The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1878-07-03
MISCELLANY.
AN ADDH Ess

AN ADDR Ess
Delivered by Mr. E. E. Phillips to his Private School in
New Hope, Pa june 1873 on the occasion of its clos
ing exercises
The time has now arrived for you to lay o.
side your books and think of taking rest,
though, doubtless, you have been thinking of
this for some times The time is up which it
was decided at the outset should be the length
of this school, and it is my privilege, before
we part company, to say word to you.
do not suppose that you desire an extend
ed address from one who has now been talking
to you for two years, but in compliance with
your request that should make you a speech
on this occasion, have prepared some re-
marks summing up in measure tiie work
that has been done by us and offering some
suggestions and advice which have thought
might be of interest to you. Not that there
is any scarcity in the market of these COM
modities, for the quantity is unlimited and
the supply inexhaustible. Not because they
are obtained with any difficulty, for they can
be had for the asking, yea, without asking
They are very cheap, indeed, but notwith-
standing this they may be of some value to
you. will not, however, affiiot you long.
An occasion like the present ought to be of
deep interest both to teacher and pupil. To
both alike it furnishes peculiarly fitting op-
portunity to survey the field over which we
have passed and to compare the results with
what was undertaken.
In such a survey, among other things,
should be noted any neglect OF duty, any op-
portunities lost, any lack of interest in the
work. We should ask ourselves whether the
time has, in every case, been well spent. The
survey is mainly, you see, of personal ma
ttire.
This occasion is of special interest to you
because with most of you to-day ends your
school days, and these closing exercises intro
duce change in your lives the results of
which are more or less uncertain but depend
largely upon the work which we are now
bringing to close.
Changes like these are always attended
with more or less anxiety, as we leave course
of life which may have become monotonous
and devoid Of interest and enter upon one
somewhat more exciting and uutfied. No
change of a very marked character probably,
awaits any of you. You will not know the
anxieties attendant upon the entrance upon
life of self-dependence. You will move along
in much the usual way for time, but soon
you will be casting about and the question
"What shall do ? . viii couFo to you /
would thatI could say something to you upon
10 MT hot
AS look over our country to-day at her
distressed condition and see the wretched con-
dition of our national politics and the low
state of morals into which many of our peo-
pie have fallen, can see many things that
ought to be done and if not done by such as
you, will, fear, forever remain undone
There is great feed at present, in our land
of men and women who are faithful to their
trusts. Unfaithfulness in Office is the great
crime of our people. They seem to be pos
sessed with it as with mania. 1t is seen in
all branches Of business. All trades have suf-
fered and are now suffering much from it. 1t
has done much towards producing the pres
ent depressed condition of business 1t is
among the officials of banks, insurance and
trust companies and in thousands of counting
houses all over the land. 1t is prominent a.
mong State and U. s. officials, the men whom
the people put into Office and who are under
bonds to the people for a careful administra-
ton of the duties of their offices and an hon.
est disbursement of the peoples funds.
How has our national pride been brought
down with Sn as1lv faNu x,,a,f,f bv tho die
graceful revelations of fraud and corruption
among those high in Office, who ought to be
high in air.
Look at both the great political parties of
our nation. See in what a muddle they are
even now. One party is endeavoring to show
mony ola sef-confessed pejurer. The trouble
is that the fraud is too apparent on both sides,
the rascality is too conspicuous it is admit
ted by everybody and needs no investigation
to prove it, But cannot enter, at length, In
to the subject and show how you are affected
by it, and what you can do to dispel the dark
cloud which hangs SO ominously over us. 1t
is plain that there is plenty to do, and let me
say that you can do much each of you by ed
ucating public opinion, by expressing your
disapprobation of dishonesty and unfaithful-
ness at all suitable times, by casting your
votes for honest men and women (you may all
have an opportunity to vote one of these days.
and especially by being faithful yourselves
your honest example will have its influence
Nobody lives without influencing Others But
what are you going to do? This is no idle
question. suggest and recommend that for
time you serve your country and yourselves in
The great work of teaching.
I make this suggestion for the following
reasons !: When a person is we'll qualified for
any kind of work he ought to do that work.
You have now been over quite a wide range
of studies and ought To- Tzke Use of the
knowledge and discipline which YOU have gain
ed both for your own good and Chat of others.
More is expected Of you now than was expect
ed two years ago. The second reason is the
mental and moral improvement which must
of necessity attend this work. No one can
engage in this profession with an adequate
sense of the grave responsibility of its duties
and watch the gradual unfolding of the youth