The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-04-30
GRAINS OF WISDOM.
AN ADDRESS TO GRADUATES IN
WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE.


II Was Delivered by the President of the
Board of School Trustees of Fort Wayne
and Is a Remarkable Production, Well
worthy of Preservation.
The strength which lies in words of one
syllable has been often demonstrated, and
no doubt the simple directness of this adj
dress delivered to graduating class at
Fort Wayne impressed itself on the minds
Of the listeners with force that made them
remember 1t. The president of the board
of trustees was Mr.. A. L. Edgcrton, after
ward national civil service commissioner
and his advice given II years ago is still
worth preserving. The greater part of it is
here quoted
"This day we close for the year the Fort
Wayne free schools, and we now part with
you, the girls and boys we are no more to
teach.
81 say girls and boys, for when three
score and ten years have come to you you
will be glad to have your friends say that
health and peace of mind have kept your
hearts warm; that you wear no brow OF
still in heart are girls and boys When
these years come, and | hope they will come
to all, the tide of time will roll back and
tell you of your school time days, when the
fair, the kind and the true found love, but
the false heart found no friends, no tongues
to praise. These days bring rich gifts to
age, and when you shall cease to think of
them your fire has burned low, and your
light has gone out. You have been here
taught in the hope that the free schools Of
Fort Wayne would help to make you of
use to your friends and to the world; would
! give you faith in all that is good and true
and lead you to seek work, for this you
must seek and do if you would have a
good name, wealth, home, a charge to
| keep or trust to serve Go forth with a
bold, true heart to seek the work for you
to do.
Keep in mind that the hours of work
run through each day, and that Gods great
law of life is, In the sweat of thy face shalt
thou eat bread
Now for you, young men, the truth is
told.
go where you will through the world,
and you will find on the front door of shops
and mills, of stores and banks, and on
ships, on farms and roads, in deep mines
where men toll for wealth; where laws are
made that make some men too rich, and
men OF worth and work through all our
land too poor; where men by law are taught
to plot with sin, to spurn the right, that
charge and cost and spoil may make old
'Quirks' law firms rich; where law is SC
plead that the judge must guess to find
what's law; where quacks most fight Ger
sick mems pains and dead mems bones
w soft N mir hs
proofs where priests do preach and pray,
and where schools are taught this sign
Brains Will Find Work Here
Don't fear. Step up and ask for work
Brains win get it. Don't let 4 dare not
wait on Il would-like the cat that loves
fish, but dares not wet her foot.
IF it be said: What can you do? viii
you learn tradep say 4 have none, but
can learn one and put brains in it. Wher
you go to place where brains should hunt
for work and will be sure to find it, it may
be said to you: DO you see that pillow? Car
you hold and drive it deepY That pillow, il
its wise use, gives all men food.
"Do you see that wheel and that cranl
and those shafts and that press, and de
you hear the rush and the hiss of the steam
which moves them? Can you make anC
hold and run them' Can you build ant
drive the works and wheels which max,
the wealth of the earth and cause it to rol
and to float to and fro from place to plac,
where it is best for man to use itp
Can you spin the thread and weave it
which makes robes for kings, and silks fo
the rich and vain, and dress for the poor
and all that skill and art have wrought b,
loom and hand for mans useS
"These things are all shot through will
| do NJ iOh ~ ind al
and skill which shines each day more brigh
and dims all the old by some new fount
light as the years 90 on.
''If you say that you do not know how t,
/ do all this work, but you will try to learl
, some of it and to do it WELL then will be sale
to you: Can you and will you work. An,
will you speak the truth and in all thing
strive to do no man wrongY If you sa,
Yes then all the doors where mans goo,
and great work is done will swing for yol
to pass in to do your part. And thus yol
will see how God rules in all his ways il
mans good works and deeds Some ma
hope for fame, but if they doubt that Go,
rules, have not trust and faith, they wei
I may fear their Fate. New books, not oil
coins, keep Charge of fame. Look well t.
books, for through them the worlds bes
I: thoughts and deeds now speak.
= $40 you young girls, must say word
= not to chide nor to praise. You can plan
the rose which shall bloom and give it
= sweets to all, or you can grow the thorn
which shalt pierce and tear the hearts O
those who love you, hope for you, pray TO
. you.
1.-THE turn your minds now take will q.
- your life to come. If you are led in jus
& way of pure thought and deed, you will b
- sure to find JOY and peace and health in al
you do. You each hope, some day, to be
good mans wife. 1t is well to be this. bu
take care that you be not FOOLS drudge
What should you bring to a good an
true man to make his and yours a hop,e G
Joy and peace2 / can tell you: Good health
a mind rich in stores of thought; pur
heart, full of love and truth and trust 1
God.
at is not a curl, nor beng, nor a smil,
nor a dress, nor art in a sigh or teal
that can win the worth you need to bles
you, but it is the right sense to know tn
way to good mans heart; to know how t
be true to your own self; to be at your ow
home and in all you do the giri thatP,zl
and good men seek; the girl that know
such men when she meets them, and find
the worth that dwells in them, and dot
not drive them from her to hear the prais
, OF fools, and thus TO make all her lie
dream or woe.
"In all the walks of life good men al
found. They own the world and do all II
best work.
1.-THE man with the hard hand of toll ca
press a heart as true-can lift the babe
loves in way as soft-and at its smile wi
kiss its cheek, and at its pain will wet
with tear-can sing the song that dot
please as well-and can strike with h
strong arm as quick and sure the blow thu
makes men free-as judge or priest or kim
1.-THE right choice at first in all things
all there is to well done at last.
"Our words of well done here we no
give you, with the hope that they may he
2 to guard your way to the end of well spel
8 life"-Chicago Tribune.