The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-07-31
The Golden Mouthed Orator Closes
the College Exercises.
HON. JOHN w. KERN DELIVERS
THE ADDRESS TO THE GRAD
UATEs-THE CLOSE OF THE
EIGHTH ANNUAL SESSION A
GRAND SUCCESS SPLENDID
TRIBUTE 10 PROF. ECKERLE
BY THE DISTINGUISHED
SPEAKER.

W.
The eighth annual session of the Ma
tional Business College closed last night
at the Academy of Music before n mag
nificent audience. The graduates occu-
pied the boxes and the main floor and
balcony were filled with people.
After an invocation by Rev. Thos. J.
Shipman, Hon. Jonn w. Kern, of In
dianapclis, Ind, was introduced by Prof
Eckerle and he delivered the address to
the graduates. Mr.. Kerns was tc have de-
'ivered this address the night before but
failed to make connections and did not
reach Roanoke until yesterday moi ming
His address was able, patriotic and full OF
good advice to the graduating class. All
who heard it cannot help being bene-
fitted by the words of wisdom and the
advice rendered on the occasion Mr.
Kern's address was listened to with the
deepest interest by the vast audience
present. and the graduates themselves
showed their appreciation by manifesting
the keenest possible interest.
At the close of this address Prof
Eekerle came forward and in few we'll
chosen words introduced Col Geo. W.
Balm, OF Kentucky, as the orator of the
evening who would lecture upon the sub
ject, "Boys and Girls, Nice and Naughty,
or the Pendulum of IIife'
The Colonel began by paying tribute
to his audience. He said that he was
from the Blue Grass region of Kentucky
where they bad the handsomest women
in the world and the best looking men ON
earth, and he declared that his audience
looked just ike Il blue grass audience
He spoke of Virginia and paid splendid
tribute to the Old Dominion as being the
home or his father. Colonel Baiu's ad.
dress was unique, besides being thoroughly
practical. 1t was one that appealed to
the best instincts in a mans nature, and
made all who had the good fortune to
hear him feel that they were in the pres
ence of and listening to one OF natures
nohlemen.
He said that he would speak mostly
about the age which lies between that OF
IL year old hoy and his own which he
afterwards declared to be So.
The speaker Intervene with the sub
Ject on which he spoke the safe side of
life, on account of the large number of
young men in the college. He pointed
out the breakers to he encountered along
life's channels and declared that chief
among them was idleness and quoted
the scriptural injunction, "By the sweat
of thy face shalt thou eat bread" After
appealing to the boys not to be lazy, he
NNN'Ai NJ ohNo OllC Illiu Ut woman WHO
lives in this age of the world and lives in
idleness should have been born in some
other age. When OK teams crcpt across the
plains and stage coaches went five miles
an hour idleness may have been in some
Kind of harmony with the age, but
now when I2an takes breakfast one
day in New York, dinner next day in
Chicago and supper next day out on the
plains, when telephones and telegraph
seEd news faster than light flies, when
cotton picked from the stalk one dav and
made into n suit Of clothes the next, the
idler is out of place. He is born too
die too late" daughter Carlyle says,
1.-The race of life has become intense.
The runners are treading on each others
heels. Woe be to the man who stops to
tie his shoe strings
BY an old ancient law founded on idle
ness the greatest success of the world
have been based. On this Abraham Lin
coin stood splitting rails and wedged
himself to the highest Office in the gift of
the republic. On this Shakespeare stood
weaving wool, and wove for himself a
fame immortal. On this James A. Gar
held tramped Il toe path with no conn any
put an honest mule, but that toepath led
In to the White House in Washington.
(Applause) DO not be lazy. l saw n
man once who really looked so lazy that
it seemed to rest me to look at him.
AT this Juncture of his address Col.
BAN referred to Prof. Eckerle, President
Oh the National Business College, in
manner which showed the speakers
thorough appreciation of the man. He
requested his audience to pardon him for
making the personal reference he was
going to make. He said that when he
nrst met the president of this college
that 1t was in the fer West. He was then
Struggling for an education, poor, and
having been reared in log cabin, was
working himself through college. He
said 81 now find him at the head of n
college of young men and women to the
number OF two hundred. With the same
VIII indelibly stamped on his brow
tnat characterized his younger days and
which will yet make the membership of
his college seven hundred"
In his illusions to his youth the
speaker said:. 81 would not rob Won of
the ideal visions of youth but l would
have you appreciate the responsibilities
OF man, for whom the sun shines,
bree2es blow. flowers bloom, the ele-
ments OF whose body makes him the
epitome OF the universe and the elements
OF whose soul is linked with the eternal
In speaking of the pleasures of life he
said: II have no desire 70 take from the
young innocent-pleasures would null
tiply these pleasures and have you dress
nicely, but remember one of the saddest
scenes on the streets of this great city to-
night Is that young man whose clothes
are finest in quality, but whose principles
are dilapdated. There are young men
around us tonight by hunureds who
would not enter the company of young