The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1894-06-06
INDUSTRY.
Miss Lizzie Polly wins the Compo-
siuonMedal at the Big StoneGap
High School. Industry" Her
Subject.

entirely npnn the t1ef1IonS We h1hc, XII
il We aim Mt nothing we ahalI certainl
achieve nothing. By the failure TO labo
it often happens that rovcrt, is found ii
homes that might have betn filed wit!
plenty Of everything that would make then
beautiful and happy. IdIeness freqnentl.
iucurs the hatred and contempt Of thu
public, and prosperity and honor are
overwhelmed by reversea and shame.
To get and accumulate money is the
great object of most all people, and to dc
this YOU must be Industrious. There has
been for the last few years more idleness
more people out of employment, and less
business than ut any other period that ii
within the knowledge of the eldest gem
ilemcn living in ibis country. And what
tha rrsults Read the papers and find
ut that it is causing blood-shcd from one
end Of the land the other Murders and
roberies are Ct frequent occurrence, star
yation and want can he found everywhere
What but dleness, lazinese aud want OF
proner industry onn be tho cause Of The
marching to the Nations Capitol of the
momgrcl crowd known as Co1eys Army.
10 The people here, to the people OF this
State and country, would suggest few
simple remedies: Cheat the doctor by
being temperate, the lawyer by keeping
out Of DEB! tina aaaasos"e by voting for
the honest men aud Providence by being
Industrious.
Whatever is beautiful in art, or any
human attainment, has come from the
hand Of industry ii wo will buckle Oh
the shield of industry VIC can defy power
ty and want. which, more than anything
else, destroys the independence and hap
piness of mankind. Industry travels the
same road With enjoyment and duty, and
oar advancement in school, or our prog
rcss as a people, is altogether impossible
without it. The idle pass through The
world leaving as little trace Of their ca
rccr as foam upon the water or smoke
upon the ui:: whereas, The industrious
stamp their character upon the age in
which they live, influencing for good
svuyral.ons TO eome:
Industry carries US onward md upward,
AID stimulates and moulds the actions Of
Others. The young man or woman who
passes the time in ideness and has nc
object in view save TO live out miserable
existence, will be spurned by all who
know them and aefen will amount to
anything in tho world. In idlcness the
dishonored frame gradually slckcna and
the mind is weakened and supplied, and.
lhero(orc, Wild and gloomy ideas are i'm
hihotl, Ideness is the destroyer OF the
mind, aoul and body. 1t is the chief
author of ali mischief the cushion upon
which the devil rcposes and the source,
not only of melancholy, but Of many dis
eases, for the mind Ia naturally active
and if it is not occupied about some hon
est business 1t rushcs into mischief and
sinks into despair. When we notice that
II man can he professional l0afcr or
idlcr with less brains and capital than
any other profession we cannot blame
him so much after all, for brains and
capital are things that the loafor and
ider are destitute Of; so we ace them
succeed in their businese and il costs
them no Thought, no energy. no character
no anything. They are 'buma" and
dcadbeats, and should not 10 classod
among the liylng-thoy are sort of dead
mon that cannot be buried. OF all the
contemplate things a lazy man is the
most wretchcd.
The United States has become more
industrious than other states, because of
their freedom Of government. They were
founded on principles q independe1ec,
and tic cause Of this wonderful growth
must DC placed Oh tho principle of our
Law and government, To be successful in
any enterprise requires perseverance and
patience, taking advantage Of opportnni-
ties with the whole mind and strength
and with a firm resolution. We cannot
hope to accomplish anything great or
noble unless we arc endowed with Won
dcrfui gifts. How did oNr great men make
their names immortal! Was it not hy
strong determination and diligence:
Shakespesr, the great poet, whose name
we find In literature, could not have de-
rived even the simplest education from
bis parents, for neither Of them could
read or write, but by his keen ambition
and thoughtful industry he not only gain
ed wealth but made his name famous
Franklin, Washington, Clay, Jackson
Lincoln, Garfield, in fact, nearly all our
illustrious men, by their determination
and diligence alone, have succeeded ir
impressing themselves upon their coun
try and gaining power and influence
where others, equally ira med probably
have failed. could give you examnlei
of poets, philosophers and h'storians,~ho
through struggles aud disconrsscmen's
oicd on until they had reached compe
tence and fame. Attempt the end ant
never stand to doubt" Nothing is e
hard but search will find it out.
Sometimes difficulties como on, espec
tally to the school girl, ard We arc almos
ready to give up, but "Whera there ia
III tl,.ro 10 n wor /, ond If ro GRO indue