Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1871-09-21

My fouRy Friends. Ladies' and Gentle
men The position in which stand before
you to-day is one Of peculiarly embat-
RAISING nature. A few days siiice. was
greatly surprised, and not little fatter-
cd and gratifed. when you, sir. the head
Of this rural seat Of learning, thought ft
TO request of me the performance Of this,
my present task. Surprised, indeed. be-
cause knew full we'll there were many
in this immediate ncighborhood, now with
in the sound Of my voice. far more capa-
bic Of performing The duty which has de-
volved upon me, and that. too, in man
ner most creditablc TO themselves. agree
able 10 the audience and satisfactory to
you. sir, and TO your pupils. In truth.
I am mere tyro in the difficult art Of
elocution-a poor. inexperienced school,
boy, who has not. rs yet. been enabled to
excIaim that he is twenty -one, but whose
years are still numbered by the teens
> And, ladies and gentlemen. even at this
: late hour, | feel almost forced to abandon
The idea Of addressing you at all. SO ap-
parent. I fear. viii be my inferiority. If.
ter you have had the pleasure Of listening
10 the appropriate and beautiful address of
my friend, the learned States Attorney
for your county, which. am sure. met
with your hearty approval, judging from
the earnest looks Of the elder portion Of
this assembly. the bright smiles of the
younger and the profound and respectful
attention OF ALL I can be nothing more
than an humble follower in his wake-a
cleaner ONLY of such flowers as he may
have left by the wayside. And now,
without further al!usion 10 my embarrass-
Ing Deficiencies. I win proceed at once to
address myself to the task have in hand
earnestly hoping that you, my hearers,
will take into due consideration the many
disadvantages under which one, so young
rs myself, must necessarily labor in the
discharge Of duty, such rs I have now
before me.
My young friends. We have all listened
attentively. to-day. to your annual exam
inatiou. and I, for one, am happy and
proud to say you have acquitted yourselve.
most admirably. Happy, because it re-
fleets SO much credit upon yourselves
upon your kind. indulgent and devoted
parents. aud Is an indisputable evidence
of the great diligence. attention TO bust.
hess and ability Of my friend and relative
who ia your honored tutor: and proud, d
think that ,ou and they have manifested
50 much interest in the important subjec.
OF education. Yes. this days performan-
ccs have filled my heart with pleasure and
with pride. for they clearly show that you
have not, as is too often the case with
many of US. spent your time in indcleacc
and inactivity. bat, on the contrary. have
wisely asd diligently employed it in lay
ing ur stores Of wisdom aud of useful
knowlee ge1--in Improving that great mas
tcrrscee. the immortal mind-the noblest
gift Of God TO frail Humanity. Your ex-
hiS;.;en in rhetoric and defamation. too,
did both you and your teacher infinite cred.
Il. for you have. to-day, BY your grace
fai gestures. expressive conntcnances and
we'll regulated voices ccnveyed to your
hearers the true meaning. force and beau
ty cf your various selections, cullcd from
ihe choicest productions Of the finest ora
sers, poets and hnmorists Of the literary
&orld. II is ffue. Indeed, that they we're
hot isterspcrsed with any original prcduc-
Noas. bot WHEN / reflect upon the many
favorable things have seen and heard to-
day, ] feel assured that such was not the
ease ifosn any want Of ability on the part
Of many Of you, but from some other cause.
what that cause may have been. am at
loss to conjecture. May I not attribute
il 10 that useful modesty SO commendable
m every boy. to native difidence and want
Of ccn6deAee on your parts. qaaktics BY
no means characteristic Of majority os
tbe yoaAh cf this fast and progressive gen.
Grafton, and, therefore. she more worthy
az eommeudaticn in you.
And ncx. young ladies and gentlemen.
/ wish your special aftcnticn Cor q few mo-
ments, rs propose to speak Of things
which know are Of great importance.
and should be. at all times, Of greas inter
est te you. Yea are now 50 fortunate as
TO have the inestimable privilege Of ac-
curing thst knowledge which alone can
elevate m above the brute creation. and
plses - high in the admiration and es-
tcem Of our fe.!ow-man. How long this
- IL A. ,~~.~ "a =