The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-07-01
SchOol-Days Over.

Youths companion
The long summer holidays are beginning,
and i'm very short time the eIrtire school-go-
ing world will be enjoying the summer va
cation. AS it is every year. - now this sea-
son will be the last of its kind to whole ar
my of boys and girls.
When this vacation has ended, they will
enter not the more serious business of life =
for nothing in life is more serious than the
manner in which SchOol-,layS are employed,
but that permanent occupation for which
their schooling has fitted failed TO fit
them.
1t seems matter of little moment that
some boy whom we have known has left
school, and j. now to go into Il store; or that
young man has finished his college course
his medical terms, or his law >tudieS, and will
at once begin to elbow his way into the ranks
of profession. To the boy or the Young
man it is not small matter. Nor is IL an un-
worthy subject of the noblest Imagination to
follow i'm thought those who now cease Ia he
under masters and teachers, and begin To
challenge the world as men and women.
Cast a glimpse forward score of yecrS. We
have reached the wear 1905. Among the boys
who this month bid farewell To- >chool-bOoks
are some of the merchant-princes of that
time. American colleges are about to gradu-
ate young men who will then be eminent pro
feSSorS, eloquent lawyers. distinguished cler-
gymen, skilful physicians.
Th3e slim young fellows, with sprouting
boards. will he the active politicians of the
first decade of the twentieth century, who
Will jaImtily push aside the middle-aged men
of to-day old fOgic>' They viii be en-
tering Congress by the score and will be
bodily assuming the leadership in
deed, the dream of some enthusiastic reform
erS i realized. and the political a. well a.
the social Sceptre is welded by women.
But whether this threatened revolution
takes place, or the lords of creation continue
Ia rule, there Is grand future for the sweet
girl graduates. and for the Young misses
who simply get through school and leave it.
Whether a. wives and mothers, or as the
minstering angels OF the world. or a. per
forming whatever dnty God has assigned
them, they will then be- part of the most
vigorous and helpful class of their seN.
Perhaps that sclf-reiant young lady who
reads the valedictory, Grade and SCHOOLGIRL
ish in thought and expression, will he toned
down, and developed into a famous writer
who knows Who can guess what the lit
eTsiry tastes of the next generation will be-
and why should not women guide and con-
troll in deciding the matter?
Alas, how many disappointments are i'm
store for these spirited young souls How
these fresh fair faces of boys and
girls will be Wrinklcd with
care and sorrow How many will neglect
duty, how many viii be tempted and fall,
how many will try earnestly to reach the
goal they have i'm sight, but will fail, how
many viii have their ambition crushed by
what will seem To them an unappreciatiye
and stOny-hearted world
Fortunately for human progress, none of
us anticipate failure. We can look forward
philosOphically and say-of that class of fifty
boys and girls leaving shool forty will be very
hundrum people twenty years hence, and
only two of them will be known beyond Il
narrow circle. But each one of the fifty in
tends and expects that some other fellow and
himself shall be the two who are destined TO
be famous.
That is well. Encouragement comes soon
enough. Failure need never come Ia any
one. What is failure? Not inability tn win
fame and fortune. but the neglect To- do faith
fully that which Providence places before us
| tO be done and a cowardly refusal To bear the
burdens, whatever they may be, that are laid
upon Us.
Whoever be his intellect and his energy
however conspicuous, throws aside his books
this month, and is destined 10 be among the
great OF the earth, will win his name by
steady and unfailing discharge of duty.