Decorah-posten., 1888-09-19
Address of Mr.. L. M. Enger
TO THE STUDENTS OF DECORAE
INSTITUTE AT CITIZENS
RECEPTION.
OF Decorah Institute!

Students of DEBORAH INSTITUTED
1t pleases me greatly to meet so many
young people who in search of knowledge
and education have decided to come TO
DEBORAH Institute. 1t is safe to say you
have decided wisely. and l. congratulate
you upon your choice
1t is also a pleasure to me, to be allowed
to welcome you to DEBORAH. | wish you
may have many truly happy hours while
here among us, that may in future be like
gems in your memory when your thoughts
wander back to the happy school days at
DEBORAH Institute.
take great interest in this school. Its
wonderful growth and success, have been
to me as a success of my own. Ii was
here twelve years ago | had my first prac-
teal drill in the English language. 1t is
true. | had attended District Schools be
fore: but these schools are planned for
American children, and can not be eXpec-
ted to suit a grown up foreigner. felt a
personal need of a school of a different
plan, and | found what | looked for here,
and here | had to begin, so to speak, anew.
| well remember how, when | ran against
common English words, the meaning OF
which | could not make out, Prof. Brock
enridge would easily define them by nam
ing the same words in my native tongue.
| remember how, step by step, after hay
ing learned the meaning of the more com
mon words. | was instructed in the art OF
composing in the English language, so as
to be able to communicate in it to others.
What a joy.
| may also state at the same time, if Prof.
Breckenridge does not object, that | be-
came his teacher in the Norwegian lang
uage. | spent many a happy hour with
him reading some of Norway's choicest
literature. | need not state to you, that
he was the best scholar | ever had. He
soon spoke the language plainly and cor
rectly. That this is his rule about lang
uage you will soon perceive. To those
among your number of my own country
peoI lie, who come here to study he lang
uage of our adopted country, as well as its
customs in order that you may become
better fitted for intelligent citizenship,
permit me to say from my " experience
you have chosen wisely,
Means and circumstance may COMPEL
YOU to give but little time to school privi-
lodges, and you must use this to the best
advantage. You may not see yourselves
able to take a collegiate course involving
six or seven years, nor would you have
practical need for that kind of an educa-
ton. Here you will find inst what you
need. But permit me to urge that you
, take all the time you can here-take time
enough to finish up the studies you com
! mence. You will not regret it.
The necessity of education and mental
development, is too keenly felt in our time
to need any comments from me. Com
mon plain labor is being more and more
performed by machinery; but it takes prac-
teal heads and hands to control it. The
work that mostly calls for our strength
now, is that which can not be done by
machinery and which demands intellect
and skill to perform.
knowledge ~elevates the mind, when i'm
parted by a teacher, who aims TO promote
| good morals and good character; and it is
| not in school hours only, that the careful
principal holds up the importance OF a
[ Christian and upright career. He also
: watches his scholars ways and associations
r when outside of the schOolroom. 1t is
safe to say, that the parents, who send
their girls and boys here, may rest assured
that theirs are as we'll cared for morally as
: they reasonably would be at home. This
| nave seen.
! The small expence in attending thi:
school is a fact all are familiar with. The
true economy practiced here, is a grea
help to one of small means.
ANY further comments on this are sup
erfuous. All over this part of the coun
try and even 5 or 600 miles from here, yol
a find men and women who have some tim
or another attended this school. You vii
II find men of prominence and influence il
their communities who will tell you, the,
once were scholars of DEBORAH Institute
:, They will also tell you they are glad the,
;. were. and that is what l heartily wish an
: hope, you may once say: | hope you vii
J.. saw. YOU are glad, you were scholars at De
W. corah Institute, and | again welcome 20
. to DEBORAH.
Loo To hiOS pr hnsr