Valedictory Address

“Mr. Dunn’s Address” University Monthly IV, 9 (June 1885): 133-136. (UA Case 68, Box 1)

Your Honor, Gentlemen of the Senate, Mr. President, and Members of the Faculty; Ladies and Gentlemen:

Nearly four years have elapsed since my class, consisting of twenty-three matriculants, twenty-two gentlemen and one lady—stood, or at least a majority of them, upon the terrace one fine September morning, viewing with all the delight of youth the varied panorama of river and stream, hill and valley, blended city and country, cultivated fields and leafy grove, waiting to be beautified by the first breath of autumn. Beautiful beyond all description was the scene presented to our gaze. Had we at that time been acquainted with the beautiful selections of Palgrave's Golden Treasury, undoubtedly we would have been reminded of those words of Wordsworth:

“Earth has not anything to show more fair, dull would he be of soul who could pass by a sight so touching in its majesty.”

Impressed, as we were, with the beauty of the surroundings, it is hardly a matter of surprise that our anticipations of the future were of the most agreeable character, and in no respect were our expectations found to be erroneous.

We passed through the metamorphic stages of Freshmen, Junior, and Senior, robbed at the very threshold of our course of our fairest member. Eve might enter the precincts of the temple of honor, but was not allowed to explore its inner recesses. Our career, as a class, was hardly different from that of the classes who graduate every year. We had the losses in number that are incident to college life. Of the 22 male matriculants, five “deserted the students' bower for gold,” so that we graduated seventeen in number, one of the largest classes
that has ever gone out from our Alma Mater.

During the time that the class of ‘84 were undergraduates changes of no inconsiderable import took place in collegiate matters. The University Monthly, the first number of which was issued in our Freshman year, passed through the precarious stages of its infancy, uninjured by that worst of all troubles, financial embarrassment. Subsidized, as it has been, by the Senate, its success cannot help but be all that was hoped for by its promoters. Of its influence for good, both towards the University in general and in regard to the students who assumed an active share in its management, I need make no particular mention. That public attention is attracted towards the University, that it forms a bond between the undergraduates of the past and those of the present, and that one cannot take any active part in journalism of such a character as is needed in a college publication without receiving signal benefit in that grandest of all studies, English Composition, are facts too evident to require proof.

Through the generosity of our ex registrar athletic pursuits received a considerable stimulous. Not content with the bestowal of annual prizes by himself and Mrs. Wilmot, he added to his already great favours the use of a field in which might be pursued games of foot and base ball, cricket, etc. Generous as have been his donations, the name of Mr. Wilmot will ever be inseparably connected with the history of the University Amateur Athletic Club.

In our senior year an opportunity was afforded those who wished to take advantage of an elective course in Science. We felt that our hearty thanks were due to the Professor of Science, upon whom the increased work fell, for endeavoring to meet the practical need of those students who expected to enter upon the study of medicine. In no way can any of our friends evince a greater interest in the institution than by furnishing her with the means by which the number of our professors may be increased, so that a wider range of elective studies may be presented to the students. By this means our work may be rendered more effective and of greater practical advantage to those who have tastes for particular subjects. The tendency of the age in educational matters is towards those branches which are of a practical character; and any institution of higher learning, in order to become a success, must be able to furnish opportunities to those who wish to turn their attention towards particular studies. To us, as students, the three years spent here was of the most pleasing character,

“For life had scarce a sorrow.”

I believe that a graduate of any institution generally looks back to his undergraduate days as the happiest period of his life. This may be easily accounted for. Byron informs us that the days of our youth are the days of our glory. It is at a stage in our existence before mother earth, our homely nurse, has weaned us altogether from the clouds of glory which cause us to view meadow, grove and stream, the earth and every common sight appended, in celestial light, before the realities of life have disabused us of the fanciful dreams of youth. Free from the cares of life we form our strongest friendships—friendships which often are never broken, even through a long life-time. This being the case in our largo universities it is doubly so here, where the small attendance promotes a greater degree of social intercourse, and the bonds of friendship become so strong that at the end of a three years course the members of a class become almost like brothers. The acquisition of knowledge is always pleasing. The portals to the store-houses of literature and science are thrown open, and although we are only able to quail' a few delicious draughts, which make the thirst more intense and stimulate the zeal for further research, and although we drink hereafter from a thousand springs, to not one do we attach such pleasing recollections as to that from which we imbibed the first draughts which opened to us the heretofore hidden secrets. The discipline of study is accompanied by a consciousness of increasing mental capabilities; for as the muscles of our body enlarge and become harder under training, so the mind, by its daily study, becomes aware of an increase in its comprehensiveness and acuteness, a cognition of which is always pleasing. The benefits of a liberal education are becoming more freely recognized by the masses of the people and by no one more so than those who have devoted their energies towards its attainment. Greater prominence, it is true, are given to some subjects than to others, “but all are parts of one stupendous whole,” and are by no means antagonists in the work of mental discipline. The study of classic literature and modern history rolls back the veil that hides the record of the past and reveals to us the progress of nations and of thought, disclosing the footprints in the sands of time, and affording many examples which are worthy not only to be admired but to be imitated. It is a record of failures and successes—a chart by which we may avoid the difficulties and take advantage of the experience of our predecessors. We go back to Grecian literature as the basis from which our modern culture received its first impulse, as the “primal springs” from which many of our modern poets and orators have inspired their native genius.

Natural Science tenders us the key with which we may unlock the secrets that nature holds within its enduring grasp, and teaches man that he is but one of many objects of Creative Wisdom, each of which is worthy of his deepest study and most earnest attention. The study of English literature opens up to us the treasured thoughts of master minds clad in their fairest form. The refineness of public taste and criticism, have purged the great mass of English productions of all which is not sterling value, and left only that which is beneficial and pleasant to the most epicurean taste. And so with all the branches of a University curriculum. All are replete with useful information regarding the world without and the world within us.

But if in leaving the University we were mere receptacles of facts concerning history, science, etc., the great aim of education would be lost upon us. By its teachings our minds are directed into those channels from which we may receive the greatest amount of true culture. It gives us a desire and affords us a plan for future study. Lacking such a guide we would be like a ship at sea without compass or chart, drifting about in a maze, and reaping no advantage commensurate with our toil.

I may safely hazard the assertion that the graduates of the University are not inferior in qualifications to those of our sister institutions. It is the testimony of the Presidents of institutions where they have gone to pursue special studies, that our undergraduates take a high stand for general culture. The proud position attained by the leader of the class of '84, Mr. Duff, indicated that the work which she is doing is not a jot behind that effected by the other institutions of the Maritime Provinces. There are, without doubt, features in which reforms might be brought about, but the greater part of such reformations would require an outlay of finances which the College is not at present able to meet. When we reflect upon the position which our graduates occupy in educational matters in the Province, in all the professions of life, both at home and abroad, and in the institutions of the old country, where they go to perfect their education, we have reason to feel proud that we too are slips of the same parent stem.

Sensible as a graduate is of the benefits and pleasures be has derived from his study and associations at college, stoical would he be who did not entertain a feeling of deepest regard for its progress and welfare. Methinks that whatever changes transpire, whether of clime, friends, association or position, we will still retain a fond recollection of that place which we have adorned by the name of Alma Mater—the benign mother. No dearer term could we apply, and no term could show more fully the love which we bear to the institution which has been the guide to our feeble footsteps in the pursuit of knowledge, which has led us on and on, from truth to truth, until we were able to walk alone; when giving us as our motto “Excelsior,” and pointing out the path which we were to follow, leaves us in order that others might profit by her instructions.

Interested as we are in the welfare of the University, and feeling that we owe her a debt we can never pay, my class decided that we should leave, for one year at least, some testimonial of our interest in the progress of the college and of its undergraduates. At a meeting of our class, held on the eve of the dinner tendered Mr. Duff, it was resolved that each member should contribute $2.50 towards a prize to be presented for competition in the senior class of '85-86. Considering that the proper study of mankind is man, and that students are less dependent upon their previous advantages in the study of Mental and Moral Philosophy and Political Economy than on any other subject, it was thought advisable to stipulate that the prize should be given to that student who passed the mast satisfactory examination in the ordinary and honorary examinations on those subjects. The prize (to the sum of $42), to be given in books, selected by Dr. Harrison, and the decision as to the respective merits of the competitors is also to be vested in him.

Mr. President and Members of the Faculty:—

Allow me on behalf of my class to extend to you our hearty thanks for your assistance in our collegiate studies, for the interest which you have evinced in our progress, and for the kindly counsels which you have given us. The three years which we have spent under your care were, as I have before remarked, both pleasing and profitable. If we have not taken advantage of our golden opportunities we alone are blamable, and we alone will have to bear the loss which we have sustained. We hope that your remembrance of our stay among you may always be kindly and that our future course may assure you that we have profited by the efforts which you have put forth in our behalf. We, methinks, although in after years we become grim, grizzled and gray old fogies, and although many of the facts which we here have learned shall have passed from our memory, shall still retain a tender recollection of our relationship as teachers and taught.

To the graduates of today I have but little to say. The same duty devolves upon you as upon the other graduates, that of doing all you can to advance the interests of your alma mater. In order to attain this end you should join the Alumni Society and add your vote and influence to further any measures which you consider will be conducive to the prosperity of the University. To the undergraduates I, although but a short time ago one of your number, may give a few words of advice. A change of circumstances often causes us to view maters from a different standpoint. You need not suppose that since you have not yet become graduates that you exert no influence upon the standing of the University. Your acts as students become public, and it is a well known fact that matters which appear of light importance to you become distorted and assume an appearance which causes the University to be regarded in an unfavourable light. This must in the end be detrimental to your interests and to the interests of those who have graduated before you, since the standing of a graduate must depend upon the view which is entertained by the people concerning the institution of which you are an alumnus. It thus becomes your duty as undergraduates to guard against doing anything which may be prejudiced to the University. See to it then that you cast no stigma by your acts upon the reputation of the University, since such, like the blood-stains upon the garment which the fabled nature bestowed upon her worthy consort, may cause the decay and death of that which to you should be an object of deepest veneration and fondest regard. To one and all vale vale semper floreatis.