The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1894-06-14

Lives of great men all remind us,
We can make our lives sublime
And departing leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time
1t is not their fame which stimulates US to
noble deeds. 1t is the patient waiting and
heroic endeavour which it costs them to OBJ
tain it. Samuel F. b. Morse, the inventor of
electromagnetic telegraph, waited eleven
years, seemingly in vain, for congress to
recognize his invention and appropriate
funds sufficient to test it.
Cyrus w. Field failed three times in at
tempting to lay the Atlantic cable, and said
that he would make it thirty, but that he
would succeed in his design.
When we contemplate the lives of those
who have won success and renown by earn
est, patient, persistent endeavour; the my
riads who have devoted themselves to the
uplifting and ennobling of humanity, life
has broader, deeper meaning to US than
ever before. We resolve that Excelsior
shall be the motto of our lives, whether In
success or adversely, whether our path be
strewn with roses or thorns, whatever our
lot, our aim shall be still onward and up
ward. With such an aim life cannot be a
failure. When we compare our achieve
ments with the achievements of the world
our knowledge with the sum total of all
knowledge, our attainments seem infinites-
finally small.
In the exercises of his powers of acquiring
knowledge man has grasped the laws of the
universe. The causes and effects of natural
phenomena he has explained and made to
conserve to his needs and comfort. BY his in
ventive genius he has brought the starry
hoo TO nc To hos inf no
earth and caused it to yield it's treasures of
wealth and knowledge His skill and work.
manship has conquered time and distance
and has made the darkness even as daylight.
Not content with the study of things about
him. he has sought out the laws of his own
being. At each step he sees new beauties
and mighty truths just beyond his grasp
This causes him to press on to investigate
to experiment, and if he fails to profit by the
failure, and with renewed zeal to dig deeper
and deeper until that truth is his own, only
to find that there are mightier truths be-
yond. Thus he is constantly led on hunger
ing for knowledge and never satisfied.
These sciences come to US clothed in such
simple language that the unlearned. or even
child can understands couched in such
deep and scientific phrases that it takes the
study of years to comprehend their import.
The sciences of which man has become mas
ter are almost innumerable and they have
cost much thought, painstaking labor, many
failures and disbursements. Other scien-
ces which are yet shrouded in mystery will
without doubt some day be revealed. But
the greatest achievements which man is able
to attain are but drop in the bucket when
compared with the infinite knowledge which
lies beyond and just out of his reach.
Struggle as we may, whatever may be the
reward of our lifelong endeavours, whether
it be success or failure if we do our best, we
trust that the knowledge we have gained,
the influence which we have exerted may
be for good and ever point in the onward
and upward direction.
We shall meet with many obstacles in our
pathway which we hope we may surmount
as we have those in the past by patient, hon
est labor.
We have received much aid from the eff
forts which we have put forth to acquire
our education. But our endeavoers would
have been almost fruitless had it not been
for the aid of the enacient teachers, whose
untiring efforts, encouragement and zeal
stimulated our desire for knowledge, and
helped us over many rough and thorny
places; nor could we forget the toll and
sacrifice of our parents, whose loving counsel
and timely advice created within us long
ing to make the most and best of life.
Should our efforts be crowned with success
the name of Mother" will encircle it with
halo of glory. If failure should be our por-
ton that name will solace our grief and
whisper There's hope beyond"
d,,s 70 6ne< h a hoQn SnOken over
our graves the deeds done in the body will
remain as an emblem of the life we have led
and whether for good or for i'll thine will
tell" In the great hereafter when we shall
know as we are known we shall realize that