COMMENCEMENT EXEltCISES 369 



ADDRESS OF TRESIDENT SNYDER TO GRADUATING CLASS. 



Ladies and Gentlemen of the class of -99: 



It gives me great pleasure to be able to congratulate you on the suc- 

 cessful completion of your College courses. 



In looking back the four years seem to have vanished almost as in a 

 night. There has of necessity been much in your College course of hard 

 work, which has meant long hours and weary nights. There have no 

 doubt also been much disappointment and discouragement, yet it is to 

 be hoped that you will be able to forget all that which was not pleasant 

 in your work and remember only the joyful hours, the conquests made, 

 the victories won, and the friendships formed, many of which will not be 

 broken in this life. You will never again make friends which will be 

 to vou what vour College friends have been. 



There perhaps comes to many of you today a feeling of disappointment 

 and sadness. How different your feelings today from that which you 

 anticipated they would be when you entered upon your courses. You are 

 not able to recall and classify the results of your hard study as you 

 thought vou could. You do not have the self-confidence that vou felt 

 sure that you would have when you should reach your graduation day. 



The youth when entering College usually looks forward to his gradua- 

 tion day as the time when he shall reach the summit and shall with hope 

 and renewed confidence enter upon the duties of life. But when he has 

 reached this height he realizes that he has just begun. Above and 

 beyond are other heights which he must ascend before he can reach the 

 goal of his ambition. And thus is he led on from summit to summit, 

 with each ascent his horizon broadening until he ascends the last mount 

 and is called home. And if today 3'ou to some extent feel a disappoint- 

 ment at your meagre attainment, for all our attainments are meagre, 

 you are simply repeating the experiences which have come to most of 

 those who have preceded you. 



This feeling of disappointment, if such you have, should not discourage 

 you. That you are here today is suflScient evidence that you have made a 

 success of your College work. It is also a sufficient guaranty that you 

 can succeed in your life work whatever that may be. Your battle is not 

 won, but it is begun, and for you very favorably begun. You have a 

 right to entertain high hopes for the future. Yes, it is your duty to have 

 a high regard for self, and an implicit confidence in your ability to 

 conquer in all the battles of life. With every conquest will come new 

 strength. Go forward then with all the vigor of young manhood and 

 womanhood to make a success of life. But, let me caution you to be 

 very careful in forming your ideals of what constitutes real success. It 

 may be the accumulation of wealth, but not if this gain is made by sharp 

 and doubtful practices; by taking advantage of the misfortunes of others, 

 or by following any occupation or calling which will not give free scope 

 to the development of all the higher power of body, mind and soul. 



Success may come in the form of promotions to positions of honor, and 

 trust at the hands of the people, but never if brought about by double 

 dealing, by purchasing votes with either money or insincere pledges, or 

 by any other practice or method that would make you blush to see in 

 print. 



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