The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-11-16
IN WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE.
Mr.. A. P. Edgerton's Remarkable Ad.
dress to the School Children Of Fort
Wavne
From the Chicago Trihnne.

From the Chicago Tribune.
The strength which lies in words Of one
syllable has been often demonstrated, and
no doubt the simple directness of this ad-
dress delivered to a graduating class at
Fort Wayne impressed itself on the
minds of the listeners with a force that
made them remember it. The president
Of the board of trustees was Mr. A. p
Edgerton, afteward national civil service
commissioner, and his advice, given
eleven years ago, is still worth preserving.
The greater part of it is here quoted:
This day we close for the year the
Fort Wayne free schools, and we now
part with you, the girls and boys we are
no more to teach.
II say girls and boys for when three
score and ten years have come to YOU
you will be glad to have your friends say
that health and peace of mind have kept
your hearts warm; that you wear no
brow of gloom; are not borne down with
age but still, in hearts, are girls and
boys When these years come and
hope they will come to all, the tide of
time will roll back and tell you of YOUR
school-tlme days, when the fair, the kind
and the true found love. but the false
heart found no friends, no tongues To
praise. These days bring rich gifts TO
age, and when you shall cease to think of
them your fire has burnt low, and your
light has gone out. You have been here
taught in the hope that the free schools
of Fort Wayne would help to make YOU
of use to your friends and to the world;
would give you faith in all that is good
and true. and lead you to seek work; for
this you must seek and do if you would
have a good name, wealth, home, a
charge to keep, or trust to serve. Go
forth with bold, true heart to seek the
work for you to do.
Keep in mind that the hours of work
run through each day, and that Gods
great law of life is: In the sweat of thy
face shall thou eat bread
Now for YOU young men, this truth is
told
GO where you will through the world.
and you will find on the front door of
shops and mills, of stores and banks. and
on ships, on farms, on roads, in deep
mines where men toll for wealth: where
laws are made that make some men too
rich, and men of worth and work through
all our land too poor where men by law
are taught to plot with sin, to spurn the
right, that charge and cost and spoil
may make old "Quirk's" law firms rich;
where law is so plead that the Judge
must guess to find what's law: where
quacks most fight over sick mems pains
set, and done to mind the proofs where
priests do preach and pray, and where
schools are taught this sign: Brains
viii Find Work Here
Don't fear. Step up and ask for
work. brains will get it it. Don't let 4
dare not wait on I would like the cat
that loves fish, but dares not wet her
foot.
If it be said, What can YOU do2 WIN
you learn a trade?' say i have none. but
can learn one and put brains in it When
you 60 to place where brains should
hunt for work and be sure to find IT, II
may be said TO you, DO YOU see that
plow? Can you hold and drive it deep
That plow, in its wise use, gives all men
food.
do you see that wheel and that crank
and those shafts and that press. and do
you hear the rush and the hiss Of the
steam which moves them2 Can YOU make
and hold and run them2 Can YOU build
and drive the works and wheels which
make the wealth of the earth and cause it
10 roll and to float 10 and fro from place
to place where it is best for man to useit}
Can you spin the thread and weave it.
which makes robes for kings, and silks
for the rich and vain. and dress for the
poor, and all sthat skill and art have
wrought by loom and hand for mans use?
These things are all shot through with
threads Of light-the light of mind and
are and skill which shines each day more
bright, and dims all the old by some new
found light, as the years go on.
III you say that you do not know how
TO do all this work, but you will try to
learn some of it and to do it we'll. then
will be said to you, Can you and viii ycu
work. And will you speak the truth and
in all things strive TO do no man wrong2'
II you say Yes. then all the doors where
mans good and great work is done will
swing for you TO pass in TO do your part
and thus you win see how God rules. in
all his ways, in mans good works and
deeds. Some may hope for fame, but If
they Goubt that God rules have not trust
and faith they well may fear their fate.