Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1885-06-26
NON on, SGD QU.B.

NON on, sBD QU.B.
II Chron. xix g. Consider what ye do"
These earnest words OF the Jewish king
to the judges in his land, may be applied
with equal emphasis TO the members Of this
graduating class.
Your course in our public schools il finish
ed your diplomas have been earned by hard
and long continued study, and now You stand
upon the eve Of q new and different life.
am sure that parents, teachers, and all inter.
ested in your future welfare, will join me in
this advice, Consider what ye do"
In ancient times, when the spirit OF caste
prevailed, the word uhO was more important
than now. The slightest word or deed by
enc OF the ruling class was fraught With great
weight, while the greatest wisdom or cour
age among the humber classes received but
small attention. Your class motto, mon qui.
sed quB" not tohO, but toidt voices the sen.
timent of our free America. Ia this favored
land the stress is put not upon ones anees.
tors OF rank, but upon his AitAiumonts and
merits. The question is, not who a person
may be, but what he is able 10 do Oppor
tunity il so wide that those Of humblest birth
may rise by study aud effort to places Of high
honor. Let US then consider few OF the
''tohGts' which will largely determine Jour
future veal or woe, your success or failure III
life.
l. Consider well what you san ! Heed the
command of the wise man "Be not rash
wi thy mouth" (Eocl. v:2.) In youth the
imagination is 30 vigorous, the feelings 30
buoyant the desire for expression so potent,
that there is great temptation to abuse lau-
guage. Perhaps no part OF speech suffers
more than the adjective. The superlatiye
degree is used, when the positive or compar.
alive is needed; intense words are employed
when milder ones would fully express the
truth. IL you should read the record OF all
your words spoken in q single day, fear
some would be amazed at the number of ex-
travagant and exaggerated statements made
and all no doubt would resolve in future to
be more careful in the use Of language
Words have untold possibilities of good or
evil, their right use ls therefore a matter of
great importance. A single tongue addicted
TO gossip or SANDER may curse an entire con-
munity, while base and lying words may lead
TO evil beyond your power to know.
At times you may be tempted to say IN
kind and singing words, but remember that
even when injured by others, it is your duty
to return good for evil blessing for curse
1t will always be better, for yourselves aud
others, TO speak generous words rather than
those bitter and bad. Obey the Psalmists
command, Keep thy tongue from evil, and
D.
for word spoken cannot be recalled, aud
the harm OF a wrong word may be very great
Make 1t motto 10 say what you mean, aud
to mean what you say. An accurate use Of
language is the mark of fine moral nature.
II wins confidence and respect, while reck-
less speech has small weight, and causes one
to be distTusted when most ia earnest Shun
rash VOWS, for they lead to bitter pain aud
regret. Make an invariable rule to promise
nothing which 1t is not right and wise TO per-
form. May your tongues be ruled by the
law OF kindness. May yeu have that self
control which is silent when silence is best
which always speaks the right word in the
right time and way.
2. What you do ia still more important
Ability and purpose are best shown not by
words, but deeds. Your worth TO the world
depends, not upon what You promise, but
what you perform. As an early dean Of
Westminster is said to have written
"say well is good, but do well Is better,
Do well seems the spirit, saw well is the hitter,
Say well is goodly, aud helps TO please,
But TO do well is cody, aud gives the world rase
say well to silence sometimes Is bound,
But do we'll Is free on every ground.
Say well has friends, some here, some there
But do well Is welcome eyerywhere."
hope no one Of You intends TO live life
of inglorlous ease, that you will not con
sent TO be drones and suggards in "A world
which stands in such need of earnest work.
IL is far from your purpose, l believe, to do
anything base or bad, anything TO bring
blush OF shame to your checks, or cause pain
TO parents and friends. You realize that ev
cry wrong act will bring injury to yourself
and Others, that it is better 10 do nothing
than to be guilty of anything the conscience
condemns.
Wisely choose your life work Study your
tastes aud capacities, and select the work for
which you are fitted. "WhatsoaVer thy hand
hndeth to do, do it with thy might" (Ecces.
* 10 Magnify your worn, this is the
golden secret of best achievement Honest
labor Is not a curse, but an unspeakAble blese-
ing, necessity for the best health OF mind
and spirit. Shun no task because it is COM
monplace. Be willing to do anything which
needs to be done, and will be helpful To 9th.
ers. Some of you may find the sphere Of
duty in the home. l hope you will realize
the greatness of the opportunity. Try TO
make your home all it can and ought to be
place of unfailing rest and refreshment
whose atmosphere of refinement and purity
shall be felt by all who enter its portals
Others may enter into business. Be thorough
in your chosen work. Master all its details
So shall you find delight in your handiwork
and be a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed. Should any prefer a professional
career, remember that art is long, but lie
is short" The longest life is too short to
master all that can or ought to be known
Rely not on genius, or a fatal facility, but
upon persistent effort which is overcome by
no encouragement, crushed by no defeat.
So shall your ability and knowledge find an-
pie scope, and by your work OF hand or
brain, the world will be richly blessed.
3. Carefully ponder what you will tdra.
Your minds are enriched by knowledge
your powers of attention, memory, and rea-
son have been trained, aud, what is more i'm
pOrtant, trust you have gained genuine
taste for study. To be strong and active
your minds must be daily fed with knowledge
The keys OF truth you now possess must DO
used TO unlock the tTeasure-hOuses of wisdom
Future experience will confirm the truth OF
Gibbons words 'The best and most i'm
pOrtant part OF a mans education IL thai
which he gains himself"
knowledge ia of two kinds voluntary
and involuntary. part of what we know
ia absorbed unoOnsciOusly from surroundings
aud associates. II Is due 10 no merit or ei.
fort OF ours yet the quality and quantity OF
this unconscious acquisition is in part subject
10 the will. Can your mental gains be large
il life is a narrow routine Will not your
minds be starved aud degraded il your asso,
ciates are ignorant and base Surround