The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-01
Commencement Over at
A. & M. College.
ANNUAL ADDRESSES
Degrees Conferred in Agricultural, En-.
cheering, Textile and Industrial
Chemistry Courses---Announce.
ment of H0n0rs--.IndustriaI
Prizes.
Prizes.

The sixteenth annual commence
ment was observed at the North Caro-
lima College of Agriculture and Me-
chanic Arts yesterday morning. The
exercises were held in Pullen Audito-
rum, and the spacious hall was filled
with students and friends of the col
lege. The college band dispensed at
intervals delightful music, and the ex-
cellent weather augmented the pleas
ure of the occasion. There were forty
graduates, these being from the four
department courses in the school, Ag-
riculture. Engineering, Textile Indus
try and Industrial Chemistry.
The exercises began at IL O'Clock,
and on the platform. were DR.. George
/. Winston, president of the A. and
NJ. College; the faculty, the five MEM
bers of the graduating class who were
to deliver orations; the State Board
of Agriculture, Rev. r. F. Bumpass,
d. D., and Rev. w. c. Tyree, d. d.
The invocation was made by DR..
Bumpass, who prayed for spiritual in
spiration for the young men beginning
the labors of life, and to make them
ready for a noble destiny.
In introducing the orators, DR.. Win
ston said that the first had been Sc
1ected for the highest scholarship in
his class; the second speaker was
elected to represent the senior class
the remaining three were chosn by
the faculty for general excellence, and
special excellence in some studies
The subject of the first speaker Mr..
j. Rhodes Smith, was 1.-The Engineer
and Civilization" The engineer, he
said is quiet, unknown citizen. but
he has revolutionized and reconstruct
fJrZe1f
electricity created a new commerce;
through manufacturing facilities he
has been the worlds salvation, and he
has kept man from darkness and cold
and hunger. and has sheltered the
crowded millions. He has removed
mountains and conquered the oceans.
With modern linotypes and presses he
has furnished bread for the minds of
men, giving them joy and benedic-
ton.
Mr.. Edward G.. Porter Jr, talked
on Industrial Activity an aid to Lit
erature." He said that industriaiism
not only does not hinder literature, but
is a material aid to it. There was
never a more marked age of industry
than that of Queen Elizabeth. and
that was the greatest period of liter
ature. London became the CONNER
cial capital of the world. and English
commerce whitened every sea. That
was a material age, but not all. for
there was Shakespeare and Spencer,
and a constellation of lesser lights.
Activity stimulates, almost creates lit
erature, and this activity must begin
with the materialistic. In America
today. he said. there is the same ma
terialistic activity, and in New Eng
land there has been eminent literary
attachments. The South has figured
prominently in the Continental Army
in the War of 1912, in the presidency,
in Congress, and in innumerable hon
orabIe national capacities. The South
has had, still has, men of magnificent
minds and hearts. and the obstacles to
literary progress having been removed
from it, there will be achieved in the
Southland a surprising literature. All
around there is an industrial awaken
ing, and if this continues in less than
80 years the South will be manufacture
ing all the cotton it produces. The
activity of the present promises well
for the future. With this Southern in
duStral and commercial awakening.
there is simultaneously as great an
awakening in literature. The South
has given birth to famous writers,
sweet singers, delightful story teliers,
and men of wide humanity and deep
thought. The educational impetus