The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-08-12
Addresses of W. E. Craig and President
Ritt1e

attention.
Tt was the occasion of the meeting of the
Alumni Reunion Association OF Roanoke Col
lcge, and in opening his address, Mr.. Craig al
luded in beautiful terms to days, when togeth-
er with so many who were now scattered to
the four points Of the compass, he had COM
menced the struggle of existence within the
time honored walls of that grand old Institution
of learning, from whose portals SO many had
stepped on to the theatre OF earnest, active life,
and had found how real. and common place
that life was. Instead of the beautiful savan-
nah, wooing them on to absolute success, they
had encountered undreampt OF difficulties
which seemed to lift their uninviting fronts
mountain high, and at every turn OF the re-
some journey, obstacles had been interposed.
which nothing but the most persistent effort
could overcome. While nations celebrated the
anniversary of their birth and the birth Of their
heroes, so the children of their Alma Mater
were accustomed to gether togather and to
com oine their efforts for the prosperity OF
the honored college, whose interests were their
interests, and whose advancement was their
| advancement.
The speaker then announced his subject !:
'sBe Honest and Energetic in whatever avoca-
ton of life you pursue.'
| Men whose deeds have moulded the destiny
of nations, whose example is the beacon for
those struggling onward and upward, and
whose lives furnish the evidence that humanity
| is worthy Of its architect, have united in be-
qucathing to posterity a common chart and
| that chart is honesty. The time is now upon
us when the country demands honest men, land
when every interest Of state and community is
crying aloud, for relief from the clutch of the
knave. Every profession is stained and be-
fouled with the misdeeds of those whose duty
to themselves and mankind demands an eleva-
ton instead of the humiliating degradation in
to which ITS adopted ones haye plunged
it, Conscience IS dethroned and sent-
ment llsurps the place. Our own State has
furnished a mournful example in threatening
to repudiate her just obligations and it falls to
the lot of the present generation, TO preserve
her fair fine, and make the Virginia OF the
now as great as Of the past. But honesty is
not the only attribute of success. We must
combine energy with it, push must be the
watchword and With such combination no
such word as fail can appear. You may fur
nish an army with the finest and most sefvcea-
BILE equipments, but if they are not skilled III
the use of their weapons, if they are not train
ed in their marches and countermarches, their
glittering paraphernalia avail them nothing,
| and they offer no resistance to disciplined for
ces; and so in the pacific avocat'ons OF life, dis
cipline must be combined with the other ele-
ments and success is certain. Ii we would
make men OF ourselves; if we would leave Il
name behind, if we would cause a thrill OF JOY
to penetrate the breast Of our noble President,
we must make up our mind to work with a
stubborn will, for only hard, whitening toll can
achieve success. We have OH own futures to
compass. and we have the name OF our COM
mon mother to vindicate. We have no time
to prate of the fallen fortunes and sullled es-
cutcheon of Virginia. but we must demonstrate
by our labors that we are worthy sons OF Wor-
thy sires and as such it behooves us to
put forth every energy for the straggle'
Doubtless the most humiliating period OF
captivity to the old Romans, was the re-
Election that the streets along which they
marched as trophies Of the Goth and Van
dial, had echoed to the triumphant tread
of their forefatllers and one Of the most
active incentives to our success must De
consciousness that we are victors on the
highway marked with the monuments OF
the victories of those who have gone before. We
will not be pigmies to the giants of the past.
but will make the Virginia of to-day as illustrl-
GUS as Of yore, and prove to the world that she
is worthy of the names of Washington, a
jefferson, Lee, jackson and 4 host OF other
bright ornaments Of hstory's pages.
At the close of Mr. Craig's address, during
the delivery of which he was frequently APP
pauded. DR.. Bittle arose and said that al
though he had not intended to address an au
dence, yet he would state that the object Of
these Reunions was to encourage those OF the
Alumni who had started out in life and to de-
wise plans for the rapid advancement Of the
college. So far these meetings had effected
great good, and their influence was being daily
I felt.
Education is the drilling Of the mind in the
paths of intelligence, and it should be the 90
ect Of all instructors not merely to exercise the
memories of their pupils in permitting them tt
make parrot recitations, but to teach them tx
think invent and act for themselves. The ma
jority of young men who enter college, an(
the majority of mankind, is constitutionally la
zy, and therefore if the student was allowed
to select his own studies, lie would almost in
variably choose those which entail the leas
mental exertion. We frequently see men wht
have graduated at college, and whose mind
are stored with classic lore, if asked for al
opinion On any matter will be able to cite ;
long list of authorities bearing on the subject
and so carefully have they shelved their knowl
edge, that it requires little effort to quote the
conclusions of learned authors, Tut if brough
down to their own individual opinion they will
confess that they have none. Men like these
will never add enc iota to a nations progress
Automatons, taught to rehearse the sentiments
of others, they have no originality in them
selves and are incapable of advancing into I'M
explored regions. 1t is necessary that the
youth entering college should have a fixed, def
mite aim. When you ask a boy what he ex
poets to make of himself and what he comes tt
school for, if the answer is Il don't know, Fa
ther sends me here,'' you may safely conclude
that he is doing very little good.
\ The speaker then went to give some anec
dotes, and personal "reminiscences, which We