Princeton University - Nassau Herald Yearbook (Princeton, NJ)

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ZHE' NASSA U HERALD. 15 PRESENTATION ORATIQN. BY JOHN BARCLAY KEENAN, PA. i-9.1 LADIES AND GENTLEMEN 5--Since our historian has so kindly explained a11d so fully illustrated the workings of the new regu- lations in regard to Class Day exercises, it remains for-me to add but a few words on that subject, and those words shall be, prin- cipally, words of deep gratitude.f In former days historians, prophets, even presentation orators, had actually indulged in per- sonalities, and one or two of them-bold, bad young men-ehad, in -a ghastly way, attempted afew mild jokes. Cf' course, the Class of' '80, with the consent of the Faculty, resolved to put a stop to such disgraceful proceedings. Then the question arose, What, sort of exercises should we have? Should Eli be allowed to tell the story of the 'Democratic Congressman and his remark- able stock of clothes? Should Cress and Cully relate their boating experience? Should Sheldon make a few simple remarks upon the Deanthropomorphization of' the Individual- istic Ego ? 'Cr should Paden repeat his criticism of the life, character, works and end of the late lamented Judas, with direct application to the cases of Messrs, Davidson, Hardin and Stud- diford? These, and many other schemes, were proposed and referred by the -class to a committee composed of Crist Blair, that massive intellect that decides all disputed questions in the College of' New Jersey. He, after due deliberation, took unto himself two other equally massive intellects, viz., Butch Bryan and Jim, the great weather prophet and apple vendor. They reported in writing-strange, but true,-against the other plans, and recommended that instead Butch Bryan ought to get off' his famous sell, in which, you know, he offers some one a cigar,

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14 f THE Nassa U HERALD. Ourselves are our greatest treasure, and the life of man is laid in the loom of time to a pattern which he does not see, but God does. ' Tis ours to give form, polish and proportion to that im- mortal inheritance of ours. ' Oh, this wonderful life, so strange, so mysterious, so deep 5 making or wrecking manhood, and so forecasting eternity. And yet so many live without purpose or passion. y , We have no time to sport away the hours, All must be earnest in a world like ours. No matter, then, how humble your position in life, make the most of it, climbing, like the ivy, upward and onward to the light: where ltis rough and rugged, there fastening its tendrils only the closer. f i , i r Entering a new era in our lives, let us feel, as it doth feel+ . H-A tremor shoot ' ' Through all its fibres to the' root. Free the light and see the ray, f And strive to blossominto day. ' Make your life noble, for it is the heart, the inspiring motive, not the calling, that ennobles or degrades. In life let your primal -objects shine aloft like stars, knowing that the battle of life cannot be fought by proxy. Be' your own helpersli Be earnest! Be watchful! ' Be pure! ' ' ' i X

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16 THE NASSA U HERALD. asking, Do you smoke ?7' ln nineteen out of twenty well-auf thenticated cases an affirmative answer is given, and the victim joyfully reaches for the weed. But Butch puts it in his pocket, and blandly remarks, H Ah I so does Mike Dunn? This report was rejected unanimously because of the originality of the spell- ing, which showed plainly that Dick Conover had been called in to assist the committee, and then, too, it was thought that to ap- preciate Butch' s sells,lrequired a more intimate acquaintance with him than was hoped any of our visitors hadj 5 At this stage of the game, the Faculty being on the 'C in loco parenifis '7 racket again, came to our relief, and furnished a great many suggestions, ---T think, they called them-and plans, and all that sort of gratis entertainment, for which we can never be too grateful. A few instances of their kindness may, perhaps, not be out of place here. For example, one of them QI don't believe any of you can guess his namuelthought we ought, per- haps, to have one joke, to be gotten off in sections, each speaker doing a fair share of the work. He even offered as a splendid joke of his, one that belonged to his professorship. His prede- cessor had used it. He himself had used it, with fearful eH'ect', upon thirty-tive classes, and it was good for thirty-tive more. Why, it had never been known to fail. In fact, it was about the dizaiest joke he had ever heard. That settled it. VVe eX- plained that very likely' the Lynde Debaters-Pussy Parkhill, J im Galbraith and that crowd-a few of the Glee Club, and some stray' members of '81 would be present, and on their account it Wouldn7t be rightto have anything so violently exciting. Another Professor offered us stacks of poetry: all about the still, sad music of lhumanityf ' He thought it would add greatly to the general effect if we would refer to that topic about every three minutes.. Then the Professor of Pumps, Plank-walks and Pinnacles brought a tin bucketful of art lectures, which he assured us, whether read from the beginning to the end, or from the end to the beginning, or from the middle in both direct-ions at once, were equally interesting and instructive. And then he wandered away to his pleasant task of running barbed wires across our favorite short-cuts, and sprinkling coal ashes over ll l l l 1 I l i 4Anf.,..,... M., ,M ,...a........, l....-...--- e-ina 'gm -,N ,.,,,nf-'funn-i4llb-win-'