The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-08-05
BY TELEGRAPH,
STATE COLLEGE.
Exercises of Commencement Day
ADDRESS OF EX.GOY. WASHBURN

EXeFClScS Vi commencement Dslys
ADDRESS OF EX-GOV. WASHBURN.
= BANGOR, Aug 4.-The village of Orono was
full of visitors to-day, who had come to attend
the graduation exercises at the Maine State
College of Agriculture and the Mechanic Arts,
which occurred in the town hall. Among the
distinguished persons on the stage were Gov.
Dingley exGov. Coburn, President Clark of
the Massachusetts College of Agriculture, S. L..
Boardman of the Maine Farmer and Secretary
of the Board of Maine Agriculture, Warren
johnson, State Superintendent of Schools, and
number of the trustees of the college and
others.
The graduating class numbers ia number
equal to the three preceding classes. The
young gentlemen in their respective parts
evinced the thorough and systematic training
which they have received during their four
years in the Institution, which is growing
more popular yearly and which has so able
corps of professors. The following is the order
of exercises:
George Moore Shaw, Augusta
S'' 800 '' - Wesley Webb, Unity
'-''e>' *Albert Eliphalet Mitchell, Madison
on'~'oAi Alfred Montgomery Gocdae, Saco
The Steam Engine.
Nfinott Wheelwright sewal, st. Albans
State P0llcy..
Fred Samson Moore, Sebec
The Students Reward.
Luther Woodman Rogers, Upper Saltwater
Solomon Wheaton Bates, Somerset Mills
William Howard Jordan, New Gloucester
f. v Wilbur Alierd Bumps, Bangor
Duties of American Citizens. .;.,;....;:."
VINO snail VIM.
Samuel Hervey Clapp, Damariscotta
Republicanism in France. ....n."..:..
As Lewis Farrin Coburn, Brunswick
Charles Frederic Durham, Monroe
' Charles Franklin Colesworthy, Portland
- Edgar Alexander Work, Bangor
Edward Doiiver Mayo, South West Harbor
Industrial Education. ....:,............
.9Ef8s Grass OF Y graduated men-3 civil en-
pineers and bachelors of science; class of '73,
Z members civil engineers md "oheiors
so'enoe, o@ @s one became civil epgi.A.--
.H. Saieefs taking degrees of bachelor of SCI
ence. All three are now in good positions and
are an honor to the college.
At the commencement dinner the usual
speeches were made, and in the afternoon Hon.
Israel Washburn delivered very able address
on the Claw and Conditions of Success" of
which the following is an abstract:
In an address by Mr.. Disraeli upon the SUBJ
ject of success, delivered before the students of
z q 1 min rclf u Aff ~ L.,
argued very justly that to secure it, one must
know himself and understand the spirit of the
age in which he lives. Nothing can be more
true than Mr.. Disraels first proposition that
imam must understand himself" This is in
deed the first law of success. No one can de-
eide what he can do, what he should try to do,
what trade, occupation or profession he should
adopt until he has discovered what he can do
best, that is what he is most fit for, and what
is IN fullest harmony with his powers and apt
tudes.
The decision once made must generally be
final, and will shape and color ones entire life.
The profession or occupation once adopted, one
OF the first, most obvious, and most important
OF all the laws OF success that will confront the
young man, or young woman, is that which de-
mands that he or she, as the case may be- shall
devote himself or herself, largely and mainly to
one thing-to one principal business or occupa.
ton. The world is so constructed that there is
room for all without injurious competition.
Liz proUltm is 70 uuu OUT WndG one can do
without trespassing on another. AS in the
drama no actor is greater in tragedy and com.
edy both, than any other is in one, so upon the
theatre OF life no man can transcend others in
more than single line. Even Michael Angelo
was not unrivaled as painter and sculptor
both. In the realm of letters there is no Nor
monry of genius in which some Bigham Young
woos and wins all the MUSES.. Fair play was
the decree in the beginning, and something has
been provided for every one to do.
In the ratio that men learn to limit the scope
of their labors, and confne themselves mainly
to one thing, the aggregate of production and
the common stock of knowledge increase, con-
quests in the realms of nature and intelligence
are made, and an advance in civilization is eff
fected. The nations which show the greatest
progress are those in which the divine ordi-
nance of the division of occupations is most
closely observed. And so with the individual
the highest type is represented by the man who
does the best the thing he can the best do.
Without the one purpose, the distinct idea, ex-
istence is little more than middle or dream.
living is not lfe-but only an adumbraton of
life. There must be something with man
that is first, last, and greatest, the central OBJ
iect of his thoughts, the untiring labor of his
hands.
Alas! my friends for the failures which
crowd upon our vision on whatsoever side we
look in surveying the fields of human enter
prize and interest. And of all none are more
or mournful than those which are
seen in what are called the learned professions.
Not so much TO want of natural ability as TO
neglect of one of the inflexlble conditions of
success, is the larger portions of the pitiabe
and melancholy failures among professional
men to be ascribed.
have known physicians of good natural
ability, OF liberal education and active habits;
with an aptitude for their profession, SO ambi-
tious of figuring in whatever might give them
prominence and notoriety, so impatient of their |
own chosen work, as to be hopelessly stranded |
in mid-life as physicians. as citizens and as |
men.
1 have been acquainted with LAWYERS who |
might easily have taken their places in the |
front rank of advocates and counselors, who |
yet in the unerrlng scale in which lawyers and |
men are weighed, were found wanting;- |
''light' was the inscription which the public |
stamped upon their brows. They travelled eas1 |
and they travelled west, lecturing and harangu-
ing on all conceivable subjects Masonry, pol |
tics, temperance, education, woman suffrage, |
and SO on.
But the mistakes in this direction, perhaps |
the most numerous and most miserable, are |
made by the clergyfnen of this country. OF |
all failures none are more pitiable, none more |
1reary than they who educated and ordained
10 the Christian ministry, become impatient, |
uEeasy, sensational, drifting-tired of the rou-
slne wofk 80 OF the parish, and the intellectual
WORE vi Cne pulpit dazzled with visions of
success and glory upon other fields. ambitious |
of notorlety, disguised witt duty-apxious tc |
be mixed up with wit whatever is going on-takng
a hand here, ana pitching IN there; and occu-
plying the pulpit only to startle by STRANGE and
topics or by extieme opinions,
They will tell you that st. John was scamn
and st. Panl fool, and not half try-they eT-
patiate on the over-soul measure and man the
infinite, and stand on their heads and interpret
Swedenborg. As they will not devote them
selves to the line of work and duty which their |
profession demands inexorably of all her child |
rem, so they are not likely to be contente1 with |
their places Of labor
And as in the professions so in all the walks
Of active life, strict attention and loyalty to
ones calling or occupation is indispensable to
any success that is worth the name.