The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-05-29
v. A. B[0UNT.
SPEAKS At THE
STATE COLLEGE
PENSACOLAS TALENTED ATTOR.
NEY DELIVERS THE BAG.
CALAUREATE ADDRESS TO
THE GRADUATING CLASS.
Special to the journal.

Special to the journal.
Tallahassee, May 2S.-Tne bac-
! calaureate address of Hon. W. A.
| Blount, of Pensacola, Wednesday
evening, to the graduating class OF
| the Florida State College for Women
was the feature of the closing exer-
cises and was heard by an audience
that crowded every seat and corner
of the Hall of Representatives and
overfiowed into the aisles and en-
frances.
The usual fault to be found with
commencement programs was not
escaped in this case-that being the
| effort to crowd too much into one
brief evening, and Mr.. Blount, with
rare discretion, cut his speech short
| and spoke scarcely more than half an
hour, having begun his address after
| the stroke of ten. He spoke with
| the ease and precision Of the prac-
| ticed and ready orator, and it was
evident that he had no dog-eared
scroll from which he had got by rote
the things that he chose to impress
upon the young women who appear.
ed before him nthe cap and gown
| of senior distinction.
| In the outset he said that he had
been troubled in the selection Of a
| subject, for he naturally reviewed in
his mind the various kinds Of
| speeches that were delivered now
and again upon similar occasions. He
| thought of that kind of speech which
is attuned to place which creates a
mere tintina bulation of the ear and
| whose purpose is no more serious
than to make a pleasant impression
| and recollection without any real
form or substance; there occurred
also to him that kind of speech which
dealt with political subjects, whose
purpose was to reflect and make poll
teal glory for the speaker, and he
thought also of the kind which dealt
in admonition and advice, whose pur-
pose it was to point out some truth
and impress it upon the nearer for
reflection and guidance.
His Subject.
In bordering these subjects, the
speaker said that he had looked out
over Pensacola bay a few nights be-
fore, and took notice that the moon
beams shimmered on the waters that
were scarcely stirred by any motion
so far as the eye at that distance
could discern, and the quiet surround
ings, the calm waters and the cloud
less sky spoke of peace, the peace
that passeth understanding. Under
the influence of the spell that Nature
cast over all at the time, he was
impressed that it We're better to deal
with the pleasant things of life; but
on the succeeding night he looked out
over the bay again, and the scene
was changed A storm was gather
ing, the waters were rolling and
were being dashed into a fury, and
back of the angry tide was bank of
lowering clouds. The moon peeped
out from a rift in the clouds and
touched the waters with it's golden
fingers. Here, then, was cause for
reflection quite different from those
previously INDUCED. Life was not al
might be lighted with the graces and
refinements and the pastimes, there
was always beneath a seriousness
which every true man and woman
must respond.
With this preface, which was
drawn with much deftness and deli
cacy of application, the speaker an
nounced that he had decided that his
speech should be one of admonition
and advice, rather than one of mere
pleasing tropes and metaphors or one
of political color.
The speech was, in brief, an admo-
milton to the young women of the
graduating class to make use of their
college training; that their lessons
and experiences had been given them
for utility and were not to be forgot
ten and cast aside when they put
away their text books. This idea was
expanded in such a finished style as
to convey much of the meat of truth
and in the manner characteristic of
the speaker, no needless words were
employed 1t is doubtful if any speak
er upon such an occasion held the
unremitting attention of his audience
so well.
The program of the closing night
was concluded by the delivery of the
medals by Hon. Fred T. Myers, the
conferment of degrees by Hon. P. X.
Yonge, chairman of the State Board
of Control.
Following the exercises at the
State House, which were not con-
cluded until a late hour, the Alumni
Association held its annual banquet
at the Leon hotel.
The Champion Debate.
Inc uSDdL6 L
night between the ITALIAN and Min
erva literary societies resulted. in a
unanimous decision in favor of the
Minerva society. This even is filled
with more Of the college rivalry ana
spirit than any other, and is of great
er interest to the students than all
the rest of the commencement exer-
cises. Long before the gavel of the
presiding officer sounded the hall was
filled with the members of the So
cieties, the right being occupied by
the Minervas and their partisans and
the left by the Italians. Colors and
yells startled the vision and the ear
for a full hour before the speaking
started. The question was whether
the public health should be under
federal or state control, the Minervas
having the affirmative and winning
the decision. Misses Mary Baird and