Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-06-14
Marietta College and Something Of
Its Work,

Mr.. President, Members OF Une
Alumni, FNriends-1ue Alumni of Ma
rietta college are loyal body of men
and women. 1 suppose that today, all
over this land the thoughts of our
brothers are turned 10 this place and
II they were able to obey the voices of
the past, the voices of desire and the
voics of affection which have been call
ing to Them the hast week there would
tonight be few absent faces of alumni
from this gathering.
This is a day in part dedicated to the
memories of bhe past-to the recollec-
tion of other days OF Marietta College
not that we may forget the present or
the needs of the future; but that the
recalling of the pleasures and benefits,
perhaps of THE griefs and failures, of
our college days and for our college
friends, may give zest to present en-
joyments and future aspirations, as
well as inspirations. 1t is also a day
dedicated TO renewed pledges of love
and fealty to our institution, to a con-
sideration of those needs which we
find here and to the part we may bear
in giving Marietta the greatest success
in doing THE best work demanded of
the American college. 1t could not be
but both "a pleasure and an honor to
be selected to speak to you on such a
day. Let 1t be understood, however,
OF this address it hardly rises 10 the
dignity of an oration. 1t is a talk from
one alumnus to his fellows and those
friends who are such welcome guests
in our household and who join with us
in our interest in alumni day and in
the college. To do Justice to the most
appropriate subject for this occasion
one pertaining to the college and her
work or her graduates-your speaker
should be frequent visitor here and
so in close touch with the college and
alumni. Unfortunately all are not
able to De frequent visitors,
Marietta is small College. Her
work has always been carried on in un-
ostentaltiOus manner, and under the
difficulties which are ever present with
the institution with an inadequate en-
dowment. We OF the alumni believe,
however that the work has been well
done, and that few if any colleges sur
pass ours in efficiency and character.
Few Of us would be willing to have
missed the training we had here. Few
would choose another institution if
their college days were to be lived ov-
er We are proud of Marietta's name,
we love the college and shall continue
to do so. The class of 1880, of which
l was a member, was one of the small
classes Of its time 1t was not a dis
tinguished class; it has given to the
college and to the country no shining
lights. Its surviving members in all
the years since their graduation have
done the duties of life. II they have
brought no fame, they have brought no
reproach upon the college, and have
proved in some degree worthy TO bear
Marietta's name. This, take it, ap-
plies TO most of the classes of the col
lege, early and later The period of
nineteen years has witnessed many
changes in the college. Perhaps a ref
erence to some of them will offer a
suggestion as to the growth of the in
sthtution, some proof of the fact that
Marietta adapts herself to the needs
and the duties OF the times which are
present and which are at hand.
Some one has said that the old day;
are always best" Perhaps not. A
portlon of our lives is taken up With
dreams-dreams Of the past. the crea
lures of memory; dreams of the future
the offspring of hope. To the youth, a.
he dreams of hOnOrs and wealth anC
love, the futre days may seem fairei
and sweeter. But for US, for today
with awakened memories, there are M
days like the old days What splen
did institution and town were her
when we were in college! How pleas
amt profitable the years we spent il
them! What good Fellows we had TO
class mates in our societies! What al
unequalled faculty, rich with the pres
eRce of men whose names cannot de
part from Marlettal How exeellen
everything!
Today there Is the same college, ye
how dlfterentl The faculty has chang
ed, decidedly; a new generation OF stu
dents 'has come upon the scene. TIL
campus has put on different appear
ahce There Is a new arrangement G
the walks which somewhat confuse
those OF MS who get here but seldom
The old college pump Is no longer TO b
seen. The magnificent elms and ma
Piles have grown in beauty; uheold AGA
denny building has long since disap