Princeton University - Nassau Herald Yearbook (Princeton, NJ)

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Glilamf ilagg Qbratinn 3x1 gtpmreciatinn of Qiugnaphg J. DAY BROWNLEE, JR. Q One inestimable good of a college education is that it awakens and sometimes even begets in one a desire to read, to know of the happenings and thought of the ages 5 a longing to come in touch with the feeling and spirit of by-gone days 3 to understand the past, and so be the better fitted to appreciate the present and the future and ind oneis place among the toilers and helpers of the human race. Broad-mindedness is synonymous with this desire, and it is a characteristic of every cultured college man. But among the various means tending to satisfy this realization of our insuiii- ciency and to- move us along our forward Way, I Would speak for biography-a kind of Writing Which too often in oneis reading is not given its rightful and deserving place. It em- braces both his-tory and literature. It brings one in touch with great men and great minds. It stirs man's best and highest emotions 5 urges him on to do things and then to greater, better accomplishment. It is an unfailing tonic to the tired and oft- times disappointed struggler, giving him new life and hope to do his part, to meet his troubles, to iight and conquer. History is impersonal. Biography is personal. History treats of men in the mass and, when it does of necessity deal with the individual, cannot enter into the man to man spirit. Biography is the more specific, through it the influence of a man on an age is seen the more clearly, his individuality shines through the pages. We get an insight into the lives of men that history, no matter by Whom it is Written, how true the recital or Iinshed th-e style, can never impart. When you read a history of an 28

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galntaiurg J. S. DANA. Ladies and Gentlemen: It is a pleasure, a. privilege, an honor, to Welcome you here to-day in behalf of the Class of 1903, to Welcome you here to these exercises, which mark this day as so peculiarly our own that it will live in our memories as long as life shall last. The end of the four years which We have spent here together inds us changed. We entered upon them somewhat careless and irresponsible, but now at their close we stand upon the threshold of our future, broad-minded and thinking men, some of us a bit scared perhaps, but ready and Willing to go out and do our part in the World for the honor of Princeton and the na-tion. We have learned here the value of true manhood, not only through the kindly teachings of our Alma Mater, but through the inspiration of the friendships which these years have brought us. Already We feel only too keenly that there are few associa- tions so precious or so fondly to be remembered as those which cluster about this campus. Our greatest sorrow is that some of these friendships must be torn asunder, While We would gladly carry them with us to the end of our lives. It is our intention to-day to be once more, and for the last time, the happy, care-free Class of 1903. Much of the past is to- be recalled to us, but in these pictures of our university life, the rough sketches of our characters, the kindly caricatures of our mistakes and follies, it is to be remembered that through them all runs the spirit of loyalty to class, toicollege, and to friendship. Once more, then, in the name of our class, I Wel- come you to Princeton. 27

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