The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-18
Commencement Exercises at n.
s. A. C. Draw Big Crowd.
Many Parents Witness Closing
Hours of College Term.
GOV. STUBBS SPEAKS
Beautiful Day Was in Harmony
With the Event.
Blackburn Conferred Degree Of
Phi. ID. OIL President Nichols.

Manhattan, Kan. June 1S.-The
commencement day exercises at the
Kansas State Agricultural college are
assuming dignified proportions. Long
before 10 a. m. the capacity of the
auditorium was taxed to it's limit, and
that is $500 seats. When the eXer-
cises began, all the available stand
ing room was made use of and every
corner seemed filed. Everybody that
had girl or boy in school or ever
hoped to have one attend K. S. A. c.
must have been there to see the row
of 1872 graduates march in and take
seats on the stage. Sun-browned,
hard-fisted tillers OF Kansas soil.
greyhaired and with a kindly eye had
come from the hooks of the farms to
see the product of the college on the
hill. They looked eXpectant and
pleased. One old couple was heard
to remark: IF we were just 80 years
younger, eh2" And another old man
whose face and frame showed the
effect of toll with life said: IF I'd ha'
knowed Manhattan had such school
like this I'd ha' sent my boys here,
but it's too late now" Yes, the peo-
pie are waking up and it is good to
know that throughout the splendid
state they are feeling keenly the eff
feet of all the educational advantages
held out to the coming younger set
a Perfect Day in June.
The day was as great as the event
Just the kind of sunshine mixed with
that little breeze that Kansas knows
how to produce, prevailed. The
campus seemed to have a special at
traction and a genial smile for all.
On the sage were other attrac-
tions-President Nichols, the board
of regents, Governor Stubs and DR..
Mathews were there. You felt thrill
and pride as the orchestra began
nlaVinp when
packed with people, and realized the
highest meaning of it all. The grad
yates did not represent so many dol
lars per head expended on them by
the state, but far more. You saw in
them 1872 possibilities for pushing
Kansas to the front.
DR.. Smaller Mathews of Chicago
university delivered the address. His
theme was a plea for the scholar in
his relation to the commercial world |
He showed that commercialism was a |
necessity to scholarly attainment and !
that all phases of life were inter- |
dependent. In defining the scholar he |
said that he was the exponent of |
truth, seeking no compensation. He |
certainly backed the position of the
scholar and said something about his |
being an exception to the economic |
law in regard to labor, intimating that |
he had something up his sleeve |
that the other laborers do not have |
N4lClA lIlty HloIkSI lH6lE
Governor Stubbs Delivered Address. |
Following this Gov. Stubs was in
troduced and gave talk that warm |
ed the hearts of everyone there IT |
was so typical of the pushing methods |
of the west. He spoke of the practi- |
cal reformers of our state who also |
were opponents of truth without |
much pay. In fact he convinced the |
listeners that the practical man in
industrial and civic life was even
more essential than the scholar. He
paid the highest compliments to the
institutions OF the state and express
ed his sincere hope that their young
products might mean much not only
to Kansas and the nation, but to the
whole world.
After President Nichols had pre-
sented~the diplomas, he babe the
class farewell, hardly controlling his |
feelings sufficiently to finish. When |
Regent Blackburn expressed in the |
finest terms their appreciation of his
and announced that the new
gymnasium would be called Nichols
gymnasium, he burst into tears. The
rang with cheers of ap-
prevail from all there. They realized
FULLY that President Nichols loved the
K s. A. c. with an ardor no one had
guessed. What's the matters with
He's all right was the ten
Or of the yells that followed
Regent Blackburn Confers a Degree.
Regent Blackburn also conferred the
iegree of Phi. D. on President Nichols
IS a recognition of his II years of SER
7iee with the school.
In the afternoon a concert worth go
ng far to hear was given free by the
military band consisting of 43 pieces.
The building could not accommodate
more than two-tbirds of the crowd.
The sham battle which followed the
concert, seemed as much like the
ruelty of warfare as the noise of six
companies and three pieces of artillery
,ould make it.
The annual ball game between the !,
listing alumni and the college was