40 The Bulletin. 



and 1900, there were over 200 studeuts working their way. Many institutions 

 have special scholarships which may be secured by competitive examinations, 

 and this gives a part of the expenses free. Some have a special "loan fund" 

 from which money is loaned to worthy and needy students. Some provide 

 work in the rooms, dining-halls or barns which can be done by the students 

 as part payment of their expenses. We have had students come to the A. and 

 M. College with $15 or $20 of borrowed money in their pockets, who went 

 right into the barns to milk the cows, feed the pigs, clean the stables, and 

 do all manner of menial service, and who went away at the end of four 

 years, into, profitable employment, with debts paid and diplomas in their 

 trunks. Indeed, so many cases of this kind have come to my attention that I 

 have come quite firmly to the conclusion that there are only four conditions 

 necessary to fulfil in order that your child, boy or girl, may get a first-class 

 college education : (1) You must be willing to spare them the tiiiie ; (2) the 

 child must have the determination to get the education in spite of disadvan- 

 tages ; (3) the child must have good health, and (4) must have good horse 

 sense. Some manage it even without the health and good sense, but with 

 these there is no longer excuse for ignorance. 



Last summer in Iredell County a lady, whose son was in college said to 



me: "I wish you could talk to Mr. , he has a son who ought to go to 



college, but I guess it wouldn't do any good, they just haven't got the giit in 

 the craw." My friend, that was a good expression — that "grit in the craw*' is 

 a very essential thing in securing an education, as well as in securing many 

 of the other home improvements which I have mentioned. It takes the place 

 of lots of cash, and as between the cash and the grit, the grit will usually 

 accomplish as much if not more. 



Let me suggest that you write to some of the best colleges you know of 

 which give courses suited to the tastes of your children, and carefully look 

 over their catalogues and inquire as to the aids which are offered to poor 

 students who have not the money to meet all their expenses. There is not 

 a college in this State that will not throw open its doors for a worthy deter- 

 mined farm boy or girl who comes with fixed principles and sincere purpose — 

 and poverty is neither a disgrace nor an impassable barrier to such a person. 



CONCLtJSION". 



I wish that you might hear some of the things that have been told me as I 

 go about the State giving this talk at the institutes. The keen regret of 

 those who have failed to make the home life what it should be, and the quiet 

 inward satisfaction of those who have made the necessary sacrifice. At 

 almost every institute I am told of actual cases which fully bear out the 

 very arguments I have made. This information comes from men and women, 

 yoimg and old, and all goes to show that, after all, "be it ever so bumble, there's 

 no place like home," and that it pays to make the home-life as happy and 

 bright as it can be made, to give to the wife and children every possible ad- 

 vantage of good house, good food, good surroundings, good literature and good 

 schooling. It is like the bread cast upon the waters, for you find it again 

 after many days, in the inward satisfaction that it brings to you, and the 

 greater happiness and broader, better life for those around you. 



