The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-06-01
TONE Of SADNESS OVER
BlACkSBURG FINALS
Day ut v. r. 1, Is Free
Of Festivities, and Degrees Con-
ferred ON Men Absent in Army,
PRESIDENT EGGLEsrON SPEAKS
Calls ON Young Men to Remain in
College where Alone They Can Be
Prepared for the Greatest Useful.
ncas--V. p. I. Men In Forefront.

ees., EaA< = ~
especial 10 Tho Richmond virginisn. )
Biacksbrrg. Va. May s1.-Com-
mencement day exercises at the vir-
ginia Polytechnic institute were held
this morning at II O'Clock. Tho stu
dents, led by the cadet band. and
headed by the president and dean Of
the college. marched in body to the
assembly hall. Others In the process
sion were the mem bers of sths faculty
and = few OF the alumni. DIR. J. ~.
MacBryds. president emeritus Of the
college. occupied a seat of honor on
the rostrum.
Following the invocation by DR.. D.
j. Woods. President Eggieston an
nounced The winners OF the medals in
target practice, and that III. L. bod
son, of Norfolk. a member of the pres-
emit senior class, had the unusual re-
cord of 100 per cent In military dur
ing his four years at college. Also
that j. r.. Hutcheson. a distingufshe ed
been made assistant director OF extern
sion work in Virginia. The president
then awarded the degree of bachelor
OF science to slxty-six young men. con-
ferrcd the degree OF master OF
science on one., that OF civil engineer
on three, one degree in mechanical
engineering. two in mining engineer
ing. and five in electrical engineering.
(. The address to the graduating class
was made by the president and the
singing OF Aud Lang Syne' by the
audience concluded the exercises
Through the latter today there was a
note OF sadness. because 80 many OF
those whose names were called as
recipients OF degrees are now In train
ing for war and others OF those pres
emit will soon enter the service.
In his brief address to the grad
yates President Egggleston laid en-
phasis on the Importance of q COL
lege education in this time OF stress.
He said In part on this subject:
Where is the best place OF prepare
ton Of young men for life? Beyond
question = good college. 1t Is to be
regretted. then, that there are many
young men In this country. and many
parents. who think that because we
are in q time OF war. 1t might be bet
Ter for the young men to stay at
home or go to work on some Job
until the war 10 over. 1t Is entirely
forgotten by these misguided people
that year OF life does not come back,
and that in these days. when a young
man loses good college training, no
places an almost hopeless handicap
upOu IitAlbSIi lot tIlS 8EedtcT uStluts
ness. 1t In as plainly the duty OF
young men. when not called to war. to
60 to college and prepare themselves
for efficient citizenship, as 1t is for
those who are called by their coun-
try to go to the front to respond to
that cali. If the colleges and univer-
stiles were to close during the next
half dozen years, the loss to this
country In efficiency and leadership.
and in practically everything that
goes to make a nation worth while
would be colossal that the nation
could not recover from IL In a, cen.
turv of time"
The speaker also paid glowing
tribute to the loyalty Of the Virginia
Polytechnic institute cadets. as shown
by their recent response to their coun-
try's call. and reminded the audience
that there were some heroes who had
remained at home-men who had
placed themselves at the disposal OF
their country and were now working
along lines OF food production s.vir-
gin.a Polytechnic institute men," he
said. have formed In this state an
Organization for greater food produc-
|tion that two prominent government
experts say II the best In the South.