The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-07-06
GREETING AND GOOD BYE.
Spoken at the Commencement
Exercises Last WedneS-
day Morning:

sALsfAToEY BY MISS ALICE LErTIE wIcKs
"Oh, Caesar, we, who are about to die,
Ssfute you was the gladiator's cry
In the arena. standing face to face
With death and with the Roman popu-
lace"
Dear friends, this day we enter the arena
and salute you. Like the gladiator. we go
into combat facing the stern realities OF life
II is indeed with pleasure that we welcome
you to our commencement exercises. We
are glad to have you with us on this occa-
sion, and every member of our class appre-
ciates the interest that you have manifested
in our behalf.
Dear parents, you are thrice welcome.
We know that you have anxiously watched
the progress we have made from year to
year, aud that you now rejoice with us in
our hnal success.
To the members of the Board of Regents
and the Faculty, we feel that We are greatly
indebted for the advantages that we have
enjoyed. We owe it to your kind and con
slant supervision that we have at last
attained this honor. Knowing that you
have soae6 so earnestly for on, upbuil'ling,
! we welcome you and once more thank you
for what you have done for US.
What the future has in store for us, what
obstacles we must surmount, aud what diff
eulties are to be overcome, we know not;
But we believe that the training we have
received during our school days will aid
Al ofr Jnfs
ms TO great success in life's hard school.
How easily we recall those days when we
began cur ascent of the ladder that we have
si1ce been climbing. Oh, what distance
it seemed to the round on which we now
standi Countless were the steps that inter
veAedr But, planting our feet firmly on the
base. and growing in strength, We were soon
enabled to take one step higher, and thus
by degrees we have assembled.
Fellow classmates, we all remember these
steps. Recall the suspense after the exam
nations, when we waited to know how
much our instructors thought we had grown
-whatAa been our progress--whether they
were convinced that we were ready to step
on higher round. But now these expert
ences are all iu the past; we have reached
the round which takes US into new scenes,
where we shall find other tasks, and where
che lessons to be learned are of widely
different character from those we
have been studying. In this school we will
not have our instructors to depend upon
when we are in the midst of difficulties.
We must be self-reliant, going forth deter
nined to succeed. Let US ever bear in mind
that ''the world is a looking glass and gives
to each individual the reflection of the face
he brings to it; smile on it and it will smile
IN return, frown ON it and it will frown in
return"
Aud now again to all we extend a hearty
welcome. We fully appreciate your kind
ness in aiding us whenever circumstances
permitted. It is through your assistance
that we have enjoyed countless advantages
thatlare afforded only to the few; therefore
as we go out into the world facing the
responsibilities and duties of life, we will
endeavor so to live that our lives will reflect
credit upon ourselves and this institution of
learning. We hope that success will be the
reward of our efforts, and that you may
have occasion to look with pride upon the
career of the class of 94.
vALEDICToRY DELIVERED BY W. FRANK
HOLMAN.
Evsry bsginning must have an ending
and every pleasurable duty must find a
close. Today, for the last time, we stand
united class and must now sever the ties
that have bound US together during four
short, happy years of school life. Tomor.
row we will be alumni, and following where
duty calls; our paths will then begin that
divergence which in few years will
scatter us far and wide over life's battle.
fields
Commencement and graduation does not
signify that our education is finished or that
our knowledge is complete. Far from it.
We have only mastered that which has
been attempted. New fields have been
nevealed totus which will require life time
of study and application. We have only
risen out of the valley into the foothills
with higher mountains farther on and as
these are surmeunted, one by one, others of
greater magnitude present themselves to
view. As we approached from the valley
only the lowest hills were at first discern
able and after these the mountains, so we
can imagine that beyond these discovered,
stll greater ones exist which, to the patient
traveller who succeeds in overcoming the
opposing iobstacles, are bound to be filed
with beautiful and luxuriant fields of
thought and rich mines of undiscovered
treasure.
Not only have our school days been profit.
ably spent, but our environment has been
an added source of strength and comfort
To the good citizens of Corvallis from
whom we have received SO much kindly
encouragement, we shall ever remain greatly
indebted. At our public efforts yea have
ever graciously honored ns with your pres
enee aud expressed your appreciation. You