The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-08-04
THEORIES or LIFE. ..

AN ADDRESS ON THE ideal AND THE ACTUAL,
DELIVERED BEFORE THE LITERARY SOCIETIES
OF WASHINGTON N JEFFERSON COLLEGE,
by COLONEL A. X. MCCLURE.
Last evening Colonel A.. X. Mcclure, of
this city, delivered an address on Life the
Ideal and the Actual, " before the Literary
Societies of Washington and Jefferson Col
Jege, at Washington, Pa. Colonel Mcclure is
one of the ablest writer's and speakers in the
State, and the address delivered by him last
evening is in his happiest vein. He said;-
G6ntlemen Of tile Literary SOcjeies:|
have heard it said, that of all hearers college
students are the most critical; and believe
ID is true that of all classes they are the most
p~itilessly criticized. 1 have no alma mater
10 worship, and 1 do not come to tell you
how much wiser and better is mature man.
hood than youth. Let us rather be mutually
generous, for the greatest miracle to man
is man.
It is but too common to make college COM
mencements seasons of humiliation to stu
dents. Speakers often come to repress your
inspirations, to cloud or dissipate your
dreams, and to picture to you a life that has
no actual type amongst mortals. They bring
the uneasy dreams of the closet to crush the
buoyant, blissful dreams of boyhood, and to
erect a standard of perfection that weak hu-
manity has never approached. They merci-
lessly portray youthful f%ollies, as if there had
never been boys or follies before; and declare
that you must become different from all that
you are or have been. Fine theories of life,
sustained by apparently irresistible logic, de-
mand of you new departures, new ideas, new
purposes, and new actions, as you assume the
new and responsible duties of the trans
formed existence that is set before you; and
almost impossible CULTS are pictured as OPP
posing your advancement to the full stature
Of useful manhood.
You have often heard of the perfect man.
He has been the theme of many eloquent
orations to students, but unfortunately he
has never lived. You have been gravely told
of the many obstacles to be overcome, to
effect successfully the transition from stu
den life to perfect man life. The obstacles
have never been exaggerated; but it is
equally true that your teachers, ~faultless and
reverend as they may seem, have never mas
tered them, and never will. All the forgot
ten and ~unforgotten millions of the past
were allied to frailty from their birth; so of
all the great, progressive present; and SO it
will be of all the countless throngs yet to
follow us. All have been, are, or will be,
what those here to-day are-from your hon
ored President to the feeblest freshmen-bu
children of a varied growth.
1 come not to complain Of your dream-life.
When you go hence to begin the battle of the
world, it must go with you. I know how you
would blush to own the ideal achievements
with which it brightens your lives, and how
pedantic orators affect to despise it. But let
me assure you that it is a part of every life
of childhood, of manhood, of ripened years,
of withered age; and it is life's browning
mercy to them all. The unlettered heather
BOWS before its altar, and the most learned
are its worshippers. 1t is the perpetual SUM-
shine of youth. 1t is the softened bow of
promise that ever appears as the wild dreams
Of youth have vanished; and when childhood
kindly comes again to lead the tottering frame
gently to the shore, it is an unfailing we'll.
spring of happiness. When the ideal ceases
to be worshipped, life ceases to be tolerable.
We read each day the sad story of those from
whom hope has fed. Their ideal life was
ended-that is all. Their actual life, brought
face to face with sin or disappointment-and
no angeldream of q better day-could not be-
borne; and they pass from amongst us.
I shall disturb your college dreams some
what: but it is best that 1 should. 1t will b.
but a passing cloud, and you will welcome
your dreams again. I would not have yor
cherish the ideal any less, but remember tina
the actual will at times confront you, ant
dissipate your fondest hopes. Such is tn,
story Of every life, and it must be yours
Most of you hope sooner or later to be en-
rolled in the alumni of the college. 1t is
sweet word to lisp, for it marks an importan
epoch in each individual history. You will g
forth into the world with every avenue t
usefulness and distinction open to you. Lif
will seem long and bright before you. 1t
prizes will glitter in your dreams. It's idea
flowers will bloom along your ideal pathways
Fame will point to the multitude of name
engraven indelibly upon her scroll, anC
beckon you onward. Illustrious deeds, which
are household words, will challenge imitation
Future Executives, Senators, and Common
ers must take the places of the present grea
representative men, and the world must hay
its line of heroes unbroken. This is tn
field the ideal brings before you. 1t is your
to explore. Go gather its l~aurels, and max
new names immortal.
But, ere you start, pause with me for
moment. The weary traveller in the vast
of the burning desert, parched by thirst,
often ~gladdened by beholding what seems Z
be a clear, blue lake of water in the distance
Its banks are studded with preenest yerdure