The Wilmingtonian., 1885-11-21
A Word to the Students.


We should like to direct the attention of
that class of young men who have Just
taken mp course of mechanical drawing at
the Institute Building to the extreme i'm
portance and great value of the branch of
education which they have so fortunately
and with such clear-sghted forethought
taken up.
1t is extremely probable of course that
these young men have a tolerably fair idea
of the possible advantages accruing to them
under fair acquaintance with the science
and art they are studying.
Still, as the WILMINGToNIAN has already
said in encouragement, no help can be over
done in aiding those who so worthily help
and choose for themselves.
Mr.. L. G. Gardner, President of the
| Springfield ant Association makes protest
against the idea that a knowledge of art
concerns the few. "The best designers in
our manufactures of specially artistic goods,
those who command the largest pay-the
five thousand dollar salaries-are imported.
The reason why some of the most profitable
manufactures cannot be carried on in Amer
lea is because native skilled laburers-that is
artistically educated Northumberland be
found The question that chiefly concerns
most of us in our life work is a1hat shall ace
do to be SaUed from liUeS Of poverty and unre-
mitting toll or the deeper degradation of dis
honorable dependence or selfseeking at the
expense of others. The millions of educated
young men and women cannot be "profess.
ors," commercial agents." "financers, +"
or even genteel farmers. They must work
with their hands to produce something that
can be given in return for he gold that
comes from the mine and a grain that
overhows the prairies. Nova there is no
equivalent to be given for trse crude pro-
ductions but The refined prod cts # thought,
that is artistic soork. This is 10 far off Utop-
ian scheme for the elevation of mankind.
1t is here and now it is already begun
Hundreds of men and women are sustaining
themselves comfortably and hororably by
recently acquired skill in art .dreds
more of young men have solved the ,blem
of life, so far as independent support is con-
cerned by their skill in various departments
of applied art And each one of these who
thus employs the talents that are among
Gods best gifts to His children is no longer
burden and clog upon society but NOV.
ing, elevating force"
ss9diatG llG1e aGa a1ning words-but
every letter jf them bears Ithe Imprint OF 4
fact.
By and by when you graduate in your
classes from this most excellent of all schools
ever commenced in Delaware, it may be
that you do not find yourselves paraded at an
Opera House gold-medaled commencement,
but you will hold in your own strong right
hand and clear intellect the grand prize of
4 straight road to self support You COM
pare as giants with your brother graduates
Of the High School. You will have gradua-
ted as practical, logical aids to the needs
and demands ofthe present moment. In no
sense that can be comprehended could your
parents, your friends, or society in general
hail with worther qualification the gradu-
ation of such a class as you are formulating
yourselves to develop You are what Will
nington needs and what the whole country
needs and will need for generations to come.