4
THE BATTALION.
Today twenty-three of our number, as a result of four
j^ears of patient servitude and untiring devotion at the shrine
of that most exacting mistress—Education, have at last finish
ed our course, been knighted in the name of learning, and with
the dawn of another day will have laid aside the duties of
cadetship and taken our place in the world as men among men,
bidding farewell to the scenes and occasions wich we have en
joyed and participated in during our sojourn here.
Education awakens in us higher ideals and enables us to
enjoy and obtain out of life the highest and noblest pleasure.
By its aid we associate with the greatest philosophers, poets
and scientists and are benefitted by their lofty thoughts and
thus become a better and a healthier nation.
As a class we are now on the threshold of a new existence.
Tomorrow we begin a new life. We would not be useless and
idle dreamers; we wish to join the ranks of the world’s work
ers. Eagerly we salute the varying fortunes to come; the du
ties that will appear; the trials that are to test our strength.
We know there will be many obstacles in our pathway but Na
ture has liberally endowed us with health, youth and energy,
and with the education we have received we feel able to cope
with any and look forward to a bright future.
It is with pride, that we, who are soon to become alumni,
note the rapid and steady advancement of this, our alma mater.
From a small college she has grown until now she occupies an
enviable position among the foremost institutions of her kind,
standing magnificent in her grandeur and reflecting with splen
dor her twenty-two years of existence.
Nor has she cause to be ashamed of her graduates; they
have advanced with an equal stride. We find them occupying
prominent positions in every walk of life. We see them in the
commercial world, in the professions; we hear their voices ring
out in the legislative halls. The State government recognizes
the efficiency of our military department to such an extent that