Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-31
YOUNG DOCTORS.
commencement Exercises at the Ned
zeal COIIege-Nedicine and Women


caI COIlege-Medicine and Women.
The large lecture room of the Medical
Department of the Nashville University
was crowded last night upon the occasion
of the Commencement exercises of the
Medical School.
DIR. W. J. Sneed, President of the Soci-
ETY., occupied the chair. After prayer had
been offered by DIR. d. G. Kelly, the
V~ALEDICToRY ADDRESS
was delivered, in an easy, graceful manner,
by j. A. Draughon, Of Tennessee. He
said:
Members of the Medical Society, Ladies
and Gentlemen: 1t is with unaffected diff
denee that l attempt to address you on an
occasion such as the present, for l sensibly
feel that the themes most appropriate for
discussion this evening have become so
trite and hackneyed that it is difficult 10
say anything unique or entertaining upOn
them. Fields so often trayersed and trod-
den, that there is scarcely a flower left to
gladden. the heart or enchant the eye, but,
for fear We lose our way and become
wildered in the jungles, by attempting to
explore unknown regions, it is safest and
best to keep in sight of the old highways,
and, in doing this, l propose to address
myself chiefly TO my Juniors, for L cannot
presume TO think that anything l shall say
can be entertaining or instructive to my
seniors. Twenty long, weary and eventful
years
''Have gone to blend with the mysterious tide
OF old eternity, and bore along
Upon their heaving breast a thousand wrecks
OF glory and of beauty"
Since the organization of the Medical
Society of the University of Nashville.
when it took for its watchword the COM
mand of God to Israel's leader in the desert.
go forward" And, gentlemen, do not its
records show a perpetuation of this CON-
mand? Has it not gone forward? Yes, till
it has neared the great Sabbath-day of sci
cience, for which the old priests of our pro-
fession labored and sighed and sighed for,
as pioneers in its wilderness; and it is with
pleasure that l have the opportunity, as
| representative of your hOnOred body, to at
test this evening my pride in its history,
my interest in its prosperity, and my aflec-
ton for its name. And is it not natural for
our affections to cling to and cluster AROUND
the fostering parent which first encourages
our timid steps, strengthens our resolution,
and points the way which leads to a knOwl-
edge of the complicated structure of Gods
masterpiece, 'the human form diyine?" In
Medical Societies our ideas are developed,
exchanged and strengthened, just as the
physical powers of the Spartan youth were
developed and strengthened by the
athletic games. It's there, too, that
We catch the spirit of culling the
rich flowers which cluster around the
profession, the fragrance of whose
blossoms is waited by every gale which
sweeps across our mighty hemisphere. We
are now taking our ''firSt steps," the way is
rugged, the ascent steep, but the summit is
there and the landscape beyond. 1t is with
us whether we lift our faces to the storm,
bare our breasts to the rocks; take our ban.
ner like the little youth, who through tho
"Alpine village" passed withits Excelsior
spread to the four winds of heaven, anC
though foot-Sore and weary press n
"Not enjoyment and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way,
But To act, that each Tomorrow
Find Us farther than to-day
But in this age of progression, in which
the thoughts of men are widened with tn
process of the suns, we cannot stand still
the sky is full of tokens, the air of sounds
and the whole universe proclaims son
ward" In ancient times, persons wishin.
to know their destinieS, would repairto III,
cayerns of the SYPHILIS, where, hayin.
consulted with those fabulOu.
beings, they would receive answer
as TO their future veal or woe
written on leaves that were scattered al tht
entrance of their dwellings. Though We
have no SybilS TO consult, yet human M
ture never, changing, isthe same to-day tina
it was thousands of yeas ago: hence V,
find man evincing the greatest ea"crneSS L
pry into the future and find out thoSt
things which a kind providence has intend
ed should always he wrapped in clouds OF
mystery, so that no human eve can or cVel
will penetrate; nevertheless in our blind
ness as to our future there are indisputabll
and unmiStakable signs which tell Us
what will transpire in days to come, ant
though we an now fOretell nor write
our future histories, vet, fellow students, ",
can, with scalpels in our hand, like gallant
soldiers with their glitteriEg swords, 81
carve our wal through life that an admir-.
ing world will. be eager to inscribe our
names high on the hills of everlaStin.
fame. Acting on the presumption that it i:
the paramount determination of each o
you to become proicients in ON
noble profession, as well as bright
ornaments to society, l will endeavOI
in my unskilled way to scatter
petals before you that may serve as Sybil
line leaves, to guide YOU to that prosperity
that awaits if you but follow the inScrip.
ton thereon, 'act well your part" TheI
why for a moment should we grow faint
or dread to make the start? All that is re-
quired is a spirit determined to overcome
triumphantly every impeachment. What is
prize worth which could be won without :
single struggle? Nerve yourselves, there
fore, for an indOmitable effort, and having
commenced, strive on with that grim aSSur
anc OF success with which you must be in,
spired when you reflect on the achieve
ments of your predecessors; for,
olives of great men all remind us,
We can make our lives sublime,
And departing leave behind Us
Footprints on the SANDS of time
There is but one medium by which We
can hope to attain the proud pre-eminenct
to which we so fondly look, and so hope tC
reach, and that is by the path of Uirtue. In
olden times Marcellus erected two temples,
one to viJtue, the other to honor,
They were built in such a may
that to see the temple of honor it was nee
essary to pass through that of virtue,
Though hundreds of years have offended
| lLCi1SclNtS IN NAiC III SUI ptaS tlAC VI Oio
eternity" and through the COLISEUM and
Parthenon have crIImbled, yet those two
temples, as if Angels guarded and kept of
the Great Destroyer, still stand in the
minds, eye not as fairy castles but rs real
ties. Then if we aspire to enroll our name;
in that temple OF Honor, along with those
of the good and great, such as our Paul +,
Eve, William and Thomas MeneeS,
L US then be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate,
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait"
Yes, kind Professors. for the efforts ant
progress you have made in yOur noble pro
fesSion, you deserve the gratitude and
God bless you'' Of mankind. Your famC
does not rest on the crushed hopes Of you
fellow men, nor on the ruins of once SPLEEN
did empires, but was all achieved in tn,
interests of humanity.
You live in deeds, not years;
In thoughts, not breaths;
In feelings. not in figures on n dial;
And he most lives, who thinks most,
Feels the nOblest acts, the best.
But l must change my theme
and pass on, as l wish to be dis
cursive and notice some of the char
acteristics of orr Medical Society. Will
our present course of lectures, opened on
meetings, our numbers were few and ever
phase of things indicated that its presen
s.would not copy fair its past" for the com
-