State
Vol. 1, No. 18
LINCOLN DAY
Celebrated at State College
with Suitable Exercises.
The celebration of Lincoln’s birth
day, although a somewhat new fea
ture at the College, is yearly becom
ing a more and more important
function and the exercises attending
the ninety-sixth anniversary of the
birth of me great statesman were no
exception to the rule. Ihe Trus
tees of the College have preferred
to celebrate a Lincoln clay lather
than a Washington day, as is the
more common custom, because the
lite ot the former statesman was
spent in a peiiod of the country’s
hisiory that is more nearly in touch
wnti me present and because his
woids have a greater influence on
present day thought.
The exercises m the Auditorium
commenced piomptly at 10 o'clock.
A special train from Belleionte
reached the College about y. 30 and
quite a number or Belleionte resi
dents Look advantage ot this oppor
tunity to attend the exeicises. The
Faculty in full rega.ia, together with
invited guests and the orators of the
occasion were seated on the platform.
After the Invocation by Dr.
Gill. Dr. Athercon introduced for
mer Lieut. Gov. L. A. Watres of
Scranton, the principal orator of the
day, as follows :
“In selecting the Anniversary of
Lincoln’s Birthday as an annual ob
servance, I should be sorry to have
it supposed tnat we undervalue in
any respect the memory of that
great name of Washington, which
has long been enrolled among the Im
mortals. Tne College has chosen
Lincoln Day, partly because the
other is so sure to be continually
celebrated, and partly because the
latter career is nearer to our own
time, and represents principles and
policies which even yet are not fully
settled. A Government ‘of the
people, for the people, and by the
Coll
STATE COLLEGE, PA., FEB. 16, 1905
people’ has been the dream of
civilized man throughout the ages.
The life and work of Abraham
Lincoln helped on the solution of
that problem, but the men of this
and coming generations must com
plete the work. The soul of
Lincoln was cast in a heroic mould.
No man saw more clearly the issues
of his day ; no man ever brought to
their settlement a sublimer patience
and courage and faith; no man
stands more truly for the uplifting
of humani.y, ‘with malice toward
none, and cha-ity for all.’
EX-LIEUT. GOV. L. A. WATRES
We are honored to day in having
as our principal speaker one who
has deeply imbibed the spirit and
principles of the Martyred President.
A Pennsylvanian of Pennsylvanians,
proud of his native State and devoted
to her highest interest, he has served
her well. As an honored and influ
ential member of its highest Legis
lative body, as Lieutenant Governor
of the Commonwealth (elected
when the head of his ticket was de
feated, ) as an active and efficient
officer of the National Guard, as a
loyal adherent of the dominant party
to which Abraham Lincoln belonged,
as a citizen sharing freely in every
egian.
civic duty, as a successful business
man with no stain or blemish on his
integrity, as a high-toned,honorable,
well-rounded Christian man, he has
always been a faithful exponent of
the highest ideals and a worthy
representative of the best purposes
of the whole people of Pennsylvania. ’ ’
I esteem it a privilege and honor
to introduce The Hon. L. A.
Watres, of Scranton. (Applause)
ADDRESS OF HON L A. WATRES.
Mr. Watres then spoke as follows:
“When your distinguished Presi
dent honored me with an invitation
to be present upon this most inter
esting occasion, he gave me the
assurance that the audience, the stu
dents, and the environment would be
an inspiration. He was right.
There is something in the very
atmosphere of State College that
inspires and that seems to soothe
and satisfy. To have spent a quiet
Sunday among you, and to have
worshiped with you, is one of the
compensations of travel which is
most keenly appreciated. To look
upon your College colors, blue and
white, and into the bright faces of
the students who are governed by
the cardinal virtues there symbolized,
courage, purity and truth, to know
of your high purposes and your
great possibilities is indeed an in
spiration and an uplift.
I knew you when your entering
Freshman class numbered but nine.
I am glad to know you better when
it numbers nearly three hundred.
When I first became acquainted with
you, but thirty-four were taking a
regular four years’ college course :
I am delighted to know that you
now have nearly seven hundred.
When I first visited your institu
tion in 1885, I felt that the State was
open to just criticism in that while
she was spending money with almost
a lavish hand upon the administra
tion wings of her penitentiaries,
asylums and reformatories, she was
culpably parsimonious with this
deserving institution of learning.
I blushed for shame that this great
State should be so blinded to her
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