Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1879-07-31
ESSAYS OF THE HIGH SCHOOL GRADU.
aTlNG CLASS.
ssThe Marble waiteth.''

OuA DNAuC S1Sosus shAOo6u AAAS ~
finite wisdom and goodness, has supplied
v t; iur Tue pick.axe, 1ne maIiet and tic
chisel to convert 1t into forms of rare and
varied beauty. With what toll and per
severance is each block of marble loos.
ened and removed from its resting place.
With what careful, patie3t, labor does the
skillful workman change the same block
of stone into figure beautifully design.
ed and executed. Beauty is seen in every
outline, from the fine chiseling of the
delicate features to the workmanship of
the drapery and surroundings. A halo OF
wisdom, purity and virtue seems to encir.
Gle the face 1t spe axis TO Us of q life of
cultivation, happiness and beauty. Let
US gaze long at this facsimile of a life,
exquisitely nodded and sha2ened, for the
Masters calling! How beautiful is this
comparison TO our lives which are every
day receiving clippings either for better
or for worse. The marble is waiting, and
as the Tiny cuttings are wrought upon the
pure surface, each must be carved care
fully lest we mar the beauty and leave a
disfgured life. As the artist molds and
shapes his figures, so we must mold and
cultivate our faculties, our affections, and
our desires. THE proper study of man
kind is man." and he is endowed with
certain powers: 1st, moral; I'd, mental;
and Sd, physical powers. LIST, the moral
powers. These stand first, and conse-
quently are the most important of the
three classes. Here lies tho power to love,
hate, or fear, to judge between the right
and wrong, and love of virtue, valor, for
giveness, patience, meekness, unite in
forming a life pure in both act and feel
ing. The mental powers require deep
study and careful cultivation. In order
that the faculties of the mind may be
fully developed, there must be constant
reaching out and collecting of The material
by which the mental powers are strength
ened and fitted for use. The improve.
ment Of the mind powers forms the bril-
liancy and lustre which characterize
men of education and learning. We now
come to the Sd class, or physical powers,
These arc somewhat intimately connec-
tea with the other two, for in order to
improve either the mental or moral pow.
ers, 10 any extent, there must be a good |
constitution. The workman never rears |
his figure upon weak fnu ndatinn. He !
'e!ects q b,"eh wIlnOut flaw, so that his !
work may ever rest securely. Can we
lot learn lesson from this illustration.
Ind rear, upon sure foundation, that
most sublime specimen of all sculpture.
life! Oh, with what care and fore.
bought should we carve the marble of
'ur lives, carefully rounding and polish.
ng the corners and rough edges, scan.
ing and detecting, If possible, any Jaw
u detect. until at last the beautiful work
u i'te stands forward, a counterpart of
nat DIVINE ilfe-even unto the measure,
i the stature, of the fulIness, of Christ"
me face is the index Of the mind, and
ven to the careless observer how much
r how little may 1t express, There are
aces that show many years of experience
nd careful thought; faces that we ad.
Dire and are drawn toward by some IN.
power, and by frequent meet.
ng with such lives we are betterod men,
lily and morally. Lives that admit Of
UGH high polish are like precious stones. l.
ostiy and few in number. Like the dia.
lond they must be cut and polished with
le greatest care, and the more labor ex-
ended upon them, the purer and brighter
re the radiated rays which shed beam [
light and beauty over those with whom I
icy associate. How sad it is that such "
yes are 80 rare, and that, on the contrary. {
e find every day lives being distigured g
+ tune aud for eternity, a curse to them. h
Ives and to the world. Is there no rene. I,
for the latter case? We read every day G
institutions founded and maintained Y
r just such purposes; but the great er. d
r lies in the first ten years Of the life. c
al the feet then been taught to walk In b
e marrow way" and the mind to think. 81
ID lips to speak right thoughts. the flu. a
re never would have held such sorrow c.
d disgrace. Yet holding the idea that X
are endowed with the power OF dis. ii
|mlnatlng between right and wrong. N
en- we are, in large degree, responsi. r.
for the improving Of our talents, T
'ether our early training was what il Il
ould have been or not. In view of this h
It how necessary it is for US to begin ear. u