ss
resolutely on, undaunted by fatigue and discouragement. Another of your
father's failings was probably due to the fact that he was never a small
boy and thus had no chance to work the deviltry out of his system. You
yourselves have been abundantly blessed in this regard. I think I may
say that here, in our Normal Academy, you have had an almost ideal
playground to work off those boyish high spirits, to perpetrate those
mischievous pranks that the world expects of its young. Remember that
you are now going out into the mature work of life, where you will
encounter serious problems.

As you wend your way from these accustomed shades into the full glare of
public life you will do so, I hope, with the consciousness that the eyes
of the world are upon you. The sphere of activity in which you may find
yourselves called upon to perform may be restricted, but you will
remember that not failure but low aim is base. You will hold a just
balance between the conflicting tendencies of radicalism and
conservatism. You will endeavour to secure for labour its due share in
the profits of labour. You will not be forgetful that all government
depends in the last resort on the consent of the governed. These catch
words in the full flush of your youth you may be inclined to dismiss as
truisms, but I assure you that 10,000 years from now men will be
uttering them with the same air of discovery.

It is my great pleasure to confer upon you both the degree of bachelor
of arts and to pray that you may never bring discredit upon your alma
mater.

THE DOWNFALL OF GEORGE SNIPE

George Snipe was an ardent book-lover, and sat in the smoking car
in a state of suspended ecstasy. He had been invited out to
Mandrake Park to visit the library of Mr. Genial Girth, the
well-known collector of rare autographed books. Devoted amateur
of literature as he was, George's humble career rarely brought
him into contact with bookish treasures, and a tremulous
excitement swam through his brain as he thought of the glories he
was about to see. In his devout meditation the train carried him
a station beyond his alighting place, and he ran frantically back
through the well-groomed suburban countryside in order to reach
Mr. Girth's home on time.

They went through the library together. Mr. Girth displayed all
his fascinating prizes with generous good nature, and George grew
excited. The palms of his hands were clammy with agitation. All
round the room,