The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-06-20
HAvENAoRN1NG THURSDAY,

develop a spiritual form more beautiful
 than any of these, instinct with im-
 mortal life, and radiant with all the
 glory of character.
 The great object of the earnest, am
 bilious student Is to form for him
 self such character He desires to
 prepare himself for influence, for use
 fulness, for high position among the
 virtuous and exalted, and, having acted
 his part here, leave behind him an
 example that shall be initiated, and
 a memory that shall be cherished To
 what better theme, then, can I call
 your attention, than to an analysis of
 that character which will command the
 greatest amount of influence in life and secure the affectionate remembrance of
 posterity. This, then, is my subject.
 The first element of such 6 character is decision. And decision does every thing; twas this that won the battles of Austerlitz and Marengo for Na- poleon, and 1t was a want of this same constituent of character that gave Waterloo to Wellington.
 'Tis decision that makes the scholar and moulds the man of Influence; and in any undertaking, the task is half done and the result half accomplished when the resolution is firmly estab- lished.
 Do you aspire to distinction? Then be decided in regard to the profession to which you will bend your energies. When you have closely studied your self and your abilities; when you have acquainted yourself with the difficulties to be conquered, then make your de- cision, and, if you would win success, follow that course to which duty calls and inclination leads. And whatever profession you may choose, fix your ideal high, and spend all your thoughts an all your energies in attaining the hoped-for prize.
 A second element of an influential character Is Independence, that manly firmness which causes person to be independent In his opinions, and to think, reason. and decide for himself. Indeed an individual must venture to be independent in his course of con- duct as well as in his sentiments: for an obsequious imitator can never be an efficient man, and noble mind will scorn to follow in the steps of an- other.
 This Independence or self-relianee will need the souls utmost energies, and 1t will encourage the youth to efforts from which the dependent and unde- cided would shrink with dismay. The young man does not know how much he is capable Of until he has made proof of trial. And let him remember that personal efforts will exalt him as oin VUnu1kh him and fortune smile on him, but r1oth- ing can or will be accomplished unless he himself dares to overcome the diffi- culties that present themselves. He must not wait for roads to be paved for him, but he must be his own explorer and pave 1t himself. 'He who has bat ted" says Carlyle, "were 1t only with poverty and hard toll, will be found stronger and more expert than he who could stay at home from the battle, l among the provision wagons or even rest unwatchfully abiding by the stuff"
 Grants campaign before Richmond and his characteristic remark, ''I shall fight it out on this line if it takes all suggest another constituent of an efficient character, namely: Un- perseverance. It is a les son first in importance but latest earned, that nothing can be effected without effort and persistent endeavor. this tract of character Prescott would not have given his great histories 10 the world; Edison would not have electrified the earth with his inventions
 Oftentimes the beginner, when perus- ng the works of distinguished writers, leplores his own inability. But did the | he so admires cost their au- hor no toll or no self-denial? Gibbon | worked twenty years on his Decline | Ind Fall of the Roman Empire" Noah | Webster spent thirty-six years on his dictionary. The words of Longfellow yell describe this tenacity of purpose: The divine insanity of noble minds,
 That never falters nor abates,
 But labors and endures and waits Till all that it forsees it finds,
 Or what it cannot find, creates"
 "Perseverentia omnia vincit' Is as | rue today as in the time of Demos henes, and this sentiment followed out | will supply the want of genius, carry | ts possessor onward and secure for him reputation glorious as monday and | asting as glorious.
 Classmates, we have spoken only of intellectual requirements. We must dd, he that would SOW the seeds of and bless the world with an xample worthy of emulation. to all thers must add the accomplishments of loral excellence. Intellectual acquisi- ions alone will not be sufficient, neither i'll moral qualities of themselves suf- ee. But the two united, the grandeur nd nobility of genius, combined with he compassion and humility of virtue, orm the harmonious, the perfect char cter
 The lower box was occupied by sev- ral young ladies from Smith college, lcluding Miss Curtis, daughter of Su atintendent Curtis; Miss Jepson, ,daugh- er of Prof. Jepson; also Commissioner [oran of the board. of education, also Curtis and Prof. Jep- )n.
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