The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1889-06-20
ADDRESS OF DIR. MOORE.
THE VERY INTERESTING TALK
HE MADE

THE VERY INTERESTING TALK
HE MADE
| In Delivering the Diplomas o the Gradu-
auting Glass at Salem Female Academy
| 1t Is Worth Reaoink
Rev. w. w. Moore, D. D., of
Hampden Sidney, Va, who was select
ed to present the diplomas to the grad
uating class at the Salem Female
Academy, in the place of President
Gilman, of Johns Hopkins University,
who was unable to get here on ac-
| count of the floods and consequent
interruption of railroad travel, said:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN On the
day after Daniel Webster made his
famous reply to Gen. Haynes, ofSouth
Carolina, he was invited to dine with
some friends, and gentleman who
was seated beside him at the table re-
marked that the impression had gotten
abroad in Washington that the
speech of the Massachusetts, ora
tor was an impromptu effort. Mr.
Webster turned upon him almost
fercely and said: "Sir, there is no
such thing as impromptu speaking"
Of course he meant that no speech
that had not been premeditated at
least as to the ideas was worthy of the
attention of any audience, and the
fact is that Mr.. Webster had made
preparation for that, the supreme ora
tion of his life, many years before
when working up a celebrated law
case. Now, would you believe that
our friend Mr.. Clewell, expects me to
dc to-day what Daniel Webster said
he could not do? He wishes me to
make an impromptu address to these
young ladies in presenting to them
the diplomas which have been award
ed to them by the principal and fac
ulty of this institution. Those of you
who have come to the Commencement
exercises of the Academy and have
gotten the impression, which is a just
one, that Mr.. Clewell is a reasonable
and tender hearted man, may be sur
prised to hear me state that he is also.
one Of the most relentless of men, He
wishes me to take the place as speaker
on this occasion of one of the most
distinguished scholars in the world,
DR. Daniel C. Gilman, President of
Johns Hopkins University and as he
has iustremarked, to place myself side
by side with the distinguished young
North Carolinian who has spoken
such burning words in our hearing
concerning the past aud future CT
woman and the past and future OF our
glorious South. Now | will surprise
you still further by stating that, while
these are the conditions and while, like
the Amalekites who fell upon Israel,
Mr.. Clewell has fallen upon me when
| was faint and weary after protrac
ted struggle with floods and wash outs
and railroad journeys and fasting and
hunger, yet it gives me positive pleas
ure to render the service he has re-
quire3 of me. And | will tell you
why. The class to which 81 all pre-
sent these diplomas is not an ordinary
class. l am aware of the fact, young
! ladies, that it is the opinion of every
class that it :s better one than any
that has preceded it; but you will OBJ
serve that in this case we have the
testimony of the teachers we have
indubitable evidence that the class
which comes before us to day to re-
cieve the diplomas thus awarded is a
class of no ordinary calibre and appli-
cation. [ am informed that it has
been extremely difficult to make a
choice among these young ladies, and
that It has been steady, arduous and
severe pull not only during the whole
of this year but during all the preceding
years. To day we witness the novel
spectacle of class Of "a appearing
before us to receive their diplomas, II
of whom stand almost upon the same
level; and now it is fitting and necessa.
ry that these II should be placed upon
a roll of honor, and that is my pleas
ing duty,-a roll, every name upon
which deserves to be blazoned with let.
tels Of fire, and l have no doubt you
will accord to these young ladies en-
thusiastic evidence of your apprecia
tion Of the honor which they have
achieved
/ Allow me one word further in ex
planation Of the statement which has
just been made. The maximum grade
Of this institution is 4 40, that is the
highest attainable mark, and every
one of these young ladies has reached
and slightly exceeded the grade oi
| 3-1Oi you will therefore recognize the
difficulty of making the delicate dis
tinction which was involved in award.
ing the honors to such class as this
and now wish to say not only to the
four to whom have been accorded the
highest honors of the class for theil
high standing. but also to the eleven
and even to the whole class, that each
of you have won prize that is more
valuable than the honors awarded to-
day; because, young ladies, the chic
reward is in the race we run and moi
in the prize; the most valuable result
of studying is not the honor on com
mencement day, but it is the increase
of capacity, it is the enlargement O.
brain, it is the increment of power, il
is the discipline for future duties, ano
the fitness for the service which shall
be demanded of you in after life. And
1 am sure that every one who ha.
made faithful and diligent use of the
opportunities here afforded, has earned
this most valuable of all college prizes
4 But not only are there graduate.
before us to day in the Academic de
partment, as we have just seen, bu
there are also graduates to whom the
words uttered In our hearing a few
moments ago, apply. There are grad