Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1916-07-21
ten in a spirit of vainglory but
lead up to what 1 will now say.

quiet, untiring work we are indebted
for nearly everything that has trans
formed us from ragged lumber
town to city of the third class.
This element had no formal name,
and for want of better have called
it 1.-The Fifth Estate" You know
mankind is supposed to be divided
into three estates-the high, the
middle, and the low The newspaper
press is known as the fourth estate.
So have named this unnamed bocy
as 1.-The Fifth Estate" Perhaps
more comprehensive title would be
'The Spirit of America"
| AS I said, it had no organization,
no name and no place of meeting.
It's membership came from no par
ticular class or calling. 1t was CON-
posed of professional men, business
men, ministers and school teachers,
with quite a percentage Of what you
ut call ordinary wage earners,
and not few women. Every re-
ligious denomination contributed. to
its ranks, and partisan politics were
disregarded. In short, it was a band
of thinkers and workers embue&
with the upbuilding spirit and de-
termination that Ronceyerte should
never fail in anything that tended to
elevate and ennoble its citizenship or
advance it's material or moral pros
perity. It's discussions were held
whenever two or more members
! CHANGED to meet on the streets, in
the stores or around the fireside.
Every public question was discussed.
dissected, conned over and whipped
into shape so that its ultimate effect
might rebound to the greatest good
of the greatest number. Never was
:. there a proposition concerning Roc
= ceverte that these studious, thought
full people did not get to the bottom
of and uncover its real intent. II
;, its essence was helpful and progfe-
sive they rallied behind 1t and pnshed
for victory. If its purport was per-
sonal and selfish they put the double
" cross OF disapproval ION it as far -
they were able.
70 don't claim that "The Fifth
'. Estate" accom- ljshed everything That
1t set out to do, but can point with
pride to the foregoing chronology OF
it's triumphs. Every action in TIE
forward movement of Ronceverte was
endorsed, encouraged and striyen for
by 1.-THE Fifth State II appreciated
the wise things and worked for their
success Some may smile and re-
mark that such people, poor in pock-
ct, could not haveshelped in any way
in "a great work like the building OF
the .sreenbrier Railway but / tell
you tlst-e4ss-dd "a 9 ss6
pathy/ enthusiasm and eheer; SO
mum so that they practically decided
the commencement of that enterprise.
In other instances they eheerfuily
submitted to the burden Of taxation
that some advantage to the communt-
ty might be gained.
could write much more Of this
spirit which have named "The
Fifth Estate." but must not lingsr.
1t was here when came; it is still
here, and it win be here when ! am
gone. It's nlembe-5 may psssS away,
but it is, I bcIic7c, uldy!fgS The
Fifth Estate" can be fouGd ii ANY
community, or If not, theHEthat con-
munity is dead and ready for burial,
Wherever thersis one earnest soul
working for the enlightenment and
bettermsnt ofSa neig hborhood. there
is member of 1.-THE Fifth Estate,
and as such send him or her greet
ing. Of the Ronceverte membership
will say this: II could name them
all would gladly do so, but cannot,
and to miss even one would be a
shameful neglect. Some of them
sleep in the cemetery near by; some
have gone to other and perhaps wider
fields of labor; and some are still
here, ready to take up and analyze
the questions of the future and helt
n deciding them Alright, for the mot
to Of "The Fifth Estate" is that nc
tquestion Is decided until it is,decideS
right. There are four problems az.
fecting Ronceyerte's future prospect.
ty that are up for solution; two Of
them relate t. transportation, on: t.
- good roads and the fourth to civic
betterment. In way they are under
discussion now. and they will be
i. thrashed out by "The Fifth Estate .
AS I look back on the past third oil