Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-06-14
FRIDAY, JUNE II, 1895.
THE BRIGHT SIDE.

he school commencement season
is an occasion Of interest and import
ance i'll many respects. 1t has VITA
relation to the public welfare and to
the institutions that represent the
prosperity and greatness of the coun
try. The cause of popular education
surpasses all others i'll point of prac
teal effect upon the condition of ma
tional security and progress, and
thus appeals with peculiar force to
all classes of citizens. We cannot
afford to overlook or neglect the fact
that the work of the schools signifies
the training of those who are to con-
troll affairs and solve the problems of
the future in politics, industry, com
merce and sociology. Only com
paratively short time is required for
one generation to succeed another IN
predomiuance. The boys who were
in school when the civil war closed
are now the heads of families and
the governing element of society.
The country Is today virtually IN the
hands of those who have but slight,
if any, personal recollection of that
most momentous period of It's
history, and whose education has
been acquired under circumstances
almost entirely different from those
which existed thirty years ago.
1t is well, therefore, to regard the
commencement season with a proper
realization Of It's meaning. There Is
much more in ii than we are apt to
think as we read about and smile
over the essays and orations of the
graduates. The young people thus
sent forth to do service in the world
usually have an exaggerated idea Of
the extent and value of their educa-
ton, as experience gradually teaches
them; but their self-confidence is ad
mirable, nevertheless, and ii would
be great pity if they were disposed
10 take a doubtful and hesitating
view of the situation. Their radiant
and resolute belief in themselves is
a credit and an inspiration to them,
and they are thereby enabled to face
the difficulties they are sure to en-
counter, with stout hearts and in a
spirit of perseverance. The realities
of life do not discourage them, be-
cause they have made up their minds
that they are bound TO succeed, and
very many times they do succeed on
account of that cheerful theory.
They are optimists, and fortune
fayors them because they persist in
looking on the bright side of things.
The public is disposed 10 pay too
little attention 10 the really advan
tageous influence of commencement
speeches. They may be wanting in
exact and practical knowledge, but
they are not to be condemned for
that reason, when they have the
merit of Astounding cheerfulness,
which is an assurance of courage,
enterprise and continuance. The
fact that they look on the bright
side as if that were the only one, Is
an evidence OF strength and prom
Use of achievement. 1t would be
lamentable TO see schools making
pessimists Of pupils, and sending
them out with a poor opinion of
their ability to accomplish definite
and positive results. Some of the
graduates are certain 10 fail in any
event, but the number of failures is
materially lessened by stimulating
the virtues of cheerfulness and self
confidence. That is a poor form Of
education which fills the mind with
misgiving and chills endeayor by
emphasizing the possibility of disap-
pointment.
In short, the dreams of youth de-
serve friendly notice, because they
stand for that personal energy which
is the most potent factor in the sys
tenn Of civilization, and serve to keep
alive that sense of Individual power
without which progress would be
impossible.