THE BATTALION.
7
moving him from a place so full of usefulness, especially to the
young men of the state whom he loved so well; but we can con
sole ourselves with the belief that he was needed for a loftier
and greater sphere, and today, with Albert Sidney Johnson and
Hood and Tom Green he is martialing the hosts of heaven to
the praise of the Almighty God who gave him to us for a brief
period, but needed him finally for his own great glory.
Fellow Cadets: We feel the deepest regret in parting with
you. Our intercourse with you has been of the most pleasant
nature. We have been thrown much together during your days
here and not the slightest ill feeling has arisen to mar our inti
mate relations. Associations and ties formed at college are al
most as binding and inseperable as those of brotherhood, and
although we may never see each other again we trust that the
friendship existing among us is so deep that no extent of time
or separation will ever cause it to be forgotten. Remember:
“A generous friendship no cold medium knows,
Burns with one love, with one resentment glows.”
And in behalf of my class 1 tender you a loving farewell.
You will have to pursue the same paths that we have been over
in order to graduate; you will have to overcome the same ob
stacles that confronted us, but by diligent application and a de
termination to succeed you will be able to surmount all difficul
ties and gain the end for which you are now striving. “Learn
from others faults to correct your own.” You have seen our
various mistakes; you have observed our faults; by all means
take advantage of them and govern your own accordingly; but
above all, do your duty and your future is assured.
Classmates: Much as it grieves me to say it, the hour
of our separation is at hand. For four years we have labored
side by side in the same cause and with the same end in
view. Today that end is attained and our youthful career is
finished. Tomorrow we assume the duties and responsibili
ties of manhood and take our places in the ranks of life. No