The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-07-01
Annual Address
BEFORE THE
GRADUATING CLASS OF
THE SOUTH CAROLINA
MILITARY ACADEMY
DELIVERED BY
Hon. John L. McLaurin
AT
Sumter, S. c., June 80, 1896.
Sumter, S. c., June 80, 1896.
Mr. Chairman, and Gentlemen Of the

Dir. Chairman, and Gentlemen Of the
Board of Visitors +:
am fully sensible of the high con,
plimeDe ycu bave paid me in selecting
one, not graduate Of the Citadel. to
deliver your aanual address. can
claim, however, lipeal descent, for If |
am not son of the Citadel, am sou
of her daughter, the G. M. l.
am afraid, however, that my veoe-
rated preceptor. Col. Thomas who SITS
over .here) will tell you that | was
..Prodigal Son. but if be did,
would tell him that he never killed any
fasted calves for me, fell on my neck
and did any weeping. Dor put any ring
on my 6pger. but fed me on bacon aud
when be did fall on me. it was to put
me walking post with nine pound
musket on nv shoulder, instead of
ring on nay finger.
it hasn't been SO long since ''wore
the gray" but that my heart can thrill
with every emotion that pulsates in the
breast of cadet 90 commencement
occasion.
When I look into your eyes, beam
ing with youthful hope, memories OF
other days food me. some tender aud
sad. others joyful. and pleasant. Fit
teen years, and it seems such short
time. Some Of the bright young faces
that set out with me on the journey.
have long been cold in death. others lie
wrecked aud stranded Oh the shoals and
quicksands, while ali Of US are middle
aged men. from whose hearts the stern
reality of life has pressed and driven
the freshness and poetry of youth.
Not one of US has the world of which
we dreamed ia those glorious days of
young manhood.
have a!waysifels that the four years
of stern military discipline. With It's en-
forced habits of self-control, and the
example and influence of man whose
guiding star lis duty. has been worth
more to me than any scholastic training
received elsewhere.
THE SOLDIER SPIRIT.
The first step towards success any
way, is to Undue the boy with the spirit
of the soldier, for life is one long bat
tie . and it ia the soldier spirit which
wins success the timid and irresolute
are crushed, run over. and the coward
deserts, while the trained soldier, fer
tile iu expedients, tactful and resoluse,
pushes steadily to the front, uotil sue
cess crowns his efforts, Or death claims
him as her OWE
s'sEEING THE ELEPHANT.
have often thought of the "Prod'-
gal Son" who lefs bis fathers house to
see the world. Eve call it "seeing the
elepbaut") and wondered what would
have been his fate had be been trained
four years by Col Taomas or Col
Coward. He would have seen the
elephant. no doubt about that; one as
big as Jumbo himself, and possibly
s.spent,b,s portion in riotcus living"
but when the funds played out, Cita-
del boy would never in the world have
fed on husks left by the swine. He
would have killed the fastest pig In the
bunch, ate spare ribs and backbone,
and the inner man we'll fortified. Gf
nothing better turned up With the airs
aud graces born in the City by the
Sea- h'd have fascinated the old mans
daughter, married. aud put his father
iu-law to tending the hogs. Then
With plenty of leisure. entered politics,
gone to Congress, paid the mortgage
off his fathers farm, provided for the
good brother who stayed at home by an
appointment to fourth class post-ofice.
] know some of the ''boys" VINO have
made almost as wonderful a record as
that.
A Citadel boy would never have gone
sneaking home jR~xasa and tatters:
whining ds.sdding crocodile tears
He we1id have pulled himself together
redeemed his mistakes, and when he
went back hone, gone with his head
I'D, like man. If he had to become
as a "hired servant and fed 90 husks.
he would have gore as far away from
home as possible, changed his name,
and not disgraced bis family by ad-
hitting that be was miserable failure.
THE CITADEL.
It would be presumption for me 10
the presence of men, grown gray 10 the
service Of the Citadel, to say much
concerning it's history aud work. Per
nit nae, however, to briefly allude to
its genesis, because in its original cou-
ception. it is closely related to few
thoughts that | will express later.
Col. j. P. Thomas, 10 his elegant
;otoroet;no