an example.-Spartanburg
Herald.