The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1921-04-27


acknowledge debt Of gratitude to
him; and least of all the humble
writer who has done the best he could
under the circumstances and with the
material at hand.
There was number Of other pro-
fcssional men who came out Of tn.
old academy, men who have made the
world richer by their services Among
them | mention Dr.. w. II. Jones. who
has devoted nearly fifty years to the
3ractice Of medicine in Greenwood
county and who represented that coun-
ty in the legislature. Amidst all the
IDressnre Of his busy life he has not
ceased to give much of his energy to
the upbuilding Of educational inter
csts in his community. Jones High
School was really a continuation of
the old Cedar Mount academy and was
located just across the Saluda from
the spot occupied by the memorable
alma mater Of the present governor
of the state. DR.. VIM Townes Jones,
located at Ware Shoals, was also a
student of the old academy and re-
ceived his preparation for usoful
life under the old oaks at Cedar
Mount.
DR.. Charles Forster Smith one
among the most eminent educators Of
i America, and now professor Of Greek
in Michigan University, was not a
pupil Of my brother at this old school
but was really connected by birth ano
socially with the old Cedar Mount
academy. His father, Rev. James F.
|, Smith, son Of John Smith, and a
brother Of Joel. Robert and Thomas
Smith lived just across the Saluda
firm the old Smith homestead. He
as a wealthy local preacher and for
many years preached regularly at old
) Kings Chapel which for generations
was the place Of worship Of the Smiths.
DR.. Barney Smith. now Of Dillon, for
y years or more successful ply
:ician, was also a student OF the old
academy under the tuition OF my
other. DR.. John r. Smith his eldest
other who lost a, limb at Gettysburg
: and was confined in a Northern prison
for months came back pale and enact
atcd and came on crutches to old
: Cedar Mount academy after his release
from prison and received further
; training for his long and useful pro-
feSsion.
II. II. Watkins now one of our fed
raj Judges, and his brother, Barnes
: Watkins, who was for a number Of
: ears an efficient educator in his ma
. ave state. were both from that com
munhy which dared to keep open its
thool in spite of martial Law, and i'm
priSonmCnt Of It's citizens, negro rule
: and carpet bag oppression. | look
y back Oh those old school days and see
y again many Of tho older boys who had
= returned from the army "cipheringun-
- der the oaks. for the house was too
! n in n all f<,, Il l,,
: and the older students were privileged
TO prepare their lessons under the old
> SHADE trees Without.
: TO many living men the old hill on
which the academy stands will ever
be crowned in their hearts and memo
rlcS as conSecrated spot. From it
went out many successful business
men to various towns throughout the
state. ~ few remain still in the old
community good citizens
If it were possible to gather up ana
.4rcscnt in Il concrete form the SUI,
I total Of the influences which went out
: from that old academy we would
stand with uncovered heads and gaze
n at it with batcd breath. The little
t stream beginning in days when
t wealthy men were made doubly' poor,
n with oppression and humiliation add
y cd an hundred fold; and ever widen
s ing as the years have rolled away has
d enriched the state with educators,
lawyers, doctors, statesmen, judges.
t governors, lecturers, ministers and au-
!. thors. | hope am not immodest when
k / stop to lay little wreath OF for
d gct-me-nots on the grave of my sainted
0 father and affirm that no man had
f any larger share in what was wrought
D than he and the old teacher his son
], now carryig his burden OF thrccscorc
= years.
remember when little boy sit
+ ting on the logs at saw mill owned
4 Dy one OF our neighbors, and listen
: inS to conversation between him
], and tho owner Of the mill. They had
. been friends from boyhood andboth
f Of them were Of old Virginia stock.
"Hcnry," said my father, "our hope
, is solely in our children, we must
{ build school houses to educate them
l The revolution that will follow this
+ war and our defeat will be further
T. reaching than all the other effects of
. The war combined Wealth as a fac"
tor in this government has had its
day ana the time is not far distant
[ when the people will rule and sad will
be the plight Of our state if the peO-
pic arc not educated" ! have thought
OF that declaration thousand times
since and laid my hand over my heart
and whispered to myself. well spok-
en-. saintcd seer, thou didst s,32ak
wiser than thy dream could have
shown thee when the vision opened the
future to thy thoughtful brain" 1t
has been SO and will be so in still
larger measures The man to whom ,hn