The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1877-07-03
GOV MiLLeR's ADDRESS.

Gov. Miller. Ia comforting the degrees
upon tho graduates at the close Of the 70.
cent Commencement exercises. OF tia. A.
U. I. made the following remarks;
LADIES AND GsNrLIxRs: There has
been assigned to me the pleasing task Of
delivering to you the diplomas. the evi
dences ofyour application and yourp pass
ports iuto the fraternity OF educated men
and women I congratulate you on Ia.
hors passed they were, 1t is true, but
the preface. II you are just to yourselves,
OF far greater lahors to come; but what
is well begun Is half done, If there be
aught Of serious aud real Ia lifo--and you
will find, as you como to deal with life,
that it 10 only tridiug men or bad mon
who doubt its seriousness and reality
il there be any scene that Ia grave and
earnest, 1t ia that Of youths like YOU.
selves. fitted by the advantages of educa
ton to become. each one. power for
good or for eternal evil for himself or
herself, standing ut the threshold OF &C.
tive life and about to take part in its con
flict.
| assume and believe--for you arc
youag, and should be generous tina,
While you look forward, each to your
personal prosperity and advancement
you look to these, only. as they may b.
attained by dint Of proving yourselve.
unselfshly serviceable to your fellow
men. The same prizes which, won II
tho service Of mankind, not merely Adorn
but confer substantial happiness upol
the bearers, are turned to torments whcl
! worn In selfshness. Be all that prldo
ambition. or the love Of enjoyment car
suggest; but let these things come to yo,
as adjanots, accomplishments, to tho ont
purpose Of serving, In such REASONABLE,
and orderly ways - Providence ha,
marked out for you, your day aud gener
alton. The purpose which you form thi.
day may, and probably will, determine
your happiness fer this life-perhaps 10,
that to come.
have spoken TO you thus briefly Of
the ends of life. Now let me add q word
AS to the means of their attainment Yor
have, with more or less faithfulness, de
voted yourselves to the scholastic pur.
SUITS of your university. Let me. as you
| finish them, warn you against two errors
into one or the other Of which young
peoplein your situation are apt to fall
The FIRST is that of responding over op
portunities neglected and an imagination
that the neglects Of an academic and col
| legiate course are to be necessarily fata
in after life The other 10 that Of sup
posing now that your collegiate course
is finished. you are equipped for the war
fare OF the world, and are In little neet
OF additional preparation.
For every hour that you have wasted
If any you have wasted. you may ano
will. II you arc to be successful, have t
spend another, torn, ii may and probably
will be. from the stern duties OF praoti
cal business. But life is all before 70,
yet; you have only seen its curtains rise
and II in any way you feel that in tn,
past you have failed. you may live K
learn that between the ages OF twenty o
forty the real education Of man take
place. Aud so on the other hand, yo,
must know that your collegiate trainin,
has merely placed you in possession OF til
tools with which you are to build you
life. Their sharpening hasyet to come
In that swift contact with the world whic
you are about to encounter; their uso ia
yet to be learned in many rude strue
gle. Life is one long education. Happ
circumstances, liberal and wise publ
prodigy have given you, at the outset,
great advantage. Do not forget that II
who spoke as never man spake has toll
us that from him 10 whom much ha
been given, much will be required.
Ladies and gentlemen. you will no,
receive the degrees aud diplomas t,
which you are entitled.