Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-07-05

Swing. Of whom Ohio willinever, cease TO be
proud, as one of her greatest men.
Not a great many years ago, boy Of not very
promising appearance oatae N one OF the coll
leges In Ohio IN get an education. lie had been
raised In the country, with only limited advnn-
tages. tie wore his huntiug shirt and in warm I
weather went barefoot. OF course he was very
much laughed at BY other boys, who had money
and aner clothes, but less brains. lie, however,
studied right on, with unwearied diligence AMI
now Is the honored President Of one Of our most
a urishiug Western Universities.
About the same time that Daniel Webster
was saving up bis pennies to buy copy Of Hor-
ace, little boy nine years old was left sn or
phan In Western Peunsy ylvania, aud was taken
into the employ ment Of friend Of his father, who
gave him instruction in writing and arithmetic. |
He happened to tud In the house a copy OF Ad-
disou's Spectator, and became Interested in the |
Latin headings to the chapters. Full Of deter |
mination and thirst for knowledge, he COM |
uenced the study of Latin all by himself, By
means OF n Horace and half-torn dictionary |
which he found In the neighborhood, often att
ting up al his studies tll a late hour. gentle.
man who lodged at the same house, found him
one night, (now twelve years old, porting over
bis Horace and Dictionary by tho light Of the
hrc, after the family had gone to bed. Becnm-
ing Interested In the studious youth, he promised
and gave him grammar aud other books better
suited 10 unfold the language. And now the
little boy amidst bis labors for his employer,
gradually mastered the Latin aud the Greek,
and in few years became a fine classical schol-
ar. Afterwards he obtained the means to spend
few years In college.
The little orphan bov, wh1 comm ,nced the
Latin in the chimney corner, with no teacher but
his divinely aroused energies. aud no Opportu
mites, but the most forbidding and unpromisng
became the Rev. John Watson, the fist Presi-
dent Of Jefferson College, at Cannunsburg, Pa.
l might cite you IN Thos. Corwin whom my
self heard say that at 10 years Of age, when be
drove aesuppy wagon TO Gen. HarFison's army
on the Maumee, he could not read, aud who after
wards became Ohio's most popular orator and
favorte Con ngressman; or 10 Senator Wilson Of
Massachusetts, once poor bound boy,' now
standing at the head OF our hOnOred senator's and
likely 10 he Vice President OF the United States
These examples sufficiently show you that
perseyering industry may orercome all obstacles
in The pursuit. Of knowledge, and crown the
seeker with inevitable success. Indeed, per-
sistent effort in any direction is pretty sure to be
successful.
hope my young female friends will not think
that my remarks are not intended rs much for
them, as for any others. long experience in
the education of youth has taught me that the
female mind Is just sceptibls 0f any branch
Of knowledge, as that Of the other sex. And
have not doubt il Is AS import Int to women as
I TO men. to cultiyate their minds.
You may not, young ladies, be called to Gil
the Offices Of State. or discharges the duties OF the
! learned prulesalOn3-thOugne even tnese may De
! thrown entirely open " your honorable compe-
! tition, fthe elUquence and hgic Ut certain mod
ern relormers, shoull prrvaH. | hope, howev-
| er. that your native modes;y -tbe greatest charm
| OF the female characier-wiil always keep you
| from aspiring TO public notnrety of this kind.
| But without this ihereis wide field for the use
full employment of aH he knooledJe, OF which
Tou can ever possess yourselves.
| II there be any difference, knowledge and a
| cultivated mind are more necessary to the hap
piness Of women than Uf mca. From your very
position you are mare shut out from the hustle
door life than they are. y = u =
Commonly, woman lives in the private retire
ment Of her own hresile-she is tie ministeriug
angel, ever present, ever watchful over her
own domestic circle. She is left very much
! alone-lO oompanionship with her own thoughts.
Her resources Of happiness must be more with.
in herself, and less from the outward world than
those Of men. These resources will be increas-
| ed just in proportion As her mind aud heart are
cultivated, and she has learned to fud sweet
companionship in good books.
To roman Il falls BY the allotment OF Proyi-
dence ~ be the first educators of all the young
minds in the world. In this view her own edu-
cation becomes a subject Of untold Importance
To her care and guardianship is committed the
young mind just opening into life--whose edu'
cation commences not VIXEN IL is Arst compelle d
10 sit all those tresome hours in the school room
upon hard bench, but with the mothers smile
, OF joy, or frown Of dspleasure, with her louk o
approval or disapprnval. Long before il nike:
with other children in the public school room
its education has begun and its characterIfur fu'
ture life been rapidly forming amid the looks
aud words, aud scenes and action Of the house
hold, where it has been learning 10 walk anC
prattle aud exercise Its opening faculties in th,
invention OF every possible species Of mischief
L. mothers would qualify themselves for il
aud be willing To undertake the trouble, thinl
hat rha h.sf hi
OF the schopi iiooh wizard jatAe ise4i9et e. last
ing dis,aste to schools and books.
You are all ambitious, know, young ladies
IN hold honorable positions in society and hav,
E your influence felt by others around you. A.
the world is now constituted by its increasin!
intelligence, its multiplied means OF know ge
its growing numbers Of educated persons, 70,
must expect IN gain, aud To hold that deslrabl,
e position OF respectability aud influence, by cult
vIIing your minds to the extent Of your opportu
mites. Trnst not to pretty face as your sol
or only attraction That. indeed, is not to b.
despised. have no fear that you will ever b
E guilty OF that improprirty. Never commit your
= self to the low ambition Of being a leader o
fashion. And think not that your attractive
ness 10 men Of sense will consist in rich shaw
Z in showy silks, in gay ribbons and costly jew
D ery. These things may be sufficient to ca,cl
l.. the admiration OF the weak and frivolous.
Female Low illness consists not in gaudy attire
: but in intelligence, in amilbIe dispositions o
, heart, in virtue-and il you please, Ae home rir
= tues. These ouisbiue any gold and diamonds
D And they are within the reach Of all. Only u.s.
: such opportunities as you have, with diligenc
: and arlor, and you will be successful beyon
your expectati ms.
MEMBERS OF rHE GRADUATING CLASS: Yo
: have now honorably completed the prescribe
course in this High School. 81 far az you ha Y
I been under my care, have always fOund yo
respectful and studious. have never had to 10
I prove you and our relation as teacher an
scholars have always been OF the most pleas
ant character.
! shall always feel a lively interest in yon
welfare. Aside from your own parents, thin
no one will feel any more. You have had ma
ny certificates OF prnmition from one grade /
another in this school. We now send you ou
with new one which takes you out from un
der our watch and care. / part with you a
. scholars with regret; but entertaining, at III
same time, 6rm belief that you will endeavn
to make yonr future lives worthy Of your oppor
: tunities and worthy Of yourselves. Do no. NJ. K
the mistake Of thinking that your education i
finished W hen your seaoo1 doys are over. Ynu
! education Is only begun-il is grslI If.uoi K
You have been learning here bop TO educate vour
ssives. Let me assure you that II ever you ar
intelligent men and won n, that desiTa bic EN-,
must be accomplished by yourselves. Yru ma,
have many helps, but no Other person Can do th,
work for you.
IL you would bscoma intelligent men ani
women. you must have habits OF reading, an,
continue them through life. Dry text book,
furnish only the plainest kind of intellectual fur
niture. Have nothing - do with sensational
trashy nnVels-they will siarve and weaker
your minds, ltthey do no worse. History, bing
I>oby, travels, literature, reviews and the bes
psrio tidals of the day, these are the sources o
that genial intelligence which viii! constitut,
you inAue5'i4, and useful members Of socisiy anC
charming con, Hsh'ans.
Go on then from Ia uew starting'poiuL, determ
ined TO gain all the late iRence you can, and tc
make your lives lovely BY purity and goodness
Aud this brings me to the only remaining topic
to which will claim your ausntinn~-that Of a
psrsonAl interest in the glorious Gospel Of the
Son OF God.