Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-06-28
Able Address by Hon. william Henry
Clifford.

mond; P. S. Lindsey, A. B., Norridgewock
w. G. Martin, Lowell; A. X. Meader
Waterville; W. II. Merrill, Etna; G. P
Morgan, New Gloucester; I. J. Murphy, A
b., Portland; II. w. Page, A. NJ, Rockport
j. G.. Quimby, Sandwich, n H. j. A. Ran
dali. Limington F. E. Sweetsir, Saco; G.
w. Weeks, Cornish; W. W. Wilcomb
Chester, n. ii.
| The officers of the class are:
| President William W. Wilcomb.
| Vice President-George W. Weeks.
| Secretary and Wilbur G. Mar.
tin.
| Marshal-Henry A. King.
Orator-Hartstein w. Page
| Committee-Corydon W. Harlow, ]. Gran,
Quimby, Charles A. bennett.
The following was the order of exercises
Music.
Prayer.
Address, Hon. VIM. Henry Clifford
Music.
| Oration-Parting Address,
Hartstein w. Page
Music.
Presentation of Diplomas, President Hyde.
Music.
| Mr.. Clifford spoke substantially as fol-
| flows;
| The spectacle of graduating class from
any institution of learning awakens in ma
tured minds peculiar interest. 1t is common
| to hear that we know nothing of the future,
| but the lessons man has learned of science
| life, and at the feet of our great teacher ex-
| perience, enables him to delineate a course
| of preparation, which in a measure antici-
| pates, in the light of general principles thos e
contingencies of future life which we car
| not accurately foretell. This seems to in
dictate that in time we may lAravel some of
| the apparent contradictions in common life
and, at last. see as we are seen and know as
we are known. But education has its we'll
defined limits. Its principles and maxims
may be taught and learned. But its essential
essence and refined spirit, that which from
years of education distils itself like precious
| extract into the intellect and character
making them wise and sweet and gentle
aud humane--this cannot be transplanted-
| this is solely brought by the long trains of
years, bearing into and depositing their
| freight of instruction in the storehouse of
each individual soul. This result of educa
ton cannot be bequeathed like property
| live in an unreal world; we build for our
earthly habitaton the unsubstantial fabric of
dream. The sad duty of education is to
invade this unreal world, break open the
gorgeous prison-house in which young life
incarcerates itself, and point to the real out
side world. But sometimes these youthful
illusions are the direct outgrowth of the
earnest and devoted character of the minds
over which they are cast. To conscientious
natures duties seem great and vast and
dangerous. Only to careless souls does life
| seem playground and garden. But to
HIM who grapples with the duties of life. al
ways armed with conscientious preparation, all
difficulties gradually disappear. True educa-
, ton cannot give any prOspectives down through
the coming years or show the short sighted
plodder here where his narrow pathway is to
lead but it can give correct photographs of
real life, painted by the sunlight of the real
world. Education teaches how much of labor
must be paid for a little knowledge. 1t shows
how real useful life is only an aggregation of
little things infinitely, laboriously and aceur-
ately done. 1t shows how movement and
progress is the only reliable thing in the
world, and that fxedness is deceitful and un-
| trustworthy. With education you need not
fear the duties of life however potentious
sibilities seek him who is prepared. They
show him who is not ready. There is an at
traction between the educated man and OPP
portunity. They will surely sometime meet
But do not think that great projects or ambi-
tons at the beg ginning are the sure precursors
of frutfulness at the close. Be not disma, ed
at the simple, rude beginnings. Often they
are the circumstances by which the
metal of our lives is tried
The simple, plain beginning speaks
only of shining future through the spirit
which anmates the doing, and the manner in
which are done the simple duties those rude
beginnings have imposed. Thus habit is
formed-and habits are the banks within
which the streams of our lives are enclosed
and the influences that control their direc-
tons. But keep always on the ground.
True self is the true centre of the world.
| Buildings in clouds are more evanescent than
| those founded on the Scriptural sand. When
a man with worthy purpose in his heart is
seeking his owl honor and elevation, he is
| pursuing the most direct course he can take
| for the elevation of his fellow man. You
cannot eliminate self in this world as long
as YOU are man, from any purposes how
ever great or grand. Run along the iron rails
| of YOUR own individual career:
Each man is his own star,
| And the soul that can render An honest and per
feet man,
| Commands all influence and all fate"
| Man wrapt in visions and ecstatic dreams may
muse on lives devoted to the welfare of all
nersons but ourst Ives but this is dissipation,
4 d such Authorizations vanish before the
actual light of real day. or sink into darkness
of an Fastening night. There isa selhshness
that is high and holy. 1t keeps man in the
| g IL,
marches of the world. Spend no time in
irving to lop offending branches from this
tree of our humanity-thus sapping its vi
talitv, and robbing it of verdure, bloom and
beauty. Let it feel the storms of out-of-
doors There is where the weak portions
will be amputated. In the great arena of
stirring life seek to elevate myself and
thereby you are aiding to elevate mankind
The best way to aid in the progresses OF
medical science is in practically working out
some of the great problems of medicinal cur
ing and in fighting with the great Dragon
phy steal dis.ase-not in hermit musings II
the closet or the cave. Medicine promise:
great discoveries for the future anC
presents a most alluripg field for those
earnest and devoted characters whs
are willing to earn and win the glory the,
would like to wear But life is only an sg
prepation of opportunities. Each successive
opportunity however comes but once. This
angel of opportunity comes but once. We
must be up and ready to catch his blessing
, AS he goes, or before we are aware, the NOR
row dawns. aud that angel of opportunity !,
gone, and he cometh hot again. There il
no turning back in human life aud taking
, more enlightened start from point onc'
, raised. livery man with a fixed. INV aver
ing. worthy purpose in his life, sheds invigor
a,ing influences as he goes. No vague an
indeierminaie objects will suffice. Man trul
AMI rightly conferred ON himself best work
out the problem of life Spend 10 time il
hunting for spots on the disc of your Owl
; soul. Rather summon and marshal its force
for action in the active held of lite aud dut
and here is where its beauty or its imperfeC
tons will appear.
At His Post Day and Night,
The yigilant imp. indigestion, goads us with b
manv.lasDed scourge- Each asl is disb II
symnto1, No eonlfor in eating, misery atterward
aee.r4r.