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 paper-s which excited
a great amount Of favorable criticism
It was written by Aubrey Meredith OF
this city. Il was read at the melting
of the alumni held last Wednesday,
and at their request the West Viz
gilman 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 a day to make this begin
ming It took many long years for
the State OF West Virginia to prepare
this institution and raise it to
standard high enough for class Of
our intelligence. After putting forth
graduating class each year for SO
years and constantly changing the
faculty and improving the facilities
of the school. three years ago it 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. 1t 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
a 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 u.s. In the three classes that
have graduated since our entrance
there was not a person who did not
look upon US with outward horror
and hatred but within inward wonder
would gaze upon us with astonish-
ment while listening to US as we flu
emily translated the hardest passages
in Virgil. or ably demonstrated the
most intricate propositions in Geom-i
etry. When it was decided to give
US course in Ethics and Economics
Prof. Fleming spent many weary days
text books hard enough and deep
enough to cause US at least fifteen
minutes OF study for each recitation
After a three weeks study of these
two sciences our class began receive
ing petitions from all the great phil
osophers Of the world. begging US to
write treatiSe on each Of these i'm
we had a higher mission in this world
than writing dry text books. we
We're 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 I
any reflection upon our teachers. we
feel perfectly safe in saying that even |
to-day 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 We're. shall do so no |
longer. If you are present tomorrow
you will be forced to listen
to the burning words from our gifted i
tongues. for we have prepared such
essays and orationS as have not been |
heard since the beginning Of this in
stitut1on-
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 a perfect and f1awless !
condition Although You do not re-
alize it. the world is gradually ap-
a turning point in its ex-
istence- You are upon the threshold !
Of great reformation to be brought
about by the master minds of this
class No longer need you fear the !
demons of graft and the dragons OF ,
great corporations The days Of cor
rupt politics are numbered Our class
will soon be sweeping over the en-
tire world carrying in one hand the
flaming torch Of knowledge and in |
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-
uty. All that Is good We will stimu-
late and enrich. causing it to bloom
forth with renewed yigor: all that