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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (June 1, 1900)
28 THE BATTALION. the end of a tunnel that has taken us four years to pass through. Our be loved President has watched us with an eye of deep interest and the Feculty, assisted by their associates and as sistants, have kept the headlight of in struction brightly burning through the entire journey, but to-day we have reached the end of our college career and with a few parting words of ad vise from those who have advised and trained ,us here, we shall meet face to face with the world. Much will be ex pected of us by those who have interest in us. In whatever sphere of life we may engage, whether it be professional or industrial, let us follow David Crockett’s motto, “Be sure you are right, then go ahead.” We see before us many visitors whom we heartily welcome to our Commencement, and we hope that your presence may prove as pleasant to you as it is agreeable to us; it gives us encouragement to meet bravely the duties that lie ahead of us. Among you are many whom this college has already prepared for the duties of life. You have made and thus far main tained a spotless record in the business and professional world, record of which any institution ought to be proud, and I will assure you this one is. We hear the voices of the Alumni of this college in our legislative halls, we see them in prominent positions on our railroads and elsewhere; then we see them pop ular as professional men, lawyers and physicians. They come back to-day to extend to us the hand of fellowship, and now that we help them carry the honor of this institution that she places in the hands of all of her grad uates, let us be sure not to stain the spotless record she bears. We are living in an age when, with out an education, a man must be a “hewer of wood and drawer of water.” Why should not this generation ac complish more than any that preceded it? The young men of to-day have the experience of those whose life work has ended before ours begun, and never in the history of the world has its peo ple had the grand opportunities in the way of receiving an education, that we enjoy to-day; in other words, as the world grows in age it grows in knowl edge, and when we strike deep water we will have to swim or drown; if we drown, it will be our fault and not that of our alma maters. In future years it shall be with the deepest pride and an everlasting in terest that shall call to mind this dear old college with its beautiful cam pus and magnificent buildings. Gentlemen of the Board, some of you just a short time ago took the care of this institution upon yourselves, but we have great confidence in you and expect to see our alma mater flourish under your government. Honorable President, with to-day ends your second year as President o r this college. We feel in more ways than one your love for and interest in the welfare of the students placed here under your supervision. In time oL trouble we have always found you an able and willing adviser, and now as we are about to part with you I find myself unable to express in words the love and esteem that we have for you. But we know so long as you stand at the helm of this institution, success will crown its efforts to fulfill the pur poses of its creation. Members of the Faculty: To you we owe our greatest thanks; you are the ones who have explained those things that, without assistance, we would have been unable to master, and I will assure you that your patience and kindness will long be remembered by this small body of young men that you