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Rober Laird Sorden.
basing
Sir Robert Borden's Address
to the Graduating Class of
Acadia University

The
Wolfville
Nova Scotia
May 25th, 1932
On the occasion of his receiving an Honorary
Degree from that University
SIR ROBERT BORDEN'S ADDRESS TO THE GRADUATING CLASS OF
ACADIA UNIVERSITY, MAY 25, 1932.
Mr. President, Members of the Graduating Class, Ladies and Gentlemen:-
In the first place, permit me to express deep appreciation of the honour just con-
ferred upon me. My youth was passed in this my native County, and not far distant from
the seat of this University. As you well know, the countryside is both beautiful and pic-
turesque. Circumstances have necessitated my residence elsewhere for more than half a
century. But at whatever distance, I have still a fresh and vivid memory of the outlook,
the orchards, the upland fields, the distant meadows, the quiet village streets with their fine
Lombardy poplars and old willows. Nearly two thousand years ago a Latin poet described
his country home in words which have often recalled to me the river and the lovely Valley of
the Gaspereau:
"Me, neither patient Lacedaemon
Nor Larissa's rich plain have so moved
As the home of resounding Albunea
And Anio's headlong stream and Tibur's grove
And the orchards watered by the flowing brooks."
Acadia University has wonderfully developed and expanded since my boyhood;
and not a little of this is due to the energy and initiative of your President whose influence
has not been limited to the development of the University but has extended to cultural in-
terests and sympathies throughout the Province.
Although I have been the fortunate recipient of many honorary degrees, I never
attended a university. May I say a word respecting my youth. My academic education
began and ended at Acacia Villa Seminary, not many miles from Acadia; and I owe much
to Arthur McNutt Patterson, the principal, and to James Henry Hamilton, the assistant
master.
Patterson was a man of discipline who gave close attention to the formation of char-
acter. At the commencement of each morning session he read to us the chapter of Proverbs
corresponding numerically with the day of the month. Thus he instilled precepts and rules
of conduct which were invaluable in later life. Especially, by many an apt illustration, did
he emphasize the distinction between knowledge and wisdom.
Hamilton, then a young man of about twenty-six, was more scholarly and ideal-
istic. He exercised a remarkable influence upon myself and other boys of ten to twelve
(a very lively and mischievous age) whom he induced to spend each Sunday afternoon
with him in the study of the Scriptures.
The classes in Latin and Greek recited before Patterson and Hamilton on alter-
nate days. The latter resigned and left the school in high dudgeon one morning by reason
of a fierce argument with the principal respecting the pronunciation of the neuter nomina-
tive plural of the Greek article. At the rather immature age of fourteen years and nine
months I was installed the same morning as assistant teacher in his stead. This sudden and
quite unexpected promotion was not without its embarrassments.
THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN LIBRARIES
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For the next five years, I was principally engaged in teaching but I endeavoured
during that period to give myself the equivalent of a university education. One studying
with such a purpose, if endowed with a certain earnestness and persistence, absorbs lessons
that are never forgotten and especially an intense appreciation of the value of time. To
waste it seems like wasting one's future. So, the handicap, res angusta domi, which
deprived me of the university education I so greatly desired was perhaps not without its
compensations. And what I learned was learned thoroughly. But, on the other hand, I
was without the aid that comes from close and constant association with keen fellow stu-
dents and I entirely missed the inestimable advantage of the influence and leadership that
emanate from great teachers.
To you, standing at the threshold, you about to begin your education in the great
university of life, you rich beyond compare in the possession of youth, energy and affluence
of time, I venture to give this earnest message. Let not youth waste its wonderful heritage.
Be not neglectful or careless of opportunity. The goddess moves swiftly. You must seize
her flowing locks ere she passes.
Assuming an adequate intellectual equipment and essential moral standards, I should
say that courage, patience, persistence and the saving grace of humour are perhaps the
most useful qualities for one entering the lists of life. With these must go the quality,
indeed the obsession, of throwing one's utmost strength into the immediate task and pur-
pose. Courage to scorn defeat, patience that can look forward to the long result, a sense
of humour that enables one to laugh at failure-these are all-important. To smile at defeat
and to try again verges on victory. And do not forget that the most significant lessons of
life are to be found in adversity. To agonize—that is to wrestle with oneself—in the
intellectual and spiritual sense is an essential discipline. Do you recall the words of a
great German poet:
"Who never ate with tears his bread,
Who never through night's care-racked hours
Has wept in sadness by his bed,
He knows you not, ye Heavenly Powers.
I have spoken of my youth and of yours. What of your future and that of our
country? The inestimable privilege of a university education involves serious responsibilities.
Let us not under-estimate the importance of material development. In this County the
conditions and standards of living have changed wonderfully for the better curing the past
half-century. So it is throughout Canada. Realising the immense variety and extent of our
country's resources, who would doubt for a moment her material future? But, the story
of her worth among the nations will be written in terms of her ideals, her institutions, her
faith, her justice, the standards of public and private life, the development of art, literature
and science. In any new country in rapid process of material development, there is an
almost inevitable tendency to a materialistic outlook upon life. But in the highest sense
the ideal and the spiritual are after all the truly material. So, let the youth of our country
going forth from its great universities be mindful of the things of the spirit, holding high
the torch of idealism so that men may sometimes turn aside from the din of the factory
and the clamor of the market place to behold and to realize.
In these days of doubt and difficulty, of world-wide disorganization, in the after-
math of a war that almost wrecked our civilization, there are countries in which the insti-
tutions of democracy have become discredited and men have returned to autocratic or despotic
rule. We are firmly confident that in the British Commonwealth there will be no such
outcome; but remember that democracy cannot attain its true development unless the best
elements of our country, among whom I count those who have begun to learn the lesson
of life in our universities, take part therein. When in active public life, I emphasized again
and again this truth, that I would infinitely prefer to have any young man ally himself with
the party to which I was opposed than to stand aside as a mere drone and take no active
part in our public life.
To one borne far upon the tide of hurrying years, a certain inspiration comes from
the presence of those who are still in the golden springtide of life. Centuries ago a Span-
iard sought, but failed to find, the fabled fountain of perpetual youth. But, indeed, the
fountain of youth is youth itself. And if one cannot have perpetual youth one may at
least preserve a youthful spirit. I shall go forth from your presence encouraged and
inspired by the promise that you bear and with hope and confidence that in your future
careers you will be worthy of your Alma Mater. May all good fortune attend you.
My final word is this. Your worth, as that of your country, will be measured by
the influence which you bring to bear, in whatever sphere of life, upon the community or
environment, great or small, in which your life work shall be carried on.
That the beneficent influence and usefulness of this great University will continue
to develop and increase is my earnest hope and my confident belief. To the President
and his colleagues I bid "God-speed" in their honoured task.
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
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