THE BATTALION. IS
the confidence of every right-minded and patriotic citizen.
And do 3 T ou know, my hearers, that this is the edacation
which is lasting, which clings to a man, and leavens his life,
because it touches the roots of character.
We are proud of our institution here, because it teaches
the dignity of labor, the independence of toil, the manliness
and freedom of action and thought that rest, a blessing in
themselves, upon the individual or nation which makes them
the source of its wealth and progress. We exalt the alumnus
of such institutions, because he is as proud of a piece of well-
finished intellectual or manual workmanship as of the be-
v, itching smiles of a drawing room. General Ross was the
exponent of such a training. He cared not a fig for the learn
ing which does not arouse manhood and intertwine with
character, that sturdy character which responds to every
emergency with the whole force of the man, body mind and
soul.
Ah! you friends of his think you have heard him speak,
and on public occasions his voice did ring out with eloquent
thought. But you never heard the whole man speak, un
trammeled by his natural modesty, forgetful of surroundings
conscious alone of the fact that the youth of Texas were be
fore him and that every word he uttered was being treasured
up against a day of need; you never heard him speak as yon
corps of cadets and I their chaplain have, here at the early
morning hour of chapel service. With some incident from
his own boy life, or some treasured memory of his active pub
lic service as a text, you young men remember how he would
teach, encourage, probe, advise, with all the earnestness of a
father, all the sympathy of a friend; it is your loss if his
counsels have not gone home and made you truer men to
yourselves, your parents and your God.
I should be telling but half the truth did I permit the in
ference that General Ross’ educating influence was limited to