South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-02-15
TELLS STORY OF
MOUNTAIN FEUDS
Lecturer From the Cumber-
lands Talks to Members
Of Progress Club.

A tale dramatic as any related in
song or story was told. by James A.
Burns, president of Oneida institute,
Oneida, KY. TO members and guests
OF the Progress club Saturday aft
ernoOn in a manner at once disarm-
ing and captivating. A slow drawl
defying imitation, a dialect peculiar
to the Cumberland mountain region
from whence he came. and a subtle
humOr combined TO make his story
of the salvation of the mountaineers
OF Kentucky from their self imposed
slavery 10 feudism effective to the
last degree.
Mr.. Burns is himself a Kentucky
mOuntaineer saved from the yok
Of feudism by a father who with
vision for his boys. removed them
early from the scene Of the bloody
mountain feuds but instilled in them
a lasting love for their mountain
home. Mr.. Burns stoD- OF his re-
turn to his boyhood home during
early manhood, his subsequent four
years as an active member of the
warning factions in the mountains,
his realization of the futility OF the
struggle and OF the necessity for
its end, eliminating in his hual de-
cision TO appeal TO the foul leaders
through their love for their children
which resulted in the foundation OF
Oneida institute, where the children
OF The Bakers and the Towards
rub elbows during the progress OF
their emancipation from the Hitter
acy and degeneracy Of their fore
fathers, was filed with incidents RI
valing in dramatic incident the
stroies of a John Fox, Jr.. or a
Harold Bell Wright.
Founded by Initeratcs.
Oneida institute was founded by 2
group OF mountaineers. half OF
whom were not able 10 sign their
names 20 the charter OF incorpora-
ton. with not a cent of capital. and
accommodations for so pupils II
has grown until II now has in is
possession property and building
worth $4,000, faculty of Is teach
ers. and a student body OF 500 Nom
| bers. Financial difficulties have
formed n barrier to its greater
growth and at one time Mr.. Burns
was obliged TO take to the lecture
platform to interest people in tht
institution that it might not have
20 be discontinued entirely
Mr. Burns was presented by the
general club in observance of ed
vocational day and his lecture more
than fulfilled expectations in both
spiritual and Americanization as wei
as educational lines.
Vocal Solos.
Three vocal solos were rendered
| by Miss Hazel Harris preceding the
/ talk, Mrs Lawrence Romine actinG
as accompanies. Her numbers were
THE wounded Birch" by Grethani-
noff; by the Window" by Tchai-
kovslxy. and Summer in the Heart,
/ by Obey Speaks
During the business meeting IRE
ced!ng the talk announcements were
made for the annual state dag
I luncheon Of the club which will be
| held at the Oliver hotel March s
Beatrice Forbes Robertson Hale, OF
England. has been secured 10 deliver
the principal address. A reception
Is 20 be held at u o'clock. followed
| by a luncheon ut 1890 O'Clock. The
Progress club double quartet is %
| sing at that time and greetings by
state officers Of the Indiana fedora.
ton OF Clubs viii be a feature OF
/ the program.
The next general club meetine
will be held Feb. IS. at which time
| section two of the literature depart.
meat viii present a dramatic per
Torrance consisting Of three one
/ act plays. the characters TO be por-
| trayed by members Of the depart
| ment Because Of the need OF q
/ large stage the plays viii be pre-
scented az the Elks' temple.
|