42
THE BATTALION.
a man who failed to adhere to duty and was successful in
life. Let one who is your friend, who by virture of the
partiality of the people of Texas enjoys the higdiest honor
within their gift, repeat to you that you may not forget
it, to pledge yourselves one to the other that duty shall be
your guiding star, and in the years to come this college
may well look upon you and proudly say, ‘These are my
jewels.’ ”
The governor spoke eloquently and at some length
along this line, and in conclusion advised the boys to go
home and marry as soon as they can make money enough
to buy good homes.
At 5 o’clock in the afternoon the Ross volunteers,
Captain Sloss, gave a crack exhibition drill, followed by
the annual graduating dress parade, after which the boys
turned in their guns and began preparations for the ball
and the journey home. The attendance of visitors on
these closing military exercises was large and they were
much enjoyed.
The ball, at night, given in the immense new mess
hall, was one of the most brilliant and largely attended in
the history of the college. The visitors were there in
large numbers, not only from surrounding towns, but from
remote parts of the state, and the unusually large attend
ance of visiting young ladies here and Bryan in made not
only the ball, but all the social features of commencement
exceedingly bright and pleasurable. They have also
brightened the homes where they have visited, encouraged
the students by their presence, and won their way into the