36
THE BATTALION.
TUESDAY, JUNE 13, 1899.
This was commencement day proper, and an occasion
which many of the eloquent alumni orators have char
acterized as standing' out in bold relief, the proudest day
in a young- man’s life. It is the day when the assembled
multitude by their presence and applause indorse the
achievements of the graduate and bid him Godspeed on
life’s journey. A veil of scudding- clouds kindly restrained
the rays of the sun this morning, and a strong breeze from
the south swept across the velvety sward and rustled amid
the leaves of the campus trees.
Governor Sayers arose early and was on the drill
ground for the postponed review of the battalions by 8
o’clock. General Waties, President Poster, Hon. R. E.
Prince, Dr. Mather of Austin, members of the board of
directors, and a large number of visitors were also present,
and before the arrival of the cadets from the barracks the
governor held an informal levee. Promptly at the ap
pointed hour the corps of cadets, preceded by the college
band, passed in review before the governor and General
Waties. The cadets were in fine form, and when asked
his opinion, the governor said: “They are a fine body of
men, well drilled, and would make good fighters. We just
simply ought to have about 2000 of them here.” General
Waties said simply, when asked his opinion of the corps,
“Good soldiers.” The governor was mightily pleased with
the college band and said it made him want to be a boy
again and carried him back to the days before the war,
when he was cadet captian of company A in the Bastrop
military institute. “1'he greatest thing- in the world,” he