The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1916-06-13
"NEWBERRY'S NEEDS"
Graduating Speech
of
LANCE SWINDLER

in presenting TINS SUBJECT tnlS
morning, l would not be a pessimist.
and l intend to be just as optimistic
as existing conditions vii allow. AL
though l fear that my subject is alto
gether too broad to be treated ade-
quately in the time allotted.
We, as citizens of Newberry, are
proud of her. Providence has been
pleased to place in this little spot of
the world, a place called Newberry,
and has given US the distinction of
residing here.
South Carolina has been called the
garden spot of the world, and New
berry has been designated as the gar
den spot of that garden spot. But
this morning, we must say it, the gar
den has not been cultivated and there
fore has not grown as it should and
was intended.
This morning Newberry is dead.
Dead! Dead! Dead! And it is slow
" decaying. What Newberry needs
most just now are the powers of the
resurrection turned on in full force
We need an awakening. We too long
have been sleepers and dreamers.
You often have heard those famous,
those true lines of what make up
State" We have men in NeWberTy,
but the men that we have are afraid
of big things. We need men who will
undertake and carry out a big pro-
gram. No one has ever amounted to
anything, nor will anyone ever be
great. who does not set his ideals
higher than he can reach. 1t is those
people who have lived by big pro-
gram, whether they carried it all ou'
or not, that have left the world en-
riched by their lives.
Newberry possesses unique oppor'
tunities and big advantages to grow
into a model city. She could soon
become a big trading center If the
wheels of her industrial mechanism
were kept oiled and running, instead
of someone forever slapping on the
emergency brakes for fear they Will
break the speed limit Of industrial
progress. Someone is continually
asking, "Why does not the population
of Newberry notably increase"
can tell you, simply because she does
not move. She does not keep pace
with the times. Practically the only
population gained by Newberry is that
gained by births, and this is almost
equalized by deaths.
Why do not people come here to
settle? Simply because there's moth
ing here to attract them. It's set
tied fact that people go where there
something goisg on. There was fire
in town last night. But practically
the whole town was there. Why:
Because there was something doing
something going On. Citizens of New
berry, if you want to see the pop L,
ton of Newberry increase, if u
want to retain those young men a.
young women who otherwise leave
the city to get job, you've got to
make things move. You've got to
make things hum! You've got to
make this place attractive!
1t is the amusements of city that
attract and hold the young people
Newberry needs park, yes, park
a place where old and young may GO
to refresh and enjoy themselves. The
present site of the ''would-be" park
is a beautiful one, and there could be
erected here a park which woulc
greatly adorn our city. Newberry has
in Willowbrook park one OF the pret-
test in the State, and one which
eicits admiration from all visitors
But who made it? Who transformed
the plowed fields into the most beau
tiful spot in the garden spot of South
Carolina?" 1t is needless to answer.
Newberry needs large public lib
rary with a salaried librarian in
charge. There are many who would
be glad to give books to make up a
fine library with stores of information
for its citizens: And in connection
with this, why not establish a mu-
scum. Newberry has many relics OF
which she is justly proud, and whic--
the world would be glad to see.
Newberry must have a hospital. We