The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1895-06-08
PEREUNT EFT IMPUTANTUR.

Graduating essay delivered by Miss Louise
zx.Hardin, at Central College commencement,
osington, Mo-.
~ Souls College, at Oxford University,
"a splendid clock plic:d oa the front
L. y nrst quadrangle. Long ago wise
men placed that clock in its position and
wrote "a warning above il. This IN just
one sentence III Latin, lilly written Ia
letters of gold, for IL expresses II truth
truly golden. The sentence refers tn the
hours and minutes recorded by the clock,
AT d it reads thus: "Pereunt ct lmpltan.
tur." Literally, "they perish aud are set
down to our account" but these words
have a still deeper meaning, for they
really indicate that the hours ARE wasted,
and are charged against US"
Few realize the true value OF time. IL IL
not a pIaything To Ice cirelessly thrown
aside, OF broken in a feverish grasp. The
moments are Gods messengers; they
come, bringing us the opportunity of
life; they depart, bearing The record We
huve given To their keeping, whether 1t
b, a record OF fidelity or negligence.
In the opinion of most men no time is
80 barren of Joy as the present. Hope
throws a glainor over the land OF The
future, making violet Gains dwell per
petually upOn its mountain tops, flooding
ats vIileys with golden light.
Memory casts her magic over the past
until the desert and rugged paths fade
away in the grayness of mist, while the
flower sprinkled delis alone appear to
view. YeS the present is what the past
was, what the future will be. IL contains
Joys aud griefS in much the same proper
zion as they, but what is far more the
present alone can offer US opportunities
for action and achievement, that is. for
life.
In classic art opportunity was repre-
scented as IA beautiful youth with wings,
poised as though about to rise from earth,
yet wearing an expression OF earnest
invitation on his face. Wise were the old
masters! The love forms OF daily oppor-
tunities for noble deeds, even as they
appear to us, stand with outstretched
wings, ready to vanish il we slight their
silent invitation. Their life is but for IL
moment, then "they perish and are set
down against u.s."
Youth lives in the future. IL sees Ia the
present naught comparable with the de-
tights to be found in that elysian land,
the time to come. You'll is so full Of
vigor, energy and ambition that it cannot
b. content to live patiently through the
mnnotonous plodding of the present, but
must needs fly forward in eager anticipa-
ton to that which shall be. You'll
eagerly stretches out toward the future,
even az "A driver in chariot races Of classic
times leaned over the rim Of his car as
though his ardent spirit would fly onward
TO the distant goal. As Browning brightly
expresses il, young life il like IA guest at a
oubIh' WIZ ''''N'b AHp''p Wv
GoIrses, So eager is he To reach the
Ecrowning dainties yet behind"
History affords "a many Piles oil
this grasping after unripe fruit. Absalom,
not content with the possession Of youth,
beauty, grace, talent, "A fathers devoted
love and the admiration OF n nation, must
needs wear a crown. The Gracchi, though
gifted with remarkable eloquence, were
not satisfied with their success as orators,
but wished to be political reiormers as
well.
Others than the young sometimes fal
into this. folly, more Is the pity. Crom-
well, the military leader OF a common
wealth, must be "A dictator, and even coveis
the crown fallen from n murdered head
Behold Nap leon, who, not satis u q 10 bt
master Of France, desired to bring thu
whole world under his autocratic sway
Nowhere - This attempting the impOs,
sibi. more Common than IN the sphere o
the fine arts, where mediocrity, or per
h,ps even talent, too often tries to do tn
work VI genius. A b~arnyard fowl IL
very prnissw orthy object when peacefully
attending 10 its own domestic affairs, bu
when IL attempts to equal or excel tn