The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-06-30
The Educated Man n Power.
The valedictory Grafton at the graduating
exercises of the Rutland high school. June


27th,
BY EDWARD ID. PAGE.
We all acknowledge the educated man
to be power; but what is this which we
call power? II is the influence of one
mind over another, the power we have to
make another person think and feel as we
do. And when this sort of power rises to
its height, ii becomes controlling over
masses of minds, and enables its possessor
to sway them at his will This is the pow
er of the orator, and it was shown to a
wonderful degree by Patrick Henry in his
memorable speech before the convention Mt
Richmond. Before he began nearly all of
the assembly were in favor of submitting
to the unjust treatment of Great Britain
but he spoke with such eloquencc and pow
er, that, as he finished with the memorable
words ''gve me liberty or give me death"
there was not a person in the house who
did not feel that now was the time for them
to show their mother country that she was
to rule them no longer, but that they were
to be free people, and have equal rights
and privileges. jefferson says that Patrick
Henry seemed to him to speak as Homer
wrote, and one other who heard him in
great debate, when he wore n diamond
ring, XclaimunconsciOusly, THAT diamond
is blazing Undoubtedly II large part of
his success against such odds as he
encountered in the commencement of
his career, was due to his great
moral courage. To that mysterious
eloquence which swayed and took captive
all minds, he united nerve and resolution
which when thoroughly aroused was
wholly invincible. But this power is not
confined to the orator alone. The General
exercises it on the field of battle when by
his commanding presence, the individual
wills of whole army become one, and are
moved in obedience to him. We all know
how successful Washington was as Gen
eral it was owing to this power of his,
that even when it was almost certain death
to obey his commands they were neverthe-
less obeyed without flnching. Again in
our late war we remember the wonderful
power which Sheridan showed in stopping
a whole army in retreat and then leading
them to a glorious victory, This influence
of mind over mind is what we mean by
| power but our proposition is that this pow
er must be educated. For though it is
indeed gift of nature yet in order toreach
| its greatest height it must be developed and
improved by education. Then what is
Education 1t is that which leads out the
powers, which trains and discplines the
mind, and as the body is developed by ex-
ercse, so also is the mind. The exercise
which the mind needs to develop it is
study and no man can he educated
and have power without applying himself
to hard study. He must do this, not only
during his school days, but through life. as
this education is not entirely confined tc
books, as so many think. Some of the
most important things in life are learned
only by experience. Thus there is a
strength, steadfastness of purpose which
we can attain only as we learn to overcome
difficulties and never let them get the bet
ter of us. We should attempt to do moth
ing till we have counted the cost, but after
having once begun lawful work, we
should carry it through without tlinching,
even if it take all our strength. This pow
er can be learned only by experience. Sc
that our education is but just beginning
when our school days are over. If we de-
sire to have influence in the world and be
of some use, not only to ourselves but to
mankind, we must educate this power
which we all have to greater or less de-
gree, and for which we are all responsible
to Him who gave it. At the last great
day we shall be called to give an account
of the talents which have been entrusted to
us, and then, if not before, shall we wish
that we had gained other talents beside them.
if we have not done so, and be thankful if
we shall there find that they have not been
wholly unimproved. Now that we as a
class are about to leave this school, let us
| remember that we are but entering a diff
fercnt department and that our education
is not finished. We desire to thank oui
several teachers for the patience and kind
ness which they have shown to us, and
wherever we may be in after years, we
shall remember with pleasure the many
happy days spent in the Rutland High
School