The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1893-08-31
THE DUTY OF A
COLLEGE GRADUATE,
ALUMNI ADDRESS.
Delivered at Wake Forest College
Commencement May 30, 1893.
By W. =. Daniel, Esq, Of
Weldon, n. G.
ALUMNI ADDRESS.

| | confess to have been greatly troubl
ed in the selection of theme upon
which to address you this evening, and
it has caused me much anxious thought
And IS day after day and week aftci
week | have considered the matter,
have been profoundly impressed with
the unwise selection that you made
for, and I speak meaningly, l approach
the performance of this duty with a,
| embarrassment that comes from my in
ability to discuss a subject fit for the
occasion and the audience.
| ! had thought when was so highly
honored-and. believe me. I do consid-
er il an honor-as to be chosen YOU,
speaker for the evening, that ] would
present some subject new and interest
ing. something out of the usual line,
but in my searches and selections and
conclusions | have never been more
convinced than l am tonight, that,
80 far as concerns me. there is nothing
new. Do not understand me as being
so presumptuous as to deny the exis-
tence OF novelty only mean that l
cannot find it. Then l have looked
patiently and diligently, and even Ia
! borio,lslv, in limited current literature,
for some suggestion upon which to
| base my remarks, and after patience
and diligence and labor has come The
WEAKNESS that must have been King
Solomon's when he wrote: ''Of MAX
Ing many books there Is no end.
1t is impossible for me to deliver a
literary address, for the reason that the
calling to which | have given my time
has almost ceased to be profession
and has become a business, and the
rough contact with the rushing. busy.
h,lrrving world has dimmed and effac-
ed whatever literary relish and finish
7 was supposed to have had when. scv-
eral years ago, left my 1lma matcr.
And who is there Of us that can look
over fifteen years of such contact full
of triumphs and disappointments with
ont heart oyerilowing with pity and
hope for him who is to make the be-
ginning and the race? And it has oc-
CURED to me that something might be
said rom the ground of advantage
upon which we are supposed 10 stand,
to remove some of the difficulties
from the ways of those who are to
come after us or. in other words, as
Graduates 10 more clearly define and
lav down our duties and relations to
the masses OF the people around Us
who are not SO fortunate as to have re-
ceived the benefits that we have re-
ceived
wish I could speak some word to-
night that would encourage the synlpa
thy that ought to be felt by everyone for
his ncichhor. 1t is fact, and our
system of education is partly respon-
sibc for it, that we know too little,
ai,d care less. of that which is true of
those who are III the throw Of a stone
Of orr own doors. We are following
our own enterprises, and we are not
.iloyine our souls to be burdened with
the thought that we are our brothers
keepers. l mean that there is too great
distance. a distance which my expert
ence shows is widening, between the
educated classes and those who are
,naducated. Ii this is true, then col
lege trained and college benefited men
ought to know it and knowing it.
they ought to think upon it, and
realizing its importance they ought
to have the courage to grapple with
the problem. 1t should be their duty
to remove the gap if possible. to begin
the work by lcssening it, certainly.
Let me give expression to the wish
that it was i'm my power to bring some
idea, some thought, some principle.
fresh from the people, with the smell
of the fields upon it, clothed even in
| the garment of poverty, that would
quicken your philanthropy for them,
your patriotism for their country.
! would consider my task done to my