The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-06-01
JUDGE WINSTON
BEFORE ALUMNI
Sparkle of Humor, Sweet
Sweep of Pathos.
CLASS DAY EXERCISES
A Debate of Great Force and Beauty
on the Question that the National
Government Should Settle Labor
Questions by Compulsory
Arbitration.
Especial to News and Observer


Chapel Hill, n. c., May 31.-This
morning at $50 O'Clock the Senior
class, fifty seven in number, marched
il to the college chapel and there Dr.
Thomas Hume offered the prayer for
the graduating class.
At 1890 a. m. the Seniors formed
in front Of the Alumni building and
marched to Gerard hall preparatory
for the class exercises. They were
preceded by the First Regiment Band
from Richmond, which furnished
music for the commencement.
Then Mr.. S. S. Robins, president
of the class arose and in an easy and
smooth manner, using fitting and elo-
quent language welcomed the audi
ence to the class day exercises. After
which Mr. w. e. Pharr, class historian
read the history of the class, telling
C their singular struggles when fresh
men, and of their glorious achieve
ments in later days.
Mr. c. p. Russell, class prophet,
then read the prophecy of the class,
which no doubt laid the way clear anu
open for many and glorious achieve
ments. Then came Mr.. n. r. Graham,
who read the last will and testament.
In which his document threw much
light upon the inner lives of the boys
of '04.
Judge WinstOn's Address.
Among many other brilliant things,
that made his address one sparkle OF
| beauty, Judge Winston said:
Il am here today not to argue, or
| to convince; to pull down no school of
metaphysics, nor get up any system OF
Latin pronunciation. Today L care
not whether the Temple of Jupiter
| was on the north peak or the south
peak of the Mons Capitoline; Wheth-
| or Scipio Africanus, Minor, was the
son, the adopted son, or the son In
| law of Scipio Africanus Major; Whetn-
e1 the pious Aeneas on the banks OF
| the StyX in the realm of Pluto, really
! attempted Irritation with tne Sdo pdle
| ghost of Dido.
| TODAY | can only open the FLOOD
| gates of memory and let flow the past
! as it ripples or rushes through my
| heart.
"Mr. President the class of 1879
| is with you today. Twenty-Five years
ago, we graduated. l recall the stern
| command which one of your predeceS-
sors gave us on that occasion: go
| forth, win honors and fame, and bring
| them back TO your Alma Mater. l
| met him today on the campus and
| spoke to him of the circumstance. The
/ tone of my voice invited welcome,
| but he said with an air of despair,
Well, / see you have got back 1t
| reminded me of the New England
! father who sent his son out of the
| house one night to bring in an arm
| full of wood. The son left the fam
| ily circle, decided to abandon the
] farm, kept on TO the public road, went
| to a distant State, gained fame and
! fortune was gone for twenty-five
/ years and one night walked IN on the
| family group. The stern New Eng
| lander greeted him with, We'll you
have come back have you? And durn
me if he haint forgot the wood.
Mr. President, the class OF 1873
| was born the same day, the same
| hour. the same minute, the same sec
ond as the new University. If this
| does not make us twins [ am no judge
of such matters. Looking back now
| Sir we see that there was born on
| that memorable day not only the class
of 1879 and the new University, bu'
in reality a new North Carolina.
When our little band of students
and professors gathered together that
September day in Gerard Hall to per-
| form the simple yet solemn and sa-
cred ceremony of thanhfulness to Al