The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-11
DR. PACE SP .EAKS
ON S0UTH'S FUTURE
Worlds Work Editor Makes Fine
Address at Trinity-Duke
Statue Presented.
lspecial to The Times Dlspatch.l

Statue Presented.
Especial to The Times Dlspatchl
DURHAM, ". G., June 10.---'rrintty
College commencement is now in Its
closing scenes. Amid the warmcst en-
tlusiasni the annual reception was
held Tonight in the Duke Building.
faculty and students, with hundreds
of citizens and visitors. mingling to-
gether In tho most Joyful social glee.
This has been q memorable day in
Trinity's history. The commencement
address was delivered by DR. Walter
RI. Page, OF New York, editor Of Tho
Worlds Work. His theme was THE
Possibilities OF the South.n
Or. Page said lie felt very grave
responsibility in speaking to class
but continued: II am going to talk to
you Just as | would do to my own
sons and daughters. You stand at an
interesting period. forty-tllree years
from the close OF the war. Forty
three years from now you Will be in,
the prime of your lives, for we shall
then have SO we'll learned how to live
that the age OF sixty will be the period
of greatest usefulness" He said that
he desired to speak OF the past.
For a long time" he said. I'VE were
on the defensive upon the question Of
slavery. upon the dostrine of States
sovereignty. We were not aggressive,
and have been thankful that my life
did not fall upon those times. 1t was a
controversial age, and, removed from
it, we live in It's reflection. We suf-
fered for opinions sake then. But
brains to-day Is the demand Of the
country. and 1t Is a fine frenzy. Men
do not suffer. now for opinions sake.
Little men may; big ones do not"
The speaker declared that he regards
the losing OF the imagination the great
est thing happening in North Caro-
lima In hundred years. He could
recall twenty years ago when men
flew at each others Threats because
OF religious opnlon--baptlsm. predes-
tination. election effectual calling. etc.
He said the hope of the South Is in
scientific comprehension OF itself.
He believed in harmonious mar
riages; schools in which the fathers. as
Well as their children, taught, and such
teaching as will stop the cackle Of
poor soil and make sanitation almost
a religion. He declared to the class
that the golden age Is before u.s. not
behind us, and that to those going out
to-day Is committed the problem OF
grasping the greatest situation ever
presented to our people. II predict
that you will meet it, he said, amid
applause.
w. A. Stansbury won the Wiley Gray
medal. Other medals awarded were:
From Hesperian Society, C. G. Barn
hardt. orators medal: T. NJ. Brant de-
baters medal. and Clyde Fisher, fresh
mans medal. From Columbia Society,
~. 3. Sudbury, orators medal; F. w.
knight, debater's medal, and G. w.
Wick. freshman's medal. Gllmer Siler
was awarded the Braxton Craven medal
for best class work.
There were forty-seven in the grad
uating class, thirteen young ladies, and
seven who received the advanced de-
grees. making total. OF fifty-four.
Duke Statue Unveiled.
The bronze statue Of Washington
Duke. Trinity's greatest benefactor anc
the largest contributor to higher edu-
cation in all the South, was unveiled
this afternoon at 1880. On account OF
the unwilling OF this magnificent me-
mortal the banks We're closed during
the hour and the factories closed for
the day, this being further mark of
respect to the memory OF Mr.. Duke.
The statue was presented to the col
lege by Mr.. James II. Southgate. and
was accepted by President John C.
Kilgo. The cord that unveiled the
statue was pulled by little Miss Mary
Washington stage. granddaughter OF
Mr.. Duke and his namesake, and
daughter of Mr.. j. Ed. Stage.
Tribute from His Friends.
The statue unveiled to-day is a
tribute to Mr.. Dukes memory by near
Fly 200 of his friends and admirers. The
leaders in the successful movement to
Ragland and T. j. Walker. Of Rich
mond. Va. They were especially for
tunate in securing for this important
commission Edward Virglnius Valen-
tine, the distinguished Southern sculp-
tor. Mr.. Valentine has done such no.
table work as the statue of Gen. Hugh
Mercer at fredericksburg, Va: re-
cumbent statue OF General Robert r.
Lee. at the Washington and Lee Uni
versity; a statue of Stonewall jack
son. and numerous statues of other
Southern soldiers, statesmen and men
of letters. Here he enters another
field In the statue of one of the Wig
orous leaders in the industrial rebuild
ing of the Soutll--one OF the men who.
with undaunted courage after the close
OF the war. set about restoring the
fabric OF the material prosperity OF
his section. Valentine has represent
ed Mr., Duke with a bronze figure of
more than life-size. seated in a gran
lite chair. The sculptor has been esp E.
cially successful in portraying the fine
forehead and strong features Of his
subject, The attitude is one of repose
| and meditation.
The pedestal Is made of Vermont
granite, consisting OF three blocks. the
base being a stone eight by ten feet
On the front side of the foundation
there are the following letters:
WASHINGTON DIJklc--18 20-l905.
Animated by lofty principles, he cve1
cherished the welfare of his countr,
with the ardor of a true patriot: dill
gent in business. he acquired riches
but In the endowment Of them did no
a patron of learning, he fostered al
institution which placed within th'
gift OF knowledge; and when the &C
tivities of his early life and the sterne'
Istruggles of his maturer years hal
passed, he entered upon serene old
age, cheered by a lowly piety and sus
tanned by an unfalllng trust in God
who in all vicissitudes OF life had KEEP
him single hi his aims. sincere in hi
/ friandshipS aud trNe to httnsa1f