Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-02-15

The first effort must be made, the
corner stone must be laid, and with
that half the work is done. Ii were
asked for motto to insure success IN
any laudable undertaking, | would
write, determined, perscverfng. effort.
Let the young man who comes here
from week to week, make this Lodge
room their first stepping stone 10
honorable distinction in the future |
Let them speak upon the question
under debate, though it be but few
words at first. | would not sit here
and listen to the talk Of these same
halfdozen men every evening, would
get up and say something, and be as
sured the very effort will make you
stronger. And be assured also, that
if any one laughs at, or ridicules your
attempt, it will be the very one who
has never made the first effort at sell
culture. and probably never will make
it, Speak, declaim, write; do every
thing as opportunity may offer, Tor
the right cultivation of your own
( minds, and | pledge my word that
yon will discover within yourselves,
) intellectual power of which; you have
t never yet dreamed. And these young
G ladies too, have each part TO act III
e the great drama of life, and the higher
= the degree of mental culture the better
f vii! all be able to act it. The edu-
r. cational era of woman is but just
h dawning. The world does not yet
l. know what can be accomplished by
e thoroughly educated womem. Hither
t. to, or until quite recently, she ha;
$ been debarred from the highe.' schools
n and colleges which her brother treel.
J. entered aud won exclusive Iaurcls.-
$ Still we have had many well educated
e. noble minded women. And to-day
d our country owes to her pcn, many o
tc its very best literary, and not a fey
N of its scientific productions. In al
the fine arts she has acquired for bel
h. sell hard earned and well meritet
ID celebrity We have heroines as wei
u as heroes. We have female philar
.; thropists, and benetactrcsSes not
IN few. What noble work was accom-
th plished by Mary Lyon, in foundin
y. the seminary for young ladies, at NJ
US HoIyohe, from whose walls hundred
" of usefulIy educated woman, hay
Ct gone forth qualified, aud anXiousl
at solicited as teachers. throughout til
,ly length and breadth Of the land. Trr
II; we may never become painters, nj
de sculptors, we may never be Hrmanso
W nor Sigourneys, nor Stoves. with I'll
a pen, but we can become more tina
Tot we are. We may not he geniuse
en- which however. in my mind applies
rs but few. and in most instanc,
be means but little more than a dete
lte miuation to succeed III some one pa
re, tlcular undertaking, hut we may Il
OF to fathom our own capabilities; Y
be- may Try to know ourselves. But
he have been led away from my first j
ere tcntions, which was simply to make
a home application of M subject, al
nd urge every member Of this lodge, al
be- more especially the younger member
.ed to make an effort at self culture he1
ing Let Us have an expression Of 70
M own thoughts in the debate. in 4
IAN essay. in writings and iottings for I
'h'- tJdpcIs Win WHICH VIC Ill favored Ire
the time TO time Let US all form OF
st selves into a school for mental guilty
he ton, and try ourselves and see VIII
nal manner OF intellect We possess. Y
ia sometimes hear young people say,
old | can't write, and never could" D
I'm, you ever tty? No, for | know
he can't" Now the great difficulty Ii
stl- here; you wont try. And [ ella
I'M that You are almost as ignorant
YER your own mental powers, as you a
el- OF yolr own future destiny. Meth
= have | any reason to doubt that the
ON are young men and young women he
IAN tonight, who by persevering effc
ak will be certain of high attainments
no knowledge, and. enyiab!c positions
5, a society.
lodi + -,