The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-06-29
EDMOND 5 YEAR ENDS
Twenty Graduates Receive
Their Diplomas.
ELOQUENT ROY HOFFMAN
Talks Sense to The Class
Growth of the School.

Edmond O. T, June 2s-The most sue
cessfuI year. by far, in the history of the
Territorial Normal school came to an end
last night in the ceremonies which marx
ed the presentation of diplomas to the
twenty young men and women who form
ed the graduating class Of 1905 The &C.
casion was graced by the presence Of
Governor Barnes and Mrs. Barnes, Terri
torial superintendent S. y. HoUkins. Re
gent D. D. Leach and Colonel Roy V.
Hoffman, who made the annual address.
while 800 of Edmond's citizens crowded
into the spacious assembly hall and en-
joyed the excellent musical and literary
program.
Those who finished the course of study
prescribed by the, faculty were: Grace
Evants, w c. Erwin. Magnolia Kart.
Matte Harris, Hubert Ellis, Lydia Hart.
Angie Lynch. o. T. Hayes, L. 2. Green
field, Effie Mcdowell, Catherine Horner,
B. S Haug, Lulu Mcdowell, E. NJ. Frost,
j. G. Incl. Mamie Zingre, f. B. Erwin.
j. NJ. Dale Ollie Barnes.
The commencement program rendered
Barnes" ..........T Turner
Miss Washatella Turner. director Music
Department.
Dance of Fairie' ....................Sm Smart
Ladies Chorus.
Selo-"Happy Days" .Strelezh
Miss Efic Mcdowell.
Annual Address ..................-........
Colonel Roy Victor Hoffman, Chandler.
Solo ......................... Selected
Mrs R. A. Ramsey OF Guthrie
Presentation Of Diplomas -.............
Territorial Superintendent Hopkins.
Selectons-Flute and piano
Miss Turner, Mr.. Briggs.
In addition to the above program re-
marks were made by Governor Barnes,
President Murdaugh and Regent Leach,
all of which were pertinent to the coca
sion and were well received by the large
audience.
The annual address by Colonel Hoff-
man was a stirring piece of diction that
ably sustained the reputation Of the
young orator. Addressing himself TO the
members of the graduating class the
speaker said:
Have the members of this graduating
class fully considered the Importance Of
this step they are taking today? You are
putting aside forever the theory of life
for its practical reality. Have you meas
ured and mapped out this short life and
its possibilities? You are crossing into
the enemys country and burning the
bdiges behind you. I speak Of it as the
enemy's country. for in this crowding,
it--. u az
he gets. And then what We call the
I world is somewhat skeptical of col
lese graduate II will run to meet you,
but it is the welcome of steel trao 1t
will receive you kindly at first but a
doubtful. supercilous smile is twisting
the corners of its grim old mouth. When
you leave the protecting arms Of your
alma mater there will no longer be a
fraternity to cheer you, an asylum 10
cherish you The world looks bright and
fair now; it will be cold and hard enough
after while The voyage upon which you
are embarkirg is periiCus. There are so
many false lights, so many sirens, 50
many sunken rocks. There is so much
fierce competition. and the prizes after
all look rather mean and few. There will
r
seems very shabby. Ay when the heart
IS heavy and the brain is sick-when dis
appointment will sting you-when envy
and malice and spite will smite you-when
chastened and disciplined by sorrow you
may cry out in anguish of spirit in warn
ing and in mockery unto all that life Is
but vanity and folly. If you fall at last
none vii lpause in the mad scramble for
wealth and honor TO drop tear above
you; indeed, II your failure attracts any
attention at all 1t will more likely be the
mark for jest or jeer.
zone difficulty with most college grldu-
ates is the choice Of a profession. If You
( have not already decided on what char
acter you will assume in the world drama
: You must, with a speed, so do. For the
orchestra IS playing. the lights are, on,
/ the audience in the boxes, the manager
impatient When the curtain rises il
vii lthen be too late, for the drop vii
not ring down until the proscenium Of
/ life is shut out forever. Be something
more than supernumeary or a property
man II you cannot be the central figure,
if YOU cannot fl the stage. at least,
take a worthy part and play it well. If
one could only wait II a choice Of oc-
cupation could only be made at the end OF
life instead Of at the beginning. We have