The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-06-05
THE CLASS DAY EXERCISES.
Presentation Of Statue. Addresses by Hons
Locke Craig and A. nj. Scales
snecial to News and Observer

Locke Craig and A. NJ Scales.
Special to News and Observer.)
Chapel Hill, N C., June 4.-The ex-
ercises began this morning at $50 with
prayer in the University Chapel by Dr.
Thomas Hume Then followed the
adjournment to Gerrard's Hall, the ad-
dress of welcome was delivered in a
most graceful and genial manner by
D. Nj. Swink, president of the class.
The history of the class was then
given by w. B. Spears, the historian,
and the prophecy by W. H. Swift, it's
prophet. After this the last will and
testament of the class was read by F.
B. Rankin The contributions of these
young men showed careful preparation
and We're received with marked express
sions of approval.
At this point followed one of the most
enjoyable features of the day This
was the presentation by the class of a
statue of Minerva to the University.
The statue is from cast of marble
Minerva in the Vatican at Rome. 1t
is seven feet six inches in height and
helmet-crowned The presentation
speech was made in most eloquent
terms by Eben Alexander Jr., and the
speech of acceptance in behalf of the
trustees was delivered by Hon. A. NJ
Scales.
3 The speech of Mr. Scales was a schol-
arly and classical address and was
greatly enjoyed 1t was followed by the
brilliant and mastery effort of Hon.
Locke Craig to the Alumni. (Mr.
Craigs speech is published in full on
the third page)
Mr.. Scales said in part:
Several thousand years ago, there
might have been witnessed in the Eternal
City a scene very similar to the one in
which we are now actors. In the great
annual festival Of Minerva, occurring in
March, it was the custom of the students
to present to their teachers a Gift called
the Minerval. and almost every school
had it's cast of the head-sprung goddess
SO while the facts of history forbid
that this University or the Senior class
should claim credit for originality in so
pleasing a CUSTOM or in the selection of
this most appropriate gift, yet as law
yers say. they have for both a most an
cient and honorable precedent.
The freshman or sophomore classes
might have presented the statue of Venus
or even of Bacchus, but never of Pallas.
Athene, for unless they have changed
since my college days, they know no law
but are a law unto themselves, and
therefore cannot value precedent. And
that moves me to remark that it takes
wise men, as are our seniors, to know
when to follow precedent, for when we
learn this, we are on middle ground be-
tween the marshy sound on the one hand
and the breakers on the ether, the sem
sible conservative mean between intel
lectual rut and slavery on the. one side,
and iconoclasm and anarchy on the other.
mot a great while ago a distinguished
North Carolinian said to me that in his
opinion there had not been a free thought
in North Carolina for thirty years. This
remark has given me much food for
thought-whether free or not, ! have not
yet determined, 1t is quite interesting
to analyze test and measure a thought
after you have succeeded in thinking one
to see whether or not it is free one, but
the result is very unsatisfactory, for it
depends so largely upon what standard
cf mea surement you use.
Il cannot advise the beginning of such
tests, fer it is a most persistent and
hcsetting habit, when once formed
tion Was that free one?' In fact it
makes me feel toward the said dstin-
guished gentleman very much as | have
ever felt toward the author of Punch,
man. punch, punch with care. punch in
the presence of the passengaire.
But while we may not agree with the
opinion expressed by my friend, and while
VIC are all proud of being conservative
State. is it not true that the dead hand
of precedent has held us back in many
things? In many things it is much easier
to do as our fathers did, but If we do
and think only what our fathers did and
thought. we have failed to profit by their
attainments. We ought rather to start
where they stopped. Young men, do not
heed the cry of those who would hinder
the chariot wheels of true progress. They
may ridicule and slander you, they will
certainly grow eloquent in detailing the
better things of the good old days. and
by their hypocritical use of the word
conservative will make it describe vice
instead of virtue Go straight on and
demonstrate to the world that you are
right IN the reform you have initiated
or espoused. and the world. whether
have many opportunities of battling for
the better way. but among many I would
remind you only of two. There are two
movements in North Carolina today in
which we especially rejoice, and which
have become or are becoming popular,
hut the time has been when a politician
was afraid to advocate them because per-
chance taxes might be increased Our
fathers travelled bottomless cow-paths,
dignified by the name of public roads.
Why are they not good enough for us?
Well, it has taken time and patience and
instruction and object lessons to teach
people the difference between crooked
succession of mud -puddles and ruts, and
modern macadamized highway. This
reform did not come full panoplied to the
people, like the daughter of Jupiter, but
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