The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-20

The Herald and News feels fortunat
in being able TO present TO its reader
the full text of this most admirabl
address. 1t contains many importan
B truths strongly and pointedly am
forcibly put. The audience hung en-
chanted upon every word and perlo'
as it fell from the lips Of the speaker
The earnestness and clearness witt
which Mr.. Cromer spoke captured an
held his hearers in undivided attention
as he poured forth in eloquent term
the powerful truths contained in thi
address.
But we give the ad lless in full 81
that every one can judge for himself o
its merits.
Mr.. GEO. B. CRoMER's ADDRESS.
YOUNG GENTLEMEN: No thoughtful
person can look upon body Of collegt
students without rejecting upon tht
wonderful possibilities of the work iL
which they are engaged. Hereafter
when you look back upon these days
T you will have a higher appreciation
of,tbeir importance, but you will never
estimate them at their full value
Amidst the golden opportunities of'col
t lege life, 'lurk peculiar and manifold
Temptations; temptations Of men and
books and ideas; temptations moral,
social and intellectual; temptations OF
1 new associations, new. companionships
and new impulses. Whether the jour.
:ney, upon which you have entered ex-
tend over one score or four score. years,
it will lead you into no mo, e important
'fieldthan that which you are now ira
versing. The college is but a training
ground, fitting school for the great
university of life. The degrees con-
ferred upon the members Of the grad
uating class are but testimonial that
| they have received certain measure
of that trainingEwhich is necessary to
| fit them for efectual work in the fu-
ture. And no matter what that work
| is to be, the important period Of your
life is that. in p'hich you. are merely
getting ready TO- do something.
:c, When we think of such men as Henry
w. Grady we areinclined tolament that
they died so young, pre.natareiy, as
we say. But the man wbothas sounded
a danger signal, OF spoken some word
that, WAS needed to.+Gpise discord-
art, social or Political elements, does
not die prematareiy. The swan sings,
aud dies. The "voice Of one crying in
1.-THE, wilderness. may fill l@only few
brief hours. The important thing is
the years Of preparation that have
fitted tito sound true note. that will
call men 10 nobler purposes and
d higher life, The lowliest and
migbtiest man that eveP touched
this planet Il nished the work Of bis
life in three years. But, while we are
told that be was about his fathers
business at the age of twelve, he de-
voted thirty years to the preparation
that fitted hin for the work of three.
Keeping ia mind, then, the impor-
tant, truth, that the college is simply a
fitting. school, what are you here for?
If; you are doing your duty, you are
getting ready for something. What is
that something? Two questions the
best. sentiment of the world will ask
you after while, if you get the atten-
tiou of the world at all. First, What
are you doing? Then, How are you
doing il? Look at the work a man is
doing. No work that needs to be done
is degrading. Mrs. Balcombe, walking
out with Napoleon at ST.. Helena,
shrunk away from certain servants
that were carrying boxes, aud bade them
to stand back. The Scamp Jupiter"
promptly said, Madame, respect the
burdens" Then look at the manner
in which the man is doing his work.
Given work TO do, the manner Of its
performance is everything. You are to
be tested by the touchstone of faithful
ness, whether over few things OF, over
many things.
If you agree with me, that you are
here engaged in the important busi-
ness of fitting yourselves for the per-
formance of some work, whether high
os.humble, ret US study certain lines of
thought suggested by the following
anecdote: ...,..
"A lawyer advertised for a clerk.
The next morning his office was
crowded with applicants-all bright
and many suitable. He bade them
wait until all should arrive, and then
arranged them all in row, and said
be would tell them story, Dote their
comments. and Judge from that whom
he would choose. "A certain farmer
began the lawyer, was troubled with
red squirrel that got in through q
hole in his barn and stole his seed corn.
He resolved to kill the squirrel at the
first opportunity. Seeing him 60 in at
the hole one noon, he took his shotgun
and fired away. The first shot set the
barn on fire.
"sDid the barn burn?' said one of
the boys. The lawyer, without answer:
contfn ued, .-
"'And seeing the barn on fire, the
farmer seized pail of water and ran
to put it OUT
ibid be put it out?' said another.
"sAs be passed inside, the door shut
to, and the barn was soon in flames.
When the hired girl rushed ont with
more water
Ibid they all burn upp said another
boy. The lawyer went on without
answer:
"'Then the old lady came out; and
all was noise and confusion. and every
body was trying to put out the fire.
"'Did any one burn up@ said anoth-
er. The lawyer said, There, that will
do, you have all shown great interest
in the story
"But Observing one little bright.eyed
fellow in deep silence, be said, Now,
my little man, what have you to say"
The little fellow blushed, grew uneasy,
and stamtnered out, I want to know
what became of that squirrel; that's
what want to know
"'You'll de- said the lawyer, you
are MY man; you have not been
switched off by confusion and barn
burning, and the hired girl and water
pals. You have kept your eye on the
SQUIRREL"
! Following this plain suggestion, let
US briefly consider
THE PURSUIT OF THE MAIN PURPOSE.
The first thought is, the importance
Of sngleness and steadfastness of aim.
Any Of you can recall instances in
point, that show what can be accom-
plished blythe unwavering pursuit of a
definite and fixed purpose.
See the infant Hannibal at the altar
swearing eternal hatred against the
Romans. See him, grown to man
h,>G would botrrooonoCf1a col.