The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1892-06-23
VALEDICTORY.
BY MISS MAMIE X. CHAPMAN.

At the request of many Of her
friends we publish the valedictory of
Miss Mamie K. Chapman, of Mary
land, read at the closing exercises of
the Henderson Female College, June
9th:
When, in the course of human
events, if l may dare paraphrase that
venerable Palladium of our liberty,
the Declaration of Independence, it
becomes necessary for US to dissolve the
ties that bound US with others and to
assume the separate and equal station
to which Nature and Natures God
entitle us, decent respect for the
opinions of mankind, requires that we
should declare the causes which impel
US to the separation,-and, matter
of sentiment suggests that we should
make formal farewell.
This mournful but Jeffersonian duty
deyolves upon me.
First, as to the causes, which impel
me to this separation.
Frankly l declare, the one sole suf-
fcient and moving cause is, that hav-
ing come to the parting of ways in
life, we shall walk together no more.
Unlike the "Original Thirteen" whose
protest against oppression l began by
paraphrasing, have no grievances to
redress, no provocations to plead in
extenuation of my action in departing
from you, my friends and fellow-col-
legians. I go because l must, because
other ties and duties claim me, but
before say farewell, let me indulge
in brief retrospect, which tho sad
with the penumbra of parting is never
theless checred with the auroral CLEANS
of happy home-going.
When nine months agone, l turned
my face Southwark, singing "Mary-
land my Maryland" in doleful accents,
l little dreamed how dear the Old
North State was to become to me. I
little knew then that should number
among my "fate's devoted few" so
many daughters and shall l not say
sons? of the Old North State.
Pleasant in many ways has been my
stay in N. c., and tho my first and
latest memories are not little blurred
by refractory French and Latin voca-
bles, and tho my most lasting inn
pressions cling tenaciously around the
Binomial 7Ae0rem, yet l can lay my
hand on my heart and say, it is we'll
for me to have been here.
l have made acquisitions that will be
mine forever. l have gained experience
that will tide me in safety over many
bridgeless possibilities of the future,
and last, but by no means least. l have
learned what a great and growing
Commonwealth the Old North State
is, and how htly she ranks forenos,
among her prosperous and progressive
sister States of the South.
The days of the year of my pilgrim
age have not been all sunshine, nol
yet all shadow: wholesome, blending
of both, typical of what shall be in
after years, has been my lot.
My worst wrangles and struggles
have been with that doughty warrior
of antiquity, of whom our fair young
Latin Orator has told us so much to-
night. l have wrestled with him and
thro' him with the Ethical Dative and
with other sad consequences of the
Dispersion of Babel until I am com
pelled to admit that Caesar, ghost a,
he is, is too much for me.
But tho all this, like any other chas-
tening, seemed grievous enough at the
time, yet l knew / should reap the
peaceable fruits later on, when some
day,
''In my noisy mansion skilled to rule
With patient peace l should teach my
| school,
III were asked what lesson of my
College life has been most effectually
impressed upon me, l should unhesi
tatingly say, 81 have been taught to
do my BEST" my best in technical
work, my best in mental output, my
best in the exercise of high and en-
nobling virtues, and l should 60 from
this Institution the Apostle OF it:
cardinal teachings which represent the
broadest and most thorough in culture
the highest and most liberal in opin'
ions, and the best we can do along all
the lines of life.
And now, my friends, me thinks
hear the sweet cadences of "Maryland
my Maryland' calling me home.
OF you my fellow students, ask
one little boon in parting; think of me
as kindly as 1 shall ever think of you;
remember me as one who loved wisely
and we'll in loving you, and who will
hold you in happy thought "while
memory holds place in this distracted
globe"
For the inmates Of the owl-cote ]
have a special word.
Let US hope, gentle owlets, that GU,
characteristics and froeiviHes more
than our utterances have made the
owl our College emblem and let US live
up to the character of that solemn
sapient bird Of night.
AS each succeeding Leap yea
comes, will not the "Owlet Quintetts
club sing 'szUho? zuho2" till th'
answer come more satisfactorily thar
from the Dream-book?
All we'll, who? who1 knows what W
shall be, and who we shall b
when the next lucky Leap year comes
To you, the honored heads and Fac
ulty Of Henderson College, I woult
tender my most grateful thanks ant
lay at your feet my willing tribute o
deep appreciation and gratitude.
In the future, should success crow
my effort, shall know whence I DIRE,