The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-07-05

and enjoying ND IMAGINATION, a. already
achieved. that success which can only
come 10 us by taking m succession the
steps which are necessary tor its attain
ment was deprecated by the speaker as
being an absolute barrier to eminent
achievements in any direction. We grow
By what we do and endure, not by what We
imagine
In regard to singleness Of purpose the
speaker was very explicit in eulogizing the
men of one idea" They are foremost
among those who succeed, because they DO
not waste their energies on many things
but every DAY make steps toward the OBJ
ject in view without turning TO the right
hand or 10 the left. Labor, rather than
genius, brings success in life; but IL must
be labor directed to definite object \
farmer might bestOw great industry and
skill upon raising a crop OF wheat, and yet
If he concluded 10 plough il mp aud put
corn in its place, all the previous labor
would be lost in attaining a crop; and u
continuance Of the same course would ever
prevent him from ever realizing any crop
whatever 10 was worthy of note that the
most eminent in every branch We're usually
those who pursued but one business. llO-
mer wrote no history; Herodotus furnishes
no poetry; Webster wrote no novels.
The lecturer used the word grit as dcnot
ing endurance pertinacity and resolution
against obstacles; and insisted on It's being
a most important element in the character
Of the successful man. He thought that
being able 10 bear and endure with resolu-
ton. IS even more necessary towards ulti-
mate success than the mere executive abil-
ity Of doing; and he quoted to us the old
proverb. " When YOU are an anvil be pa
tient; when you are a hammer, strike
/ heavy While it was more difficult 10 act
out the part OF the anvil than that Of the
/ hammer, its results on success in life, ami
on the real elevation OF the character were
proportionately more valuable.
The lecture in its style, illustrations and
scope Of argument. wGs credltable 10 Mr..
Seager, and made favorable impression
with the audience concerning him as being
a young man OF good mind, and capable Of
achieving that success in life which he de-
scribed
On Monday the Commencement exercises
were held in Representative Hall. The
visitors officially appointed by the Superin-
tendent of Public lnstruction-Rev. d..
Burns Rev Mr. Bryant and Hon. z. D..
Warner. of Oakland were present on the
stage, rs were also quite number OF grad
yates OF tine College The following was
the Order Of Exercises:
Music
Prayer by Rev Mr. Bryant.
Music.
Records Sarah \. DeGratf, Oneido.
Music.
Mantle wonder worker Eugenia T.
Haze, Lansing.
Music
Ruling. or Rule'l,-Heen f. Lake, How
ell.
Music
Presentation Of Diplomas, by DR.. Donel
son.
Music.
Baccalaureate Address by Rev. P. :
DOnelsOn, n D. President OF Ohio Female
College.
Benediction, by Rev. Mr.. Hickox.
The addresses by the several young la
dies We're creditable TO their scholarship
e and standing; but we rather preferred that
OF Miss Lake, as containing good thought,
l. very well expressed.
The address Of Dr. DOnelson was upon
, individuality. Nature, he said, never re
peats herself No plants, no bodies, NJ
souls are just alike. Each has peculiaritie;
Of its own which are Unborn Individual
ity, outwOrking, shows itself in architec
ture and dress, in the dandy and in III,
boarding school miss. Oddly is sometime
& mistaken for il, and renders persons famOu
a. was the case with Lorenzo Dow, Dexter
Barnum. Byron and Buffers Hudibras. -
Sometimes it shows itself in enthusiasm, a
in Lavater. Don QuixOte, in Alchemy, Phre
= nolOgy and modern Psychology. Peculia
e tastes DO not give superior talents and
a is only once in an age that n Hat bnatma
n will exchange bis boat for a successfu
r presidential career.
Individuality il partly God-given, partl
; selfmade. as in the case of the oaks: Go
e works for Us and in US. and We must wor
: for ourselves. But men are great Oftene
y by their internal forces rather than by tn
e external helps which they receive tn
l. lecturer referred TO the various definition
5 of genius given by different writers Or
o says it is labor "a second that 1t
e ''prOtracted patience "a third describ,
e it as BIZ" the power Of lighting your own fire
10 "A fourth as as the extraordinary use
II ordinary means. The lecturer evident
Ie regarded it as consisting mainly in iabo
a and quoted the case of several eminel
men and inventors who had spent fro
twelve to twenty five years on a sing
OF thing. and finally succeeded.
le Among the external forces which operai
" to modify individuality, the speaker en-
IN merated society, government and fashio
j. Fashion pleads for uniformity: and the m
re- li0ners OF Paris are much more despotic
IN their power than Napoleon The speak
m gave long and formidable list of fema
of ornaments each of which was deemed ind
r. pensable for fashionable responsibility. al
e every woman who should have cut of IN
E. superfluOus half yard Of her dress viii
OF trails upon the ground, would feel as n
", she was absolutely cut OFF from all iashio
lis able society. Fashion bears most heavi
e. on woman, and cramps and neutralizes
re individuality. The lecturer then dwelt
I'D the former condition of women, and tn,
&C. their present improving prospects, and
ur sisted that the most careful and exempla
X iulnllment OF household duties was comp.
'er iole with the highest intellectual advanC
menti and he quoted the example OF NJ