Farewell Speech to the Polytechnic Society by William Wightman Smoak, June 16, 1900
Title
Farewell Speech to the Polytechnic Society by William Wightman Smoak, June 16, 1900
Description
Farewell speech given to the Polytechnic Society by William Wightman Smoak.
Source
A1979.7, Box 2, Folder 11
Publisher
The Citadel Archives & Museum
Date
Rights
Materials in The Citadel Archives & Museum Digital Collections are intended for educational and research use. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright. For more information contact The Citadel Archives & Museum, The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, 29409.
Format
application/pdf
Language
English
Type
Text
Coverage
Charleston (S.C.)
Text
[Page 1]
Some of the saddest, sweetest scenes in life are those where farewells are said. Words spoken there have a tender significance and at mention of them there comes a flood of memories which encircles the thought with a halo of sanctity.
Song and story have told us of the pathos of separations. In the most beautiful language poets have enshrined the sacred term. It is with severance we approach this altar this evening to speak a few words at parting.
Some one has said, “Life is made up of so many meetings and partings welded together.” By the law of contracts, when you have a joy at meeting there stands by its side the specter of parting waving his bony hands and bidding the smiling joy depart. Thus grief joy and sorrow, hope and despair, joy happiness and happiness misery were to fill in every minute of life.
These are adieus pleasant in themselves. When those who go will soon return laden with honors - bearing the fruits of victory - it is [illegible]
[Page 2]
as me see there go that we smile through our tears, as the sun shines sometimes through the rain.
But when there is no hope of reunion the heart bleeds and we hear the wail of woe, as when the mother looks for the last time upon the pale cold face of her lifeless child, knowing that no more will she hear the patter of its little feet or the prattle of its childish joys.
Then we have farewells on public occasions by those who serve some grand cause which has endeared them to the people. Words of wisdom glitter in each sentence. Principles for the guide of a nation are uttered. Washington, in his famous “Farewell Address” by the advice given by the young Republic showed himself indeed to be the Father of his Country.
Let us turn now to our present meeting - or parting - and address a few words to the class leaving whose voices no more will “ring thru [illegible words].”
[Page 3]
You are about to sever those ties which have bound you to each other, and to the school for four long years. Leaving the familiar life of cadets and going forth into new and untried fields, you will depend upon the training received here for success. As you succeed or fail you will reflect honor or shame upon the uniform you have worn, and upon the foster mother who has fed you from the spoon of oratory.
Bear this in mind as you [illegible] with the storms of life - and [illegible] think you will escape, for by virtue of the training you have received your life will be one of battle - a conscience well satisfied is the best mascot you can have.
Have you fulfilled the hopes of those who four years ago bade a loving farewell at the farm-yard gate? Yes, you have if you go back to them as pure as when a lad you left the quiet life you led, for the temptations and vicissitudes of
[Page 4]
the city; you have if you go back to them with ennobled ideas of life and living; with high ideals and lofty purposes. You cannot go back the lad you were, for you are [illegible] but you can go back young [illegible] as pure as when you left and be the stay of those dependent upon you. In the words of another - “Let your highest aims be [illegible], your countrie’s [sic], and God’s.
In your journey through life you will find from now that you [illegible] all have divergent paths. Farewell will be spoken at every divergence but I doubt if you will part from any with more sincere regrets than from the friends formed while you wore the gray.
Cherished hopes and fond delusions will sometimes fly away leaving you alone, but may you never [illegible] to bid farewell to “Hope’s sweet [illegible].”
Farewell, and oh whene’er thy voice be [illegible] On Toma’s cliff, or Pambamareas side: Whether when [illegible] fervour’s [illegible] Or winter wraps the polar world in snow
[Page 5]
Still let thy voice prevailing over time
Redress the [illegible] of the inclement chime Aid slighted truth with thy persuasive strain Teach erring man to spurn the rage of [illegible] Teach him the states of native strength
Though very poor may still be very [illegible] That trades proud empire hasten to swift [illegible]
As ocean sweeps the labored mole away;
While self-dependent power can time defy
As rocks resist the billows and the [illegible]
Farewell speech of Ct. Smoak, W.W. of [illegible] class of 1900 to the class of 1899 at the Cadet Polytechnic Society June 16 1899.
Some of the saddest, sweetest scenes in life are those where farewells are said. Words spoken there have a tender significance and at mention of them there comes a flood of memories which encircles the thought with a halo of sanctity.
Song and story have told us of the pathos of separations. In the most beautiful language poets have enshrined the sacred term. It is with severance we approach this altar this evening to speak a few words at parting.
Some one has said, “Life is made up of so many meetings and partings welded together.” By the law of contracts, when you have a joy at meeting there stands by its side the specter of parting waving his bony hands and bidding the smiling joy depart. Thus grief joy and sorrow, hope and despair, joy happiness and happiness misery were to fill in every minute of life.
These are adieus pleasant in themselves. When those who go will soon return laden with honors - bearing the fruits of victory - it is [illegible]
[Page 2]
as me see there go that we smile through our tears, as the sun shines sometimes through the rain.
But when there is no hope of reunion the heart bleeds and we hear the wail of woe, as when the mother looks for the last time upon the pale cold face of her lifeless child, knowing that no more will she hear the patter of its little feet or the prattle of its childish joys.
Then we have farewells on public occasions by those who serve some grand cause which has endeared them to the people. Words of wisdom glitter in each sentence. Principles for the guide of a nation are uttered. Washington, in his famous “Farewell Address” by the advice given by the young Republic showed himself indeed to be the Father of his Country.
Let us turn now to our present meeting - or parting - and address a few words to the class leaving whose voices no more will “ring thru [illegible words].”
[Page 3]
You are about to sever those ties which have bound you to each other, and to the school for four long years. Leaving the familiar life of cadets and going forth into new and untried fields, you will depend upon the training received here for success. As you succeed or fail you will reflect honor or shame upon the uniform you have worn, and upon the foster mother who has fed you from the spoon of oratory.
Bear this in mind as you [illegible] with the storms of life - and [illegible] think you will escape, for by virtue of the training you have received your life will be one of battle - a conscience well satisfied is the best mascot you can have.
Have you fulfilled the hopes of those who four years ago bade a loving farewell at the farm-yard gate? Yes, you have if you go back to them as pure as when a lad you left the quiet life you led, for the temptations and vicissitudes of
[Page 4]
the city; you have if you go back to them with ennobled ideas of life and living; with high ideals and lofty purposes. You cannot go back the lad you were, for you are [illegible] but you can go back young [illegible] as pure as when you left and be the stay of those dependent upon you. In the words of another - “Let your highest aims be [illegible], your countrie’s [sic], and God’s.
In your journey through life you will find from now that you [illegible] all have divergent paths. Farewell will be spoken at every divergence but I doubt if you will part from any with more sincere regrets than from the friends formed while you wore the gray.
Cherished hopes and fond delusions will sometimes fly away leaving you alone, but may you never [illegible] to bid farewell to “Hope’s sweet [illegible].”
Farewell, and oh whene’er thy voice be [illegible] On Toma’s cliff, or Pambamareas side: Whether when [illegible] fervour’s [illegible] Or winter wraps the polar world in snow
[Page 5]
Still let thy voice prevailing over time
Redress the [illegible] of the inclement chime Aid slighted truth with thy persuasive strain Teach erring man to spurn the rage of [illegible] Teach him the states of native strength
Though very poor may still be very [illegible] That trades proud empire hasten to swift [illegible]
As ocean sweeps the labored mole away;
While self-dependent power can time defy
As rocks resist the billows and the [illegible]
Farewell speech of Ct. Smoak, W.W. of [illegible] class of 1900 to the class of 1899 at the Cadet Polytechnic Society June 16 1899.
Collection
Citation
Smoak, William Wightman, 1877-1947, “Farewell Speech to the Polytechnic Society by William Wightman Smoak, June 16, 1900,” The Citadel Archives Digital Collections, accessed April 28, 2024, https://citadeldigitalarchives.omeka.net/items/show/1148.