Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1902-07-03
GRAFTON
pELavkRED sY
Col WILLIAM II. KILGOUR.
AT THE
cannsnesnsnt q chsrlelts Hall ssAed,
.Jaa< ~. 1909.
GRAFTON


kr. Rnesifemf aad Geafleas<s of ne
Ainmni dissertation n Caarfoffe Han
School - II requires no ordinary de-
gree of moral courage - stand up In
the presence u n audisnce that has
been entorsaincd. C. - sszz1 four
days BY such brilliant and eloquent
torrent OF speech as that the echoes
Of which are still falling around this
hall. Be this as IL may, cherish
the pride that my ancestors were
natives, TO mannerlborn, Graded in
its atmosphere, reared upon this
soil, drank deep from the waters
which came gushing from it's every
hill side, sparkling with health and
beauty, and growing to manhood.
started out on the white and whirl-
ing sea OF life armed with letters
credentials" from this venerable and
hallowed institution and, 70 some
extent, ] possess one of the charac-
teristics Of my ancestors-a brave
and daring heart.
Mr.. President, l cannot express
to you or to this audience, through
the medium of words, how extreme
ly pleasing it is 70 me TO be present
upon so interesting and charming
an occasion. feel deeply the marked
manner with which YOU have been
pleased 70 greet my name. particu-
larly when ] see around me so many
distinguished personages, and so
numerous an assemblage OF the rep
resentative manhood of tie ancient
and honored Commonwealth OF Ma
ryland.
A statesman of the last generation
declared his willingness to let 9TH
ers make the laws if he might write
the ballads of his country. Feel
ing in the midst of this distinguish
ed gathering that I am but a link
connecting the past with the pres
ent, I would have others. now with
US, far more gifted than / TO speak
OF the gigantic and marvellous devel-
opments Of the present age, the NIGH
ty and startling emergencies which
seem ever TO confront US, or some
softer and more pleasing theme, so
that with me be left the privilege of
telling today of the memories OF 9TH
er days. Who has forgotten them ?
Alas! Who does not remember P
for drift as we may ON the swiftest
billow of tomorrow. we are never
out Of the sight of yesterday.
Reaching the classic shades OF yon-
der historic campus q day or two
since
"A feeling Of sadness comes Ger me
That my sOHi cannot resist:
A feeling If sadness aad longing
That Is not akin TO pain,
But resembles sOrrOU only
As the mist resembles rain"
Rooted for q few moments to the spot
that had been the altar Of so many
hopes, doubts and fears; as the Oc-
cident grew brilliant with the royal
colors Of the setting sun. | rambled
some distance into the no less clas-
sic and picturesque surroundings,
and oh 4 what q troop OF memories
Of other days came falling DER me
and around me like eath-shades
stealing DER an old man s soul, or
the shadows Of the evening creep
ing slowly down the mountain sides
as the day dies out and the evening
star goes up on the watch, gently,
carefully. folded them one after the
other, and have brought them here
with nothing original save the rib
bons with which they are tied.
Other days. Their guileless pleas
ures steal like shadows o. 'er my mind:
Come their memories,
Whispering, melodies,
Teliiag of lte's lost treasures,
Golden ruins strescR behind"
To those who have passed the "sere
end yellow leaf" or have reached that
period when the fierce and angry
waves Of life have subsided, and that
splendid calm which fingers along
the fading twilight is throwing its
softening influence, like benediction
after prayer, then indeed memory
comes bubbling up from the billowy
bosom Of the past to tell of other days
as they grew. in beauty, throwing
out their crimson banners as though
TO light up life's seemingly joyous
panorama, oil throbbing with hope
and promise.
Other days, when the flowers
which grew and blossomed around
the hearthssone opened their deli
cate petals under fathers care and
a mothers tender love. How such
hallowed recollections warns the
heart OF those who have successful
ly manned the storm: how encour-
aging TO those who are still strng-
Cling with the maddened waters,
for OF him upon whom the past has
lost hold and that rudder Of memory