The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-01
PAYS WARM TRIBUTE TO
HOSPITALITY OF SOUTH
speech Was Event of Day in Com-
mencement Exercises at University.
Speaker Heard by Audience
Which Filled Clark Hall
BY WALTER HARPER

university, MAY oi--tspecfdl.J--l tfo
event of today in the commencement ex-
ercises of the University of Alabama
was the grafton of Gov. Thomas r. Mar
shall of Indiana before the society %
the alumni.
Governor Marshall and Mrs. Marshall
arrived at 9:so o'clock this morning from
| Birmingham on special train over the
| Alabama Great Southern railroad. They
| were met at the train by an escort
of almost a hundred citizens in automo-
biles The distinguished guests were es-
corted to the home of President John
| W. Abercrombie, where Governor Mar
| shall Is entertained.
| The grafton was delivered in Clark
hall at II O'Clock The hall was crowded
to the limit.
| Governor Conner was introduced by
| President Reese. of the Alumni society.
Governor Conner in a few complimentary
words introduced the speaker of the
day.
| Governor Marshall was received with n
great ovation. the audience rising to its
| feet. while handkerchiefs and hats vera
waved for minute more.
Governor Marshall thanked Governor
Conner and the audience for the kind
ception and paid a warm tribute to
southern hospitality.
speech of Governor Marshall
Governor Marshall said:
1T is not possible to tell with any
| degree of accuracy from what sources
we obtain our impressions. Perhaps
they are like truth-many-sided. Our
Impressions of a people may come from
| a study of their literature, from their
myths and legends, from the laudation
| of friends or the criticism of enemies,
from travel through their land. from
| comparison and contrast, and even from
vague and impalpable notions the origin
OF which can no more be traced than
the first abiding place of the Aryan
race 1t would be impossible for me to-
tell how l obtained my impressions OF
| the old south-surely not from critical
reading of her literature, not from ANY,
| great knowledge of her traditions, not
from an aDalytical study of her racial
charac cteristics. for OF all these / have
only a smattering. Perhaps the fact,
| at least it pleases me to think tha.
! in the line of my fathers l go back to
| the blood of the old south has some
| thing TO do with my Impressions.
Usually, erroneous Impressions should
be corrected. If they work harm to the
church or the state, to society or to our
own individual life, then the upright
man will begin an investigation to as
certain how much of his so-called infor-
nation Is incorrect that he may recasr
the impression and determine whether
his personal contact with few has not
| given him a distorted vision of the many
He should go to the root and dig it up
| and cast II away, If. for the rights sake
4xx.x. c.. {a
wholly pleasant. il IL leaves sweet
| taste and a rose-laden atmosphere, IT,
when recurring, it gives you beautiful
visions of fair women and brave men.
| if it brightens the horizon with light and
color and fills and thrills you with love
and admiration. it is not wise for a man
to correct that impression however erro-
neous il may be and from whatever
false source it may have been obtained
careful analysis Of ones sentiments
and a correction of ones viewpoint ara
needful only when the ultimate reach OF
the Imagination is bitterness and not
sweetness, darkness and not light
Impressions OF Old South
my impressions OF the old south are
so tinctured with chivalric views that
feel OF her like the maiden of her lover
in ''Lalla RoOSh.'
"'Oh let me only breathe the air.
The blessed air, that's breathed by thee.
And, whether on its wings 1t bear
Healing or death, tbs sweet to me-.
"These impressions of mine have per-
haps glazed some of the imperfections
which pertain to every civilization and
have lent mild subdued and holy light,
In which, perhaps | see with distorted
vision; but what / see seems beautiful
to me- If. therefore, my impressions are
wrong. do the stranger within your gates
ne n awaken him from his
dream-let him sleep on, and sleeping,
smile 1t would be no kindness to wake
him to different view.
II have an impression of a people who
had convictions and principles. and to me
even erroneous convictions and principles
are far preferable to drifting uncertainty. +
see a race of stawart men whose atti-
tude toward women was the attitude OF !
respectful service and alteration: race
of men without the power of church TO
draw the sacred circle Of sanctity around
their womankind, yet with the power OF
purpose, the strong right arms and un-
ninching swords to put her on her throne
of love and chastity and to defend her
right TO rule queen regnant in all the
homes OF the sunny southland, a race OF
men whose last drop OF blood would have
been cheerfuily let in preservation OF
mothers or sisters honor. | see also
a race OF men not unmindfui or the COM
forts of life. but fond of the good things
because tney leDutu W hiSNipSc sii0 aot toS
and generous hospitality of people; a
race of men who felt that what they had
belonged TO their every friend; race OF
men not Indifferent to the luxures OF
civilization. but satisfied that they are but
the outward trappings of generous-heart-
ed natures gaze in perspective upon
people who realized that those factors
above all others which should command
the most careful consideration of a
thoughtful being, are mans duty to his
God. his duty TO his country and his duty
to his fellowmen
Highest Type Of Man
1.-The world has been full OF splendid
civilizations. Hitherto they have arisen.
fourshed and decayed. but the golden
age of every civilization has been that
age when these three great duties have
traced themselves to final judgment by
the enlightened conscience of mankind.
1t is not material whether II was the Greek
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