Nebraska advertiser., 1878-06-06
bid you farewell-to all, farewell.
CLOSING REMARKS BY PROF. Nc.
KENZIE.

CLOSING REMARKS BY PROF. Me-
KENZIE.
GRADUATES OF THE BRowNvILLE HIGH SCHOOL
1t is fitting a, this time that you should carefully
retrospect the past, and candidly, truthfuly, YET
calmly survey the fields that stretch out before
you, the true arena of your life's real work.
Tonight you erect your first monument. OF
plant, as it were, corner post from which tc
reckon your future lines and angles, as you run
the courses of your after-life. This is the first
victory; and knowing, as do, something of the
pleasure that throbs in the breast of the young
man or women when any goal has been reached,
after arduous struggle with difficulties, here
by congratulate you on the achievement already
made, and would not in any degree abate or dam
pen this JOY by ominous or untimely words Of
future tolls and sorrows. What you have al
ready done can hardly be overestinsated if prop
erly viewed. The knowledge acquired, power
to think, the ability to systematic and utilize
that thought, the habits of patient, close, earn
est study, a will under the full control of en-
lightened and well disciplined reasoning faculties,
made thoroughly active by high motives and
lofty ambitions, are grand acquisitions.
The possibilities before you cannot be esti-
mated. In6Aity alone can measure the results
within your grasp. Like the man standing be-
fore the massive iron doors of treasure-iilled
vaults, you have the key and the magic numbers
of the intricate numerical combinations in your
possession, and the untold wealth, the universe,
lies before you. Apply the key and enter; fill
you Golfers, revel in the luxury that true wisdom
alone can give. But do not lerget-the treasures
are not your own until the store is entered and its
riches appropriated by your own personal efforts.
The banker may yield to other hands his key
may dePutize a servant TO fetch this golden treas
ures. But not so with mental wealth. With
intellectual treasures, the Possessor cannot acquire
by proxy. Whatever of toll is incident to the
acquisition, he must undergo. Whatever of
weariness inheres in the getting, he must endure.
Toll by the earnest seeker is gladly borne, while
thick along the way are seen its rich fruits and
you well know that certain victory awaits the
efforts of the faithful, constant, intelligent toier
The read to true greatness lies very near the
beaten track Of ordinary life. You need not
search for, or long to find, your field of labor.
The secret promptings of your own heart, and
an enlightened judgment, are usually safe guides
to choice to your proper field. Do not mistake
The highway Of every true life passes over noun
tains of difficulties through deep valleys of sor-
row, dsapPointments and Affections; over rug
ged places, obstructed by brambles of envy en-
twined by the Poison-ivy of SANDER; and over
the rough rocks Of bitter, selfish opposition
But the brave heart will overcome them all
Let your path be right onward, with integrity,
honor, truth, virtue, and the graces of temper
ance, patience, charity and forbearance as con-
and noble, the brave of all ages, have travelled
the same road before you. 1t is the kings high
way; and though apparently toilsome and des-
olate way to most of mankind, yet to the true
hearted traveller it is pleasant path, for all the
evils that throng it are but the hedges on either
side.
You leave these halls tonight The throng-
ing memories of the past come thick and fast
about you. Scarcely a year, it seems to you,
since first your infant steps ran eagerly forward
to welcome the teacher Of your earliest school
days. Yet years have flown; teachers changed
step by step you have moved forward and up
ward companions of early school days, one by
one, have gone from you; some TO sleep on yon-
der hill others to take part in the stern battle
Of business life. Little by little have the diff
cultes and intricacies Of science, literature, math-
ematics and language, been mastered, until to-
night only four of all those hundreds that in all
these years thronged those halls, are left. You
gaze about you. Many others gaze and wonder
why so few are left. Is the prize so little worth,
that you should thus have won the goal alone
Or, have you, in your zeal to reach, showed
ack of wisdom? Look over the records of past
achievements. Who were the victors Some
ew, unaided by the schools, have made them
elves name; but the grand army who have
zone forth to certain victory were first in the
anne arena where you stand tonight. Let no
'oung man or woman lightly esteem the garland
hat the schools bestow upon the faithful pupil
shen his tasks have been completed, and he
caves the halls for wider fields of labor. 1t is
constant benedicaion, crown of glory, that he
:arries with him in every walk of life. Are IL
led honors nobly won and worthily borne,
lightly esteemed by men2 Is it no honor to
wear the badge that bespeaks the man fit asso-
late for the greatly learned of earth? If badges
If honor, rightly bestowed, gives any man a title
% respect, whom shall we consider more deserv-
ng than the faithful, earnest student'
1t gladdens my heart, and the hearts of the
members of the Honorable School Board, to be
,rs tonight. You have done well and nobly,
md if true to yourselves, you need not fear, in
he race of life, any former companion who has
gnobly left the field. The advantage is greatly
IN your side.
The means already yours, will grow strength
Increase, knowledge enlarge, experience give
wisdom, in the exercise of present requirements.
And would you have freshness and vigUr, push
lard the object of your life. Waste not in idle
reaming your precious moments. Lefty your Pur-
'oses be grand and ennobling. Would you have
n enduring monument to your greatness-build
t of human hearts. Let acts of unsel6sh, self
acriicing devotion to humanity, lift the race.
20 up, first, yourself; the race will follow.
Finally, in all your ways, forget not that the
ye of the Master is upon you. "In all your
Ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your
ath."