Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1885-10-30
TREACHEROUS MEMORY.
The Sad Predicament in Which 1t
Placed q Noted Scholar.
Remarkable Closing Address to College
students-PrOE PrsstOn's Advice to
Struggling Scholars, Statesmen aud
TheOIOcians-NOtable Examples.
ICincinnati FnnuIrer1

A peculiar, amusing aud unpublished
anecdote Is related at the expense of the
late Prof. Preston, of the University Of
Virginia. The old gentleman was noted
for his eruditioD, but his memory was
singularly defective in regard to names
1t Is said he often forgot the names of the
members of his immediate family, and
always called his wife, "My dear wife,"
and his children, "My dear children" 1t
was customary on graduation days in
the university for ole of the faculty, gen.
orally Prof. Preston, to deliver the closing
address to the seniors. sending them
among the realities of life with words OF
encouragement and good advice. On the
night before one of the annual commence
ments the venerable professor, immured
in his study, outlined his remarks to the
graduates who would take leave of their
alma mater the following day. Well aware
of his treacherous memory, the learned
doctor wrote down the names of several
historical characters to whom he intended
to allude in his address. The graduation
exercises passed off after the most ap-
proved manner of such occasions. The
college hall was crowded with the relatives
and friends of the class of 40, and each
one who had a speech worked it of amid
the applause OF the assemblage. Finally,
the moment arrived for the last act on the
programme-the delivery of the diplomas,
with the usual PREDATORY address. Prof.
Preston arose with great dignity and stood
before the class. He cleared his throat
and began in a deep, drawing tone,
like one who is speaking extempore
and seeks by slowness of enuncia-
tion to give impressiveness to what
is said. Young gentlemen, this
Is day of unusual interest to each and
every one of you. 1t is an occasion of
joy, mingled, trust, with sadness at the
severance of the pleasant relations which
have existed between yourself and the
Faculty of the institution, who have en-
deavored TO guide you right during your
scholastic training here. 1t is right and
proper that at this time / should call your
attention to a few truths, and endeavor to
inculcate by example how you may be-
come respected, Useful and even distin-
guished citizens. The all-important ques-
tion which must be solved by you, young
gentlemen, is: what avocation shall l
pursue, since l have completed my COL
legiate education:' Thers are those
among you who, in the dim vista of the
future, see fame as literary men, eminence
as authors or poets. Perhaps before me
will be found the successor of Dickens, or
Thackeray, or Pope, or Byron. To those
of you who aspire TO achieve greatness in
ia laudable pursuit can commend the
example OF that good an1 true man
whose name is associated with that of the
dictionary of the English langua ge, a
great scholar and member of "A distin-
guished family, but who now sleeps be-
meath the sol, leaving an immortal monu-
ment in that stupeadous dictionary. I
mean, gentlemen, Mr., Mr., well il
Is not necessary 10 mention names; every
admirer Of our language knows to whom
refer. Mr.; excuse me, gentlemen
referring TO his memoranda of names),
Noah Webster, gentlemen.
"And again there are others who have
an ambition to become statesmen, to win
the applause of the multitude by their
fcrvid oratory and have their names en-
blazoned among the uni yhty msn OF their
generation. This is also u commendable
aspiration, and here I can place before
you one who was first in war, first in
peace and first in the hearts of his coun-
trymen; who is always reverently and
affectionately referred to as the father of
his country; whose statuary and oil por-
traits adorn all our public buildings, and
whose steel plate engravings, together
with the picture of his devoted wife, are
20 be found in every home In this land.
That man was Mr.. -, Mr.. -. Once
more, il is folly for me to mention names.
His memory is dear to every patriotic
heart, and the fame of Mr.. -. Now, ex-
cuse me, gentlemen (again referring to
his card), Mr.. George Washington is i'm
mortal.
IL have but a little mora to say before
bid you goodbye. There are, among
these 40 youths, some, God grant there
are many, who yearn to follow the cause
of the Divine Creator, to point the dying
sinner to the Lamb of God that taketh
away the sin of the world. This is the
noblest and most exalted calling. It
offers opportunity for self-sacrifice in the
cause of humanity. In it the way ward
one can be turned from the paths of vice,
wretchedness and ruin into the road that
leads to virtue and happiness Oh, my
dear young men, can not too forcibly i'm
/ press upon you the necessity of looking to
Him who came upon earth and gave His
life for you. Put your trust in that SUBJ
lime and good man who now sitteth on the
right hand of God, Mr.. -. Pardon me
/ for not mentioning his name, it has es-
capped my memory. He is known to every
student of Biblical history. Excuse me
once more drawing the card from his
! pocket), Mr.. -, Mr.. Jesus Christ"
Women of Wealth.