The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1880-06-17
OUR BARK Is LAUNCHED-WE MUST
NOT DRIFT BUT STEER.

| MI DNlf DO l - ZEN.
[Rsssy read by Charles william Frank during the
| graduating exercies OF the Cairo High school, Fri
| day evening, June 4th lsSO.l
Life has appropriately been termed an
ocean, on which the fierce trumpet Of the
storm hath summoned up her laundering
bands and its waters are dashed in foam
| We are the vessels that are to sail Tor
brief time upon liie's ocean. We seem but
mere specks upon this unknown deep, but
this must not discourage US, We must strug-
gle with its dangers aud try to overcome
them. On our voyage outward We will en-
counter storm after storm, tempest after
tempest, in fact our whole passage will
prove to be one continuous struggle with
the many enemies of mankind
Let us then see to il that We be as sea-
worthy, sturdy and strong as possible, in
order that we may find our way through
the mists and fogs that will enyeop US.
To assume this shape much care for the
full development of all the faculties Of
which we are possessed must be taken.
We cannot hope to safely follow, nor can
any chart be drawn Of our route, for time
produces many changes. The rocks Of
superstition and Ignorance which were once
in the way, have disappeared TO some ex-
tent, but huge boulders of corruption and
intideity have reared their heads where
once was found deep water and safe
course.
A brief experience soon teaches Us that
the channel is decidedly narrow and hard
to follow, but as the bright star Polaris
guides the mariner on his course, so does
the brighter star Of hope shine to guide the
mariner on life's voyage into the quiet and
sought haven of "rest' We must suffer
no cloud Of "despondency' to come between
this star and ourselves, for without hope
we can accomplish but little. Without hope
dependency fastens upon us, and from de-
spondency We fall into despair from which
we seldom can escape. While watching
this bright star Of the future, we
must not forget that persistent effort is
necessary to the end, and consequently to
secure the success Of the voyage 1t is
plain from even the nature Of things that
perseverance shall, and almost always does,
attain the end il seeks. We see proof, of
this in the world of matter and in the world
Of mind. 1t is the constant action OF the
water that has given us the great MIA.
CARA" and the grand canyons Of the Colo.
RADIO, 50 in the world of mind if We turn
our attention to the discoveries that have
taken place in the history Of our globe do
we find them the results Of perseverance,
We have all heard Of the patient Kcpler
who hunted down theory after theory, aim
ing to discover the shape of the orbits OF
the planets. until after years OF labor bis eff
forts were rewarded by the discovery of the
grand laws which control their movements
| 1t is through the patient efforts of It's dew
otecs that chemistry has been raised from a
science of superstition To the really great
/ and noble science which il Is. II has
| failed indeed to reveal the philosophers
stone and the elixir Of life, but it does re-
veal the composition Of those far distant
heavenly bodies, as well as the minutest
atoms on our own earth, 1t seems fact that
nature reveals her secrets only to the persist
ent enquirer, and the names Of Copernicus
Keplcr and our own Morse and Edison,
will live through all ages, for the world de-
lights to honor ITS workers But Of what
advantage are hope and perseverance to us
without the aid of true and moral courage!
For what can coward hope! How
would Columbus have Jared had he not
proven courageous, threatened on all sides
by enraged and hopeless men. He calmly
and resoutey quietcd their fears. How his
courage and perseverance were rewarded is
doubtless known to every Amcri'
can. America was discovered and
the fame Of Columbus fixed as
the greatest explorer and navigator Of the
age.
The future has wisely been concealed
from US, but we may know something o