THE BATTALION.
27
chosen by their fellow countrymen to
fill the highest places of trust. When
the farmer can sit with equal grace
and power in the legislative halls hold
ing up the interests of the tiller against
the attempted monopolies of the cor
porate manufacturers.
The time is now upon us when the
farm must be stocked net alone with
an improved cattle, a better breed of
hogs, a stronger draft animal, but a
higher order of brains and energy
must hang the gates and direct the fur
rows.
Ah! young man of the Caliopean and
Austin Literary Societies, your very
name of literary societies has been
synonymous with the desire for pro
fessional success, for oratorical train
ing, for professional contests in your
future. But let me tell you the most
paying eloquence to-day in Texas is
the lowing of the cattle and bleating
of the sheep on the grass fields, and
the whirring of the reaper and thresh
ing machine. The most convincing ar
gument in the great contest of life is
the clink of the honest dollar, and the
most alluring attraction in all the
world to-day v is a Texas black-land
farm run by an intelligent farmer.
Then in the strength of all my being
and in the light of all my experience
and study, would I point your vigorous
and ambitious minds from the enticing
and glittering gates to city life and h r
professions to the manifold and exten
sive fields of opportunity in Texas
white even now unto harvest and bid
you to enter to reap the rich rewards
of brain and labor united.
- VALEDICTORY ADDRESS -
C. P. ROGERS, of KYLE.
On Distinguished Governor, Honor
able President, Gentlemen of the Board,
Members of the Faculty, Ladies and
Gentlemen: One more scholastic year
has swiftly glided by, and on this its
last day, in the presence of this larg?
number that has gathered here, 25
youn men shall, after four years of
hard and earnest work, receive thei 1 ’
diplomas. We realize that these diplo
mas that we are about to receive are
merely written and signed certificates
evidencing that we have met the re
quirements of this institution and are
now prepared to battle with the strug
gling masses of the world.
But, “fellow classmates,” let us not
think for a moment that our life study
is over and our work done. We hare
just reached a firm basis upon which
to build. The most able men that
America has yet produced, and Amer
ican products have no superior, were
students through their entire lives. So
it is to-day, the most able men are
not those who are safsfiei and de
eye of deep interest and the Faculty,
learned, but those who use their brains
constantly. A horse can be trained to
do many things, but when his training
ceases his ability to accomplish more
is at an end. So with many other ani
mals, and the only reason why man
rules the world to-day is because of his
power of intellect; let us use ours.
When we entered college we stood at