THE BATTALION
Published AVeehly by the Students* Association of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas
Volume XV
College Station, Texas, Monday, June 8, 1908.
Number 32
f ^ 1 ommbncement > wiiat d ° es
I C, ^ I it mean to the college gradu
ate? To some it is the ending
of four years spent in earn
est preparations for life’s work, final
ly to be rewarded with victory and
distinction. For some it is the begin
ning of a life of efforts and failures,
while yet to some it holds no other
meaning other than the end of a col
lege career spent in an idle waste of
time, and money probably advanced
by anxious parents who are in many
cases sacrificing comforts at home
in order that their boy might not he
set adrift in life’s torrent with no
means whatever to support himself.
For this last, we feel only a profound
pity, and wonder that ingratitude to
parents could be so manifest.
It is not meant to convey the im
pression that a college life has been
devoid of pleasure to the successful
graduate—far from it. The four years
thus spent are to may the most en
joyable part of life next to that of boy
hood at the parents’ knee. Indeed, to
many graduation brings only the be
ginning or a most bitter struggle.
Then, can we say that a college
course is really worth while? YCs; for
we venture that every alumnus, with
out exception, would testify to the fact
that to this life at least is due the
broader view of ilfe, which teaches us
to take a more tolerant view of our
fellow-man. It is a school of experi
ence, which at last binds us into a
botherhood that is becoming stronger
and grander year by year. And the
ties which bind the gradutes of a class
are not to be classed as weaker than
those that bind Masons, Odd Fellows,
or any other fraternal order which has
for its motto, “Brotherhood.” Indeed,
why should it not be so? Together as
“fish” we stood the jokes and jolts of
the upper classman, when “college
life” was to us only a name; when we
were fresh from homes, where our
wishes were law and the startling
swish of belt leather was unknown.
Together we rushed the “cane”
through the amazed Sophomores, and
our first victory was attained. We
stood as one to lead our athletes
on to victory. Day after day we were
assembled together in the section-
rooms to “sink or swim,” as our genu
ine knowledge or ability to dodge, di
rected. Together, through it all, we
have shared our troubles and our tri
umphs, and, finally, those who have
overcome all, who have fulfilled every
requirement, stand together to begin
the fray which is to test the efficiency
of their training.
Though we are not to fight together
as comrades, as heretofore, each is
happy in the thought that wherever
he may meet an alumnus of the A. &
M. College, and especially of the ’08
class, he meets a friend whose hand
clasp is genuine. Really, then, this
is the most beautiful phase of college
life, and to us is proof enough that a
college course is worth while, even
though little else is attained.
Commencement is also to us the
initiation into the “club” of independ
ent thinkers. We have, with few ex
ceptions, been living a mapped-out life.
At home we were care-free, and our
college work has consisted in following
the prescribed course of study. While
many may have taken advantage of
current literature to broaden their
knowledge, yet many have been con
tent to prepare, with more or less
success, the daily lessons, not seeming
to realize that effort should be made
to acquire learning otherwise. They
have simply tried to pass away the
time on the principal of least work.
HIS year the largest senior
class in the history of
the college leaves its doors
to take part in life’s duties.
These seniors are equipped with the
knowledge necessary for them to fol
low their chosen professions. Some
will go forth to build railroads, and
strengthen the transportation facilities
of our country. Some will have charge
of the modern engineering plants that
are the pride of every city. Others
will superintend the power stations of
our great cities, and help to bring
about the age of electricity. The tex
tile engineers will further the industry
31unc 7t{;
8:00 A. M.
8:30 A. M.
11:00 A. M.
5:00 to 6:00 P.
8:00 P. M.
8:00 A. M.
8:30 to 9 :30 A. M.
10:00 A. M. to 12:00 M.
2:30 P. M.
4:15 to 6:00 P. M.
6:30 P. M.
8:00 P. M.
10:00 P. M.
- - - - - - Guard Mounting
- - - - - Inspection of Quarters
- - - - Commencement Sermon
Rev. William States Jacobs, D. D.
- - - - - Band Con ert
- - - Address Before the College Y. M. C. A.
Rev. William States Jacobs. D. D.
iHonbitg, Jliutr 8}fj
Guard Mounting
- - - - - Individual Competitive Drill
- - - Inspection of Departments
- - - Annual Business Meeting Alumni Association
------ - Battalion Drill
Dress Parade
- - - - Celebration Austin Literary Society
------- Alumni Banquet
Sl ties hit tr, 3Ittnc —Commencement Pan
8:00 A. M.
8:30 to 9:00 A. M.
10:30 A. At. - -
Prelude
Prayer - - .
Solo - . _
Commencement Address
Solo - . .
Valedictory Address
Music
Conferring Degrees
Postlude
4:00 to 6:00 P. At.
6:30 P. At.
9:30 P. At.
Guard Mounting
Exhibition Drill by Ross Volunteers
Graduating Exercises
College Band
Dr. O. C. Charlton
Mrs. J. Webb Howell
Hon. M. B. Davis
Mrs. J. Webb Howell
T. J. Beesley
Glee Club
- - - College Band
Competitive Company Drill for Howell Flag
- - - Graduating Dress Parade
----- Final Ball
These are the men who are generally
found in the list of “ex-students.”
The graduation of the class of ’08,
gives more trained minds to the State
(than any previous year in the history
of A. & M. Men, too, who have prob
ably worked under more difficulties
than any class heretofore.
But in the brightest days we stood
by our school, proud of the distinction
of being one of her sons. In the dark
er days, when older heads than ours
were puzzled, we did that which was
thought best, and will yet, as alumni,
stand by her, and labor untiringly for
the advancement of the noblest insti
tution in the South.
I which will soon make the South as
j famous as the New England States—
the manufacture of cotton goods. The
agriculturalists will teach the people
of the State improved methods of
farming. From them the rising gen
eration will learn that the name
Farmer is one to be proud of. How
ever, no matter what these men may
do in future life, we can rest assured
that their efforts will be directed in
the upbuilding of their State, and the
community in which they live.
There are fifty-three members of the
present senior class who are candi
dates for degrees in June. Of these
12 are in the department of agricul
ture, one in the department of veterin
ary science, sixteen in the department
of civil engineering, nine in the de
partment of electrical engineering, sev
en in the department of mechanical
engineering, three in the department
of textile engineering, one in the de
partment of entomology, one in the
department of chemistry and three in
the department of horticulture. The
following is a list of seniors, with the
subjects of their graduating theses:
Agricultural Seniors.
W. L. Heller—“Wheat, Its Improve
ment and Possible Adaptability to Tex
as.”
H. H. Jobson and R. B. Neale—
“Study of Cotton, Culture, Varieties
and By-Products.”
J. R. Lauderdale—“The Dairy Indus
try in Texas.”
E. R. Robinson—“Corn, Its Culture,
and a Study of Texas Varieties.”
Animal Husbandry Seniors.
W. G. North and R. W. Faust—“A
Test of the Comparative Feeding Val
ues of (1) Indian Corn, Kaffir Corn,
Milo Maize and Blackstrap Molassas;
(2) Cotton Seed Meal and Cotton Seed
for Fattening Steers.”
A. J. Smith and C. E. Jones—“A
Test (1) to Determine the Compara
tive Feeding Values of Indian Corn,
Spanish Peanuts and Blackstrap Mo
lassas; (2) to Ascertain the Feeding
Value of Skimmed Milk as an Addition
to Straight Corn Ration for Fattening
Hogs.”
C. M. Evans—“Stock Raising in the
South.”
J. H. McLeod—“Swine Industry of
Texas.”
Veterinary Science Seniors.
H. Schmidt—“Comparative Anatomy
of the Brain of the Horse and the Ox.’*
Chemistry Seniors.
S. Lomanitz—“The Determination of
Crude Fiber in Feeding Stuffs.”
Horticultural Seniors.
T. E. McElroy and E. A. Miller—
“Improvement of Our Native Pecan
and Hickory by Grafting and Budding
the Paper Shell Pecan on Them.”
N. W. McGinnis—“Testing Different
Methods of Planting Pecan Nuts and
Transplanting Pecan and Hickory
Trees.’
Civil Engineering Seniors.
L. Adams and M. C. Spivey—“Trian
gulation and Stadia Survey of the Col
lege Farm.”
V. Z. Beall and G. F. Moore—“Plans
and Specifications for Pavement of
College Roads.”
T. S. Buchanan—“Design of a Rail
road Bridge, Span 183 Feet 9 Inches.”
A. L. Cornell and C. P. Wilson—
“Plans and Specifications for a Street
Car Line at Groesbeck, Texas.”
W. W. Washburn and J. B. Crockett
—“Surveys and Estimates for the C. &
W. Railway.”
I. Dale—“Design of a Railroad
Bridge, Span 189 Feet 6 Inches.”
C. W. Homeyer—“Design of a Rail
road Bridge, Span 189 Feet.”
L. R. Jones—“Design of a Railroad
(Continued on page 17.)