The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1906-06-16

The history and prophecy OF the
class which was graduated at Normal
at the recent commencement Is one.
of the many paperrs which excited |
a great amount OF favorable criticism
1t was written by Aubrey Meredith OF
this city II was read at the melting
of the alumni held last Wednesday,
and at their request the West Viz
ginian publishes it
The paper in full is as follows:
The villa Hart Butcher Class, Of
1906, like all other classes, began at
the beginning But it was not the
work Of day to make this bes5n-
ming. It took many long years for
the state Of West Virginia to prepare
this institution and raise 1t to
standard high enough for a class OF
our intelligence After putting forth
a graduating class each year for 33
years and constantly changing the
faculty and improving the facilities
of the school, three years ago 1t was
decided that the condition Of the
school was such that it could admit
our class without fear Of being in
capable OF educating such extraor-
binary minds. It is needless to say
that this class contains the most
brilliant lights that have ever illu-
minated the Fairmont State Normal
School We have long been noted
for our ravenous assaults upon the
demons Of ignorance. and for our
heart to heart talks with the fairy OF
knowledge, who. as you all know, is
second cousin to every member OF
the class. We have always been no
ticed as a remarkably smart class.
During the past three years we have
been regarded with envy by the lower
classes and with Jealousy by those
above us. In the three classes that
have graduated since our entrance
there was not person who did not
look upon US with outward horror
and hatred but within inward wonder
and admiration. Even our teachers
would gaze upon US with aston1sh,
ment while listening TO US as we fu-
emily translated the hardest passages
in Virgil, or ably demonstrated the
most intricate propositions in Geom-
US a course in Ethics and Economics
Prof Fleming spent many weary days
and SleepIess nights searching for
text books hard enough and deep
enough to cause US at least fifteen
minutes OF study for each recitation
After three weeks study of these
two sciences our class began receiv-
| ing petitions from all the great phil
osophers of the world. begging US. to
portant subjects But knowing that
we had a higher mission in this world
than writing dry text books, we
were forced to decline with thanks.
Almost daily our Instructors would
come into the class room looking bag
gard and worn. We learned that it
was from loss Of sleep. from spending
the wee small hours of the night in
study in order that they might keep
ahead of our class Without casting
any reflection upon our teachers, we
feel perfectly safe in saying that even
today but few of the members OF the
faculty can surpass US in knowledge
| And now commencement is draw
ing near. the day we must ascend the
rostrum. You who in former days
| have come to this auditorium and
! have sat through the reading OF grad
uating essays and orations without
| hearing them and thinking only how
hard the seats were. shall do so no
longer If you are present tomorrow
morning you VIII be forced to listen
to the burning words from our gifted
| tongues. for we have prepared such
| essays and orationS as have not been
stitution.
AS the Butcher Glass we expect
and firmly intend to go out into the
world and butcher all the existing
| manners and customs and dish them
up again in perfect and hawless
condition Although YOU do not re
alize it. the world is gradually ap
preaching a turning point in its ex
istence. You are upon the threshold
of great reformation TO be brouSh,
about by the master minds Of thi:
class No longer need you fear the
demons of graft and the dragons o.
great corporations The days OF cor
rupt politics are numbered. Our elias.
will soon be sweeping over the en-
tire world. carrying in one hand thu
flaming torch Of knowledge and II
the other the bloody sword of justice
lighting up the dark canons Of isno
rance and hurting to eternal destruc
tons the monsters Of vice and iniq
. uity All that is good We Will stinu