The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-08
WAS A RED LETTER DAY
Commencement Exercises at the
State University.
Mr.. DURSTON'S ADDRESS
THE Average Man" Was His Theme
and 1t Was Given Scholarly
Treatment - The De-
grees Conferred.

Missoula, June This has been a
red-letter day in the history of the
State university. The commencement
exercises this morning were perfectly
five that received degrees was the larg-
est that the university has graduated;
the commencement address is pro-
nounced by all who listened to it to
have been scholarly and profound: and
to help out the weather department
furnished a perfect day. The trains &C
yesterday afternoon. last night and this
morning brought to Missoua many Wis
itors from other parts of the state to
witness the commencement exercises,
and the townspeople turned out in
splendid style. The audience that filled
the university hall was large one and
was representative of the intelle ctuaI
and refined people of the city and
state. Among the list of distinguished
visitors in the city to-day have been;
John r. ToOle, j. H. Durston and Mrs.
Durston of Anaconda; E. A. Carleton,
state superintendent of public instruc-
ton. of Helena; Hon. H. H. Grant of
Hamilton and Hon. o. F. Goddard Of
Billings. representing the state board OF
education; w. w. McCrackin of Ham
ilton, j. NJ. Hamilton. the local mem
Der of the state board of education, and
others.
The hall was we'll filled when the ex-
erciSes began at II o'clock this morn
ing. On the platform were the repre-
sentatives of the state board of educa-
ton, the local university board, the
faculty of the university, the members
of the graduating class and a portion
of Missoula county's legislative delega-
ton.
The programme opened with a piano
solo by Miss Sadie Beckwith, after
which Rev. c. H. Linley of the Epis-
copal church delivered the nvocatO on.
Then followed a delightful solo by Miss
Herndon, which was received with gem
erous applause.
President Craig then introduced j. H
Durston of Anaconda, as the speaker
of the day and announced his theme to
be THE Average Man" Mr.. Durston
spoke for more than an hour but his
audience did not weary, SC interesting
was his address. He said that he had
selected his theme, not because the uni
VerSlty graduate is the repl sentative
OF the average man, but to show how
much above the average man the uni
Versity graduate should be- He began
by contrasting the average Englishman
of 200 years ago with the average man
of to-day. The term, the average man,
is between the two radical extremes of
wealth or education on one hand and
pauperism and ignorance on the other.
He is the man who keeps the world
moving by his methodical work and his
application to his business. He is bet
ter off now than he has ever before
been in the history of the world. But
the university man has opportunities
far beyond those of the average man.
1t is to intellectual effort that all Of
the worlds progress is due. 1t is the
duty of the university man to render
good account of his stewardship. When
man of high intellectual attachments
fails, the fall is the most ptiable spec
tacle that the world presents.
Mr.. Durston closed his address with
some eloquent and pleasing words 20
the members of the graduating class
On behalf of the past graduates of the
university, who have advanced along
the march of life. he extended to them
the hand of comradeship and bade
them welcome and asked Gods bless
ing upon them.
Perhaps the most effective portion OF
this address, all of which was intensely
interesting, was the speakers charac-
terization of Coils P. Huntington
whose recent utterances against educa-
ton have attracted SO much attention
The sarcasm was keen and the position
of the grasping millionaire was shown
in its true light. Had it not been for
the educated man, Mr.. Huntington
would have no railway to operate
At the conclusion of Mr.. Durston's
address, Miss Harding rendered a
pleasing vocal solo. President Craig
then, in brief remarks presented the
diplomas and conferred the degrees
upon the members of the graduating
class, and the masters degree upon
Earl Douglass B. S. tAmes). The in
sigma of their degrees We're placed
upon the shoulders of the recipients by
Prof. Scheuch. secretary of the faculty
Miss Tremblay played a violin solo
after which President Craig called upor
State superintendent Carleton anf
Hon. Q. F. Goddard, who responded
briefly and paid high compliments tc
the state university. The benedictior
was pronounced by Rev. Mr.. Linley ant
the audience spent some time in the i'll
spection of the buildings. The day was
the most eVentful and the pleasantast
In the history of the university.