Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1901-06-26
tho Senator'S hoart must have been filled
with pride to-day at tho reception given

much in South Carolina. He was the
Of Clemson and has fought for
hor good, always being her unwavering
friend.
Senator Tillman was at his best. He
said in part
"Tho evil which men do livos after
thom tho good is often inferred with
their bones" There has boon more of
OWL in my lifo than good. II 1 have
been tho founder of Clemson it Is great
honor. But do not wish to indulge in
any self laudation. have no desire to
claim to be the founder of Clemson, but
| have given it from its foundation my
hearticst support. Wherever go am
proud when SEQ ono Of these caps with
to mo. Ho did claim to be the founder
of the school for our girls. This state
ment was met with hearty approval. No
other State can compare with South Ca
rolina in schools supported by tho State.
What docs commencement mean What
is it that is about to commence or who is
it These men of tho senior class are
the contingent who are about to oom-
mcnco. You have struggled for your
say now l have put away childish things.
| am q man.
Tho Senator spoke of his method of
preparing speeches. If have ever said
anything good l never have written it
before OF after. IIo spoke of editing of
tho speeches of Congressman, showing
how all their errors were corrected. He
illustrated by telling how tho venerable
Senator Pettus once said: "Whar do you
got any sich authority2" don't know
how to polish up my sentences in gilt
tering way and l am glad I've never
tried. If am an orator was born that
way and don't deserve bit of credit for
it. l could preach around here for q
week if sinner like mo should be
allowed to preach:
|. What arc Ye ?
2. What do we know
). What can you do
4. What arc you going to try to do
That is subject broad enough. I am
going to put some literary i'll it, but
want to talk common sonso.
What arc you =? We all soon learn the
beginning of life; We SEQ it's various
stages; but when we ask where arc we
we arc brought face to face with u mys-
tory.
What are We We arc brought here
without our consent. We are carried
away without our consent.
What do we know You answer All
that tho Professors at Clemson think l
ought to know to got diploma. But
what do you know !? Very little. You
don't know yourself yct. You may
mold clay into brick, but tho burning
must bo continued or it will turn to clay
again.
Isaac Newton after unfolding many of
natures mysteries felt that ho was but
shore of knowledge. You have had
"stickablity' enough to got a diploma,
but you must continue or in ten years
you will not be different from tho man
who dropped out from the freshman
class. 1t is wcll for mo to hold up tho
glass before you and let you see your
selves as others sec you. You must
investigate, solidify and harden tho
knowledge, you have tho tools now.
you cease to use them like tho saw or
tho plane they will rust. Your brains
must be used. In order to write and
speak lluently this grand old English
tongue you must begin systematic
course Of reading. You can't learn it
from studying dictionaries or books Of
synonyms. You must read, 1t is n
great accomplishment to bo ablo to use
the right words in the right place. 1t is
said you know very little and | re-
peat it, and if you don't continue to
study you will soon know less. You'll
go down to tho grave "unwept, union
orcd and unsnng." Shall wo go down
iifo'S i stream doing good or striving for
You arc different from any other
graduates in South Carolina. While
your brain has been trained your hands
something, thing that was ten years
ago thought unnecessary. | am proud
that there is Il demand for Clemson
graduates. Every man from this institl,-
ton that have helped to put on n round
of the ladder has had the grit to hold his
place and climb up higher. Tho ninety
nine strive by fair means or foul to get
to the top of tho oder where tho hun
drcdth man stan -.
ton OF these banbles of wealth or posi-
tion, or is it the life given to doing good,
devoted to tho welfare of State ? If |,
looking back over my life. felt that had
ever been bought, that had ever been
gagged, would not feel worthy to stand
before you this morning.
True success lies in making tho best
use of those faculties which God has
given you and reaching that station in
life which true worth will give. In a
moral sense it means to keep your soul
free from splotchcs, so that your con
science will not lash you as you toss on
your bed at night. And though You may
30 through life without becoming Il
Millionaire, robbing your follow
man, according to all religious teachings,
your state will be better than that OF tho
rich robbcr.
The Bible says that it is not good for
was youngstcr. SO he made woman
II it were not for woman would clear
out from this old world.
Some of yon say you are notable.
Adam and Eve didn't wait to get ready.
They hitched up and started out. Tho
woman is the one to decide about that
question of ability. You want to have q
purpose in life. don't mean making
money. That is easy. I'll give you Ar
tennis Wards receipt, 1t never fails.
Rise early, work hard and late. Live
on what yon can't SELL Then you'll die
rich and go to -" I'c n man; your
own owner, not afraid to stand out and
speak your thoughts.
Men who have grown wealthy have
grown conservative. They loso ther
manhood and lose their influence for
good We arc in danger of central
lied government at Washington run in
the interests of the classes. know how
tho wheels run and where they have
o0oh ~ cnHcu WIFI ollOcTy. l nave DOaSt-
ingly said before all kinds of audiences
throughout the land that tho South is
the only true American section of our
country and they have chcered mo to
the echo although | was assuming q
superiority. Many of our bcst mon arc
foreigners, but there arc thousands up
North who cannot speak our language.
| have said enough to you, young men,
to keep you thinking u month, but you
arc going to dance it all away Monday
night