The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-18
v. ?. |. FINAL
EXERCISES
The Town Of BlaCksburg is
Crowded With Visitors.
BRAXTON'S FINE ADDRESS
He Delivers the Annual Grafton to the
Graduating CIass-Degrees of Mas
tiers Of Science and Bachelors
Of Science Conferred.
fsncclal 70 Tho r,mes. p,spatch. ,

Especial to Tho Times Dispatch.)
BLACKSBURG, VA. June 1.-THE
commencement day exercises at the Fir-
ginia Polytechnic Institute to-day were at
tended by very large crowd The town
and the campus are full Of people, and
hardly more could be accommodated
,rhe feature Of to-day was the splendid
address to the graduating class by Hon.
A. C. Braxton, which was delivered to On
attentive and appreciatve audience.
MIR. BRANTONS SPEECH.
Mr.. Braxton said in part:
Young Gntlemen of the Graduating
Glass, Ladies md Gentlemen, Human ma
ture is prone to measure everything W
itself; Consequently. as wo grow old, as
our powers diminish and our inflrmites
increase. we are prone to think the whole
T ns to ba osy IL sc6
veterans. fearful for the future welfare
of our country. l would recommend an
occasional review Of the neW trpors snn
that, with the sight of such vigorous. IN
tellgent. and splendid young manhood as
l now see before me In this assembly,,
no man could ever despair OF the COM
monwealth.
In such presence he could but. SEQ
for himself that. In spite OF what all the
old fOBieS and croakers may say to the
contrary, and Notwithstanding the great
virtues and achievements Of our glorious,
ancestors who died in honors lofty bed"
the aspiring and persistent American ma
tion Is still avancing its high standards
Of Individual efficiency.
. But it is well, my friends, that nature
sponsibilities Of American citizenship are
not lightly to be borne, The appointed
place Of our great country Is In the van
ton viii it soon depend DIOR for The ' nainten-
ance OF Its exalted position.
Never forget your responsibilities as
and as sovereign American citizens. and
see to 1t that neither race nor country
over suffers dlssredit through, you.
ssa Peeesty v 70 the op
portunties; therefore. IT Is a solemn
thing to belong to nation specially IA
NOT .LAURELs.
The diplomas which you have obtained
here are not laurels upon which you may
rest. but rather certificates Of your fit
ness for service, yet to come, In the front
ranks OF that great struggle which for
countless ages has been bcqueathed by
each generation to its successor. SEQ to
broad field Of battle does not belle your
certificates nor disappolnt the just expec-
tations Of your friends.
Is the spur to modern progress, and the
increased struggle for existence has
caused this to DO the most practical Of all
What the world now demands is ideas
What It needs most IRE men who do
buIH6S 'IdlIcTtp Iuull men VINO DOSe-Inen
who help artl'er than men who entertain
constructors rather than critics-artisans
rather than artists. How much more Inn
on in the world now than what Vent T on
two thousand years ago, and to UNDER
stand how things are done now. rather
them-to be able to do them ourselves
rather than to learn how others do
them.
However great his natural abilities,
la m a n " n f1DtJe 1,.c ON
thing In this world is the workngman.
You sometimes hear discussion as to
whether Sneta n,os doctors, LAWYERS merchants,
Of men. work the hardest. My friends.
there Is no legitimate calling In the world
In which man can succeed without
self to death. If he will Show me a sue
cessful man in any walk of life, and I
will show you hard.workng man; The
ponds upon the inspiration Of tho mo-
ment. accomplishes nothing in this world
but an occasional sensation and ultimate
Caesar. Newton and Shakespeare were
equally great workers. In fact. true ge-
capacity fR1 pffsep5Ns9AtTEquH R EGsk Law
Work Is natures law. II YOU wish to
to to Be- hal happy and eonttented work; il You
wish to help yourself, work; II you wish
to help others. work: II you wish to
work: If you wish to have the confidence
and respect Of your neighbors. work: II
you wish to be prosperous work: and
when you do not know what else to do,
turn In and work.
DO not work yourself to death. or try
to do everything at once, but work ear-
nestly and steadily. and you will surely
be rewarded. even though You have moth
Ing to show for It but the testimony OF
good conscience and a sense OF duty
peace'
Remember. then. that 1t is work, and
not luck that brings success, and tina t
great deeds are accomplished by persist
emit labor rather than by Inspiration.
'The heights great men have reached and
kept
We're not attained by sudden flight;
But they while their ompanions slept,
Were tolling upward through the night
It is said to have been one Of the dis
| tinguishing characteristics OF the ancient
| .