38
THE BATTALION
British possessions on the north—the most important eivif
event in the history of our country. Later on, ;,is president^
he added a new laurel to his wreath of fame in perfecting the-
long-pending purchase of Florida. He acknowledged William
and Mary College as his alma mater, and was a faithful dis
ci pie of Thomas Jefferson. Transylvania College. Kw., gave
us a Stephen F. Austin, who prepared the way for a Houston
and a new Republic—and Winfield Scott of William and
Mary College, purchased in blood immunity of Texas from
Mexican trespass and added 050,000 square miles of territory
to the domain of the United States. It may be true that our
government is at times under the control of partisans, but her
histor}’' is made by broad-minded, well-disciplined states
men .
lt“has been said that “to every great man a peculiar mis
sion is given—to one as law-giver—to another as conqueror—
to a third as teacher——to a fourth as organizer and adminis-
ttrator.’’ It seems to me, gentlemen of the Society, educa.ting:
and training must be a great aid if not a necessity to all of
these.
Y\ M. O. A
Guarding One’s Speech.
The story of the boy who cried “wolf” so often that when
the wolf really came his cries passed unheeded, has many
practical illustrations. The boy had simply lost reputation
and was not believed. That is the fate of all who tell lies;
when their character becomes known they are not believed, no
matter how earnestly they may protest they are telling the
truth. Such loss of reputation is a very serious matter, es
pecially for young men and young women whose success in