The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1893-06-29
COMMENCEMENT DAY.
THE CLOSING EXERCISES OF THE UNI
vERsITY OF TEXAS.
A Magnificent Address by the Hon. 8
W. T. Lanham-A Full List VI
Those Who Received
Diplomas.

exercises of the University of Texas
have come and gone. With them VIII
be inseparably associated the memo
.ries of feast of reason and how oil
soul sucn as has never before been en-
loved in the halls of that institution OIL
learning. From beginning to close all
tie exercises have been attended with
absorbing interest, and on
the occasion of the regular
commencement day exercises yes
terday morning the large
auditorium was filled almost to over
flowing with an audience which Tor
culture aud refinement no land be-
meath the skies can boas. its superior,
while on the platform were assembled
q concourss of Texas eminent men
the state executive, ex-governors,
learned jurists of the supreme bench
and courts of appeal, the board OF re-
gents, directors of the Agricultural
and Mechanical college and other
nrominert mon in the walks OF life.
The University of Texas is an institu-
ton dear to every one who appreciates
the advantages it offers to the young
men and women of Texas, and the
nropram which had been arranged for
Yesterday was one calculated to satisfy
the expectations of even the most las
tidiOus.
The exercises were opened with an
earnest and fervent prayer by DR.. Lee,
after which DR.. Waggener introduced
Mr. l.. r.. Dick on, first honor man I'D
the academic department, who cnose
for his subject, "a Plea for Pure
Science "lhc martyrs of SCIENCE"
said the speaker, "are as noted as the
martyrs of religion. Science has had
to struggle against the superstition OF
the ancients, the prejudices OF the
church, the Chill Of the dark ages. Its
results have been nobly but dearly
gained, and its loyal devotees as well
as its brilliant discoveries deserve our
admiration He asserted that all
original scientific investigators must
of necessity be more or less In
advance OF their time; that they
ware the pioneers of truth, and
being such must bear the brunt
of battle against ignorance,
superstition and prejudice, but that
the value of scientific discoveries are
now tar more fully reco Snized than
formerly and that instances of the
authors of great advances in science
starving in obscurity have become
rarer and rarer. Speaking of science
as most potent factor in our modern
civilization he cited how the powerful
agents, steam and electricity, have
revolutionized the world, and how the
net of railroads over all civilized
countries, the lines of steamers be.
tw son all important parts of the globe,
the telegraphs and Submarine cables,
have drawn men into an universal
brotherhood. He cOntended that
there Is In modern times too great
tendency to favor the practical value
. of science more than ito theoretical
value; that conterted with its COM
mercial results, many fail to ap-
preciate the higher and Lobler re-
suits that follow from the
search after truth from the love
of perfection; and asserted that the
ideal in this age is success and that
men are prone to Gheri'h science az
mems rather than an end. "How
much nobler.u said he. sis the Greek
ideal, perfection! The Venus of Milo,
the Apollo Belvidere, have never lost
the admiration of man; the aXioms OF
Euclid have remained for 20 centuries
,unuuestiOned, while his 'elements'
are the cornerstone of mathematics
and indeed all scieuce.n He entered
his plea for pure science on the
ground that 1t was to be cherished for
it's truths, for the good 1t does man.
kind, enriching his Imagination,
widening his knowledge, enobling
his nature and leading him to tollDW
in the footsteps of tbs Almighty; that
pure science is the search after
truth in nature, and that the discovery
of new law of nature cannot be
valued in dollars and cents; that its
influence IL exerted on all mankind
and lasts forever. Scientific studies
should be valued in that they fill
the mind with lofty ideals, elevated
coneeptions and noble thoughts
The discoveries of modern science Of
fer the widest field for the exercise o.
the most fertile imagination AS the
mind wanders over the vast sxpanse,
crossing bountless space, dwelling in
illimitable time, witnessing the dis
plays of unreasonable power and
studying the adaptations of Omni.
scient skin, it lives in realm of beau
ty, of wonder and of awe, such as no
artist has ever attained to in word, in
sound, in color or in form We cher
ish science not alone for the wealth
and power it gives man, hut for the
beauties of nature it reveals; for the
grandeur and suhlimtv Of the laws
which nature obeys; for the nobility
of the knowledge it embraces, which
tends to enobe mankind.
The speaker predicted the dawning
of an emphatically scientific age,
which beginning with the Greeks
as little rill, has spread end
advanced until now 1t ia
a mighty river, bearing on it's
bosom the civilization of the world
Each one OF us, said he, has q work to
do in this dawnng scientific age. The
number who can devote their lives
entirely to original reseach is small
The personal qualifications of enthu-