Evening journal., 1901-06-20
COLLEGE BOYS
in MERRY WHIRL
Old Delaware Commencement
Was Most Enjoyable
DAYS GRAFTON WAS BRILLIANT
Alumni Elects Charles N. Curtis Pres
ident-Mr. AIaier Gets Clarke
ChuTchman Prize


Judge James Pennewilrs Grafton before
lthe graduating class yesterday morning
was brilliant one. lie said:
am very glad to have the opportunity
and honor Of speaking TO the friends and
students OF Delaware College. while not
graduate Of this college, I am neverthe-
less . !esis ssaTvaii, pfuuu OF line splendid
institutions of my own State, and espe-
cally of this historic seat OF learning. IL
has done much for our people In the past,
II viii do vet greater and better rhlngs
la the future The best evidence of the
good work that Delaware College has ne
com plished in the past is found la the
t.Yes ana characters OF those who have
gone out from these halls to engage In the
ierious battles of life. IL would mani
festly be improper for me TO discriminate.
or o'dompt 10 call the roll OF the most dis
tinguished ana worthy OF her sons. 1t Is
sufficient 10 say that In every profession.
and In almost every occupation OF life
they have not only made enviable repu-
tations Tor themselves. but have also re-
iiecsed great credit upon their alma mater
and rich honors upon their State.
A college commencement ought 10 be a
gala season. time Of JOY. The tension
OF study, close appl cation and hard work
are relaxed and over for awhile, and lhe
spirit of youth and early manhood SHOULD
3e gladstone and free. IL Is not only a re-
spite from the daily grind, but a resting
place-a breathing spell-between the
miniature world that lies between college
walls aud the greater world that les just
beyond II Is the Immediate present divid-
Ing the narrow and familiar past from the
wide ana unknown future
Whenever ! participate in exercises IN
cident 20 such an occasion. cannot but be
strongly Impressed with the fact that Il
II one Of unspealeable Importance to those
who are bidding farewell 20 the dear old
college days, and looking forward with
brave hearts ana bright hopes to the
sterner and harder times that are vel 20
be In that mysterious and unfathomahle
future what is there in store for you?
shall your lives. precious IN themselves
and more than dear TO loving hearts at
homo. DE a success or failure? ] want 10
say TO you that whether thoy shall be
the one or the other win depend almost
entirely upon yourselves. have no pa
Hence with the idea that is all too preva-
lent IN the world to-day. that success is
more the result OF accident or chance
than OF effort and worth.
II would be perhaps strictly in accord
ance with custom for me 70 dwell upon the
almost inseparable difficulties that lie In
the way OF success. and tell you that few
succeed while very many faiL But know
that what the young man starting out IN
life most requires is to be encouraged
rather than depressed, held up rather than
cast down. AS he turns his face toward
the dawn Of the new day. the new life, his
brow needs to be bathed In the clear and
cheering light Of the morning sun. and his
heart strengthened by the healthful and
bracing thorght n I do my best / cannot
idll Permit me 10 say, for your encourage
ment' ghat II any one having had advan-
iages such as yours, be blessed with res-
sonabic health, brain and opportunity.
ANA Is Industrious honest, brave and true
he must and will succeed
am not here for the purpose OF del yer
Ing literary address. I take for granted
you have had quite enough OF literature
and Kindred subjects for awhile. And NJ
aasume that your mental and moral oqulp-
ment and training are sufficient for the
work and duties that you will undertake
nave no doubt you have. so far NJ least
as Is ord narily DONE mastered these sub
Jects which you have pursued during the
college days. What / want 70 impress
upon your minds now. 4 can. Is not the
Importance OF the mastery OF books. but
the absolute importance OF the mastery OF
self.
Great and pre-eminent as Is man In some
respects, Il Is amazing how small he some
mes appears. There are times when we
are almost overwhelmed with conscious
ness OF our own comparative littloness.
and Of our brief and feeting existence In
comparison with some Of the grand ana
durable works OF nature In the stiffness
or the night, and under the breathless
heavens. we gaze upon the star lecked
above, and the half spoken words |
are checked upon the lips by the solemn
grandeur Of the view We stand at ahe
base Of the towering. snow-capped noun
tain, and are lost In the reflection. TINT
while generations OF men have come ana
gone the steadfast mountain range and
peak have remained unchanged through
centuries OF the past Sometimes when s l.
lnS on the shore Of the ocean. and listen
Ing to the measured monotone OF the rest
less waves that seem TO moan the requiem
Df the past, the mind is almost staggered
With the thought-what great events have
happened, what ,epochs passed. and how
nuch Of the worlds thrilling history has
zen wiitton since the waters have washed
hose very shores.
Self reflections I say W n sometimes i'm
'ress Us with a sense OF our own Iittleness.
But IL has been said There Is nothing
;reat In this world but man. and nothing
'reat in man but mind"
II is true thai. through the intelligence
nergy and ingenuity OF man the mountain
anse has been tunnelled the worlds ]
commerce floats upon the bosom Of the :
ea, and the astrology OF the past has
a. NJ. Ft..ss a n L.,