Princeton University - Nassau Herald Yearbook (Princeton, NJ)

Page 13 text:

it vga. -..4 2 III1 lll Wawavrfv ggigxwglv, Q E, N 4 M 2 274 , f ,F 'Willa IVY ORATION By EARL L. DoUGLAss Fellow Clcmsmates and Friends: The word Commencement is usually associated in our mind with the end of things, with the Hnishing up of our Work. Four years ago We entered college, and since that time we have had the minimum of responsibility in order that nothing might hinder us from taking advantage of the maximum of opportunity. Our attitude has necessarily been an irre- sponsible one. We have been shielded from those things which bring the Wealth of experience, and it has been the intention of those who sent us here that we should be so shielded, in order that We might gain those things which would make our experience mean more when once we had acquired it. Now the college course is completed. The days of training are over, and we are ending them with a series of exercises which is called Commencement. I believe that it must be perfectly obvious to us all, that the self sufficiency of .college lizfe has sometimes made us so calloused to the call of the world of action, that we have allowed the true significance of the word Commencement to slip away from us. It is not an end of things, but. as the T3

Page 12 text:

The Nassau Herald pocket. It was addressed to the New York W01'ld's reporter here. I read it. Gladys Louise Inghram, Weber and Fields chorus girl, claims to have married a Princeton student, wealthy and ath- letic. See N. Y. American for particulars and identify him if possible. He is said to have returned to Princeton to-day. Is I. R. McDonald the Man ? ' Signed, . The New York World. WVell, said jack, that looks bad for me. The reporter was just around trying to get a confession. You see, I just: got back to-day. There is almost no one else in town. I confessed that it did look bad, for there was no doubt about Jack's being a man, or about his being wealthy, althoughy, in common parlance, he would not be called athletic. I had to go just then and left jack brood-ing over his troubles. As I was opening the door he called me back and said in a whisper, Say now, help me keep this thing quiet, I'll give you the straight dope,-I know the girl, but I didn't marry her . I had only gone a few steps outside when I met Dede Rich- ardson beating it toward the All Night Dyspepsia Parlor. Don't Stop me, he said, My conscience hurts me, I have to goand tell jack McDonald that I added the last sentence to that telegram. I2

Page 14 text:

The Nassau H amid word implies, a beginning. It is not the closing up of one period of our life just in order that we may go out into another period separate and distinct from it. T-he life into which we are to go is the life we have been living, and, instead of ending a distinct period, we are going out into the world to live ia every act, in every thought, in every impulse, the 'four years thro-ugh which we have just passed. And to-day we have met to plant the ivy as symbolic of our transplanting into a world of larger interests. It means a great deal more, this replanting process, than we have been accustomed to consider it. The ivy brought here is but a sprout and it is being planted beside the vines which have grown for many decades. It will have for its support the walls of a building which is rich in historical significance. It will intertwine its leaves with the leaves of the vines planted by past classes, and all the vines which will be planted by classes to come. And, indeed, such a process is symbolic of our lives. We are soon to be taken from the hot-house soil of academic life and planted in a far different soil. Instead of our having the minimum of responsibility and the maxi- mum of opportunity, it is to be reversed, and the only back- ing up which we will have in the struggle we are about to enter will be our potentiality for growth. But the world is waiting for men to-day who give promise. of growth. It is possibilities which the world is looking for in the young men of to-day, not actual things accomplished. We will have for our support, as we grow, the tradition and heritage of the past, and the man is wise who, in the midst of the stupendous readljustments going on about us to-day, keeps before him the realization that true progress always takes counsel of past experience, The growing world has created a whole host of tasks which demand for their accomplish- ment an army of growing men. Politics to-clay is calling for volunteers, men of red blood and far vision. These political forces under the leadership of our most distinguished alumnus, are giving the world to understand that the first right of every people is to be honestly and wisely governed, and this spirit is ut '