i | 
4, 
on 
~ 
1 
i] 
Y 
lg 
© 
d 
e 
Jd 
Of 
re 
J - 
n 
iT 
Ade 
18 
't 
ib 
ADDRESSES OF WELCOME. 
37 
rewards in gratitude and love of your disciples are beyond the purchasing 
sower of gold. The teacher’s profession is a fountain of youth. I have 
seen many a teacher with gray hairs, and some with bald heads, but 1 
never saw an old teacher yet. The smile and play of youth are ever on 
his face, because he is ever associated with the child and thinking the glad 
and happy thoughts of children. 
We are apt to think that our work is too transitory and that to-morrow 
it is forgotten ; but please remember that the most enduring institutions 
which the human race has ever established on earth are the schools, 
2olleges, and universities. Great royal houses have risen and fallen, but 
schools have survived them. Winchester and Eton, Oxford and Cam- 
bridge have survived how many a royal line in England! The educational 
‘nstitutions of France have outlived how many a change of government, 
monarchical and republican! The educational institutions of Europe have 
seen the map of that country made and remade how many times! Every- 
ching in Europe has changed over and over again except the great schools, 
colleges, and universities ; but there they stand, and there they are des- 
tined to stand so long as civilization endures. 
I hope that I am right as a prophet when I venture to predict that even 
though nothing else shall endure in these United States, beyond all the 
changes of political parties, beyond all the changes of society, beyond all 
she changes of other human affairs, the one thing that is to endure, in 
my judgment, is our great, free, generous system of public instruction. 
(Applanse.) Parties may come and parties may go, but woe be to any 
party or any company or any society that with ruthless and profane hands 
Jares to lay hold of that institution for its injury or destruction! (Ap- 
plause.) 
And, my friends, we are proud to come here to-night, representative of 
many lands, representative of many States in this land, all fired with the 
same love of this one great theme. May all see the vision of blessings to 
some in the future from our toil ! Let us, I pray you, address ourselves 
to this work in this high and hopeful spirit to-night, believing that God’s 
blessing will rest with it even to the end. (Applause.) 
K 
o 
Q 
l= 
IY 
ie 
er 
et 
ie 
+! 
ne 
ADDRESS. 
BY PRINCE SERGE WOLKONSKY, DELEGATE OF THE MINISTRY OF PUBLIC 
INSTRUCTION OF RUSSIA. 
Ladies and Gentlemen : Two days ago I had the honor of being asked 
0 welcome the present congress; I have not had the time for preparing 
inything substantial that should, in some way, justify your kind applause. 
This is why I hope you will excuse me if I say but a very few words.