The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-06-10
Young Men Receive Diplomas
at A. and M. College.
CLOSE OF co INFRINGEMENT
DIPLOMAS PRESENTED BY GOV
RUSSELL.
THE RECEPTION AND DANCE
Prizes Awarded by Secretary OF State
Thompson--Orato and Theses
by Members of the Graduating
Class--The Honor 70 !.

CIass--The Honor Ro !.
Annual commencement exercises of the
North Carolina College of Agriculture
and Mechanical Arts We're brought to
a close last night with a brilliant and
largely attended reception by the faculty,
the students and the board of trustees.
The buildings were brilliantly lighted
and beautifully decorated for the occa-
sion, and everywhere the colors of the
college (red and white) were intertwined
with the green foliage and fragrant flow
ers.
The reception was from to IL and af-
ter that there was dancing until l
O'Clock. Thus ended in brilliancy and
merry-making the most successful year
in the remarkable history of this fine
institution. It's growth has been wonder
full
The graduating exercises yesterday
morning We're announced to begin at IL
o'clock, but it was half an hour after
that time when the Governor, who had
been selected to deliver the diplomas,
arrived, and the graduating class, faculty
and board of trustees came in and took
their seats upon the rostrum.
AS is usual at the A. and Nj. College,
because of the small auditorium, stand
ing room was at a premium, and red
and white ribbons and rich bouquets
could be seen everywhere.
The programme began with a short
speech of welcome by President Holla-
day and AN invocation by the Rev. James
A. Weston, ID.
ADDRESS BY GRADUATES.
- II. -.
and after a selection by the orchestra,
came the graduating addresses-fve in
number.
The first speaker was Mr.. Walter
Jones McLendon. Jr., of Wadesboro,
Arson count Burns Influence on the
Growth of Government by the People"
was his subject.
The greatness of man, he said, could
be truly measured by the rate at which
it grows as the years roll ON. Measured
by this standard the bard of Scotland
becomes easily one of the foremost men
of the world. His fame as an author
has stood the test, but no less pro-
nounced in his patriotism and his de-
mocracy. From the people, of the peo-
pie, through him the common people take
on a new glory, democracy new mean
ing. The common things of this world
under his touch turn to the true gold. He
it was that first declared that the honest
man was the king of men and proclaimed
the new doctrine that there was no rea-
son to hang ones head for honest pow
erty and a that.
what tho on namely fare we dine,
Wear hoddin gray, and a that?
Gle fools their silks, and knaves their
wine,
A mans man for a that
For a. that, and a that,
Their tinsel show and a that;
The honest man, tho e'er sac poor,
Is king o. men for a that"
1T is such lines that burned their way
into the hearts of his c0untrymen and
wrought his name in the scroll of fame
A copy of Burns poems and the Holy
Bible lie side by side ON the shelf OF
every Scotchman. Both teach the same
great gospel-the equality and brother
hood of man. In Burns 'Cotter's Satur
day Night is the greatest tribute ever
paid to the peasantry of any country
His thoughts have become the warp anf
wool of Scottish thought. His words have
flown like flower seeds over his native
hills and they have produced great
nation
Mr.. Albert Hicks Oliver, Of Noun
Olive, Wayne county, spoke about 9Th.
New Agriculture" He said there is to
day the new modern in almost, every
thing except agriculture, and now the
time has come when even the farmer
must awake and seek to improve hi:
mode of labor and economy of time ane
energy. Brain must be mixed with brawI
in the corn-feld as well as in the count
ing house or giant factory.
Land is becoming limited in quantity
and high in price as the population of the
world grows, and something must be-
done to increase the productiveness Of
what is availa BILE to the small farmer
Science must be called in and aid il
pushing forward the work which art and
simple toll can no longer accomplish.
Farming, more than any other calling
in life, gives opportunity for the use-tht
practical and profitable use-of all the
sciences. He needs to know chemistry
botany, geology, biology and the whole
catalogue of science. He may never know
them all, but if he does he will find gooC
use for Them The farmer ought TO be-
one of the best educated men in the land
Why should there not b. special train
ing for farmers as there is for the law
yer or doctor. The condition of the farm
er today is bad, the discomfort is great
and various reasons have been assigned
for it, but one reason that is not Otter
spoken of, though it is the greatest ant
most potent reason of all-lgnolnnce
The farmer tolls long and late, but finds
himself growing steadily poorer and al
because he does not work intelligently.
The Best is Yet to BE" was the sub
ject of the Grafton delivered by Mr.
Joseph Lawrence knight, of Mildred
Edgecombe county. lie spoke of tht
giant strides made by modern science il
the past century, but predicted that the
best was yet to come and that what W.
now know is but an intimation of wha
we may vet find ont and achieve