The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-06-28
m. The e. c,e,,n,m ;, /, season.

The Commencement Season.
The Dispatch has shown by its columns
that This Il tho commencement season. Ahsy
: iave been crowded TO the exclusion ot .
great deal Of matter prepared for our re sso
ers.- Our own reflections have shared tne 'a.e
&c ,h,,,cs excluded. Indeed, as the great opt,
,,aa world Is far more interesting than any
ching conceived In our saactslnt, the fnstruc-
.,o,,s are 20 p,seon-bolet the birds OF our
t.ncv first of all. Wedon't regret 1t. Inc
schoo,s are in the ascendant, and It Is well.
II l. dine that they should be fully reported
In the newspapers. First, they merit it; and
sncnud,v. it increases their fame and pros
nerity TO the general benefitof society. 4
we have yet the University and the var
riuis Military Institute to hear FROM 90
fether with some lesser schools. Ihas Jar
, The results have been most cheering. ihe
scholars of this day have great advantages.
Every branch Of knowledge is now impaired
with the aid of greatly improved systems,
and books and instruments. The student,
of thirty years since had no such auxll-
isries to the acquisition of learning as are
now displayed in every school. 1t may:
be said to the credit Of the youth OF the
times that the present advantages are en-
ployed with marked devotion and success l.
But the schools at best give only part of
the education which man must have to en-.
able him to meet the demands of life. When
he leaves the college halls and enters the
world he has only the tools to work st WITH
How to use them with advantage is an edu-
cation that must be acquired in praeticaf
life. Theoretically, he has been informed Of
what will be required of him but still he
is like the graduate in medicine-he must
acquire knowledge of its practice by expe-
rience, and according to his aptitude and MS
energy will be his success. He must prove
his ability to apply his learning practically
in order to take his stand as successful
man amongst his contemporaries. The les
sons in the schools are invaluable} but
the lessons out of them are even more
important. While education, as DR.. FRANK
lin says, is an imperishable property, 1t is
useless without energy, experience, and pFac'
teal wisdom. 1t is a kind Of wealth that is
safe. 1t cannot be stolen. 1t cannot be
lost. It is an everlasting friend-an orna-
ment in prosperity--a never-failins solace IN
adversely. But he who fails to make 1t
available for the promotion of his welfare
and personal consideration and respect as
citizen forfeitS its chief value and holds 1t
unimproyed, as did the Improbable servant
the talent which he hid away in napkin.
DIR. JETER, in bis very sensible address to
the graduates of Richmond College, said to
the Young gentlemen :" Let employment be
YOUR happiness" Very wise advice. SATAN
ever finds some work for idle hands to 40,
rs everybody has heard, and as all young
peopIe should know. There should he no
such thing, indeed, as the Introduction of rea-
sonabe relaxation and of such pleasures as
NAV occasionally rise into wave OF
conyiyialty. Nature requires this occa'
sional relief from labor; but the habit
Of idIeness is very different matter. IL
units man for work, for the projection OF
plans of life, for the energy to carry them
ont. He is soon disinclined to work at all,
and his fellow-men lose confidence IN him.
He is unfit for projects to secure personal IN
derendencc, and nobody will intrust any
duty of responsible nature to him. That
man is a failure He is worth little to him
self and less to society. 1
The signs encourage the belief that the
rising generation is very practical, and Will
make the best use of their knowledge ac- |
CURED in the schools. We congratulate thei
young graduates OF the season, and trust
that they may reap the highest advantages
from their faithful studies so happily con-
Guided. .... -... ....