The record-union., 1896-07-26
SOME WORDS OF WISDOM.
Address Of School Director Driver at the
Sutter Grammar School.
The Advantage to American Citizens
Of Thorough Education in
Their Youth.

ating exercises on Friday, and contains
advice that many of them will find it
OF advantage to ponder we'll upon:
Pupils of the Graduating Class: l
nave been invited to be present at your
graduation, and, as a member OF the
Board of Education, present to you
Your diplomas. If in presenting them
1 may say anything which shall be
worthy of remembrance, or which shall
inspire you to continue in the search
for knowledge and truth, whether in
the public schools of this city, or, un-
aided by their influence and the oppor-
tunitieS here afforded, while following
some chosen vocation in closer contact
with the world, I shall feel that my
short time here has not been i'll spent,
and that your teachers have not
labored in vain.
AS we used to read in one Of the old
readers which were once in the public
schools, so far as this school is con-
cerned I'VE have come to the last lesson
in the book You have come to the
parting of the ways; one which, If fol-
lowed, will add to the education which
you have in these schoolrooms begun
and whose course is to the High School
and probably to the University; the
other leads you while young, and l
must add in most cases, poorly
equipped, into a busy life, in the store,
shop. or Office.
l should not do my full duty on this
occasion If should not say to you that
I believe there is not a pupil in this
class, or boy or girl in this city who,
having health. could not complete our
,1~lf ~ md ronafUG
education. The desire for education is
now easily gratified, and where the Will
is not lacking the way can always be
made / believe it is true that at least
two-thirds of the pupils of these schools
advance no further than you are now
and cast loose the ties which have
bound them and stifle the desire Tor
knowledge inherent in the breast of al
most every American boy ana girl IN
the mad rush to come early into some
chosen calling, and regret when too
late that their only opportunity for edu-
eating themselves was neglected.
The author Tilley says that a
sculptor once showed a visitor his
studio. It was almost full Of gods. One
was very curious. The face was con-
cealed by being covered with hair, and
there were wings on each foot. What
is its name?" said the spectator. "Op-
portunity," was the reply. why is
it's face hidden?" Because men sell
dom know him when he comes to
them Why has he wings on his
feet?' Because he is soon gone, and
once gone cannot be overtaken.
The opportunity is now before you
and your success in life will most prob
ably depend upon whether or not you
grasp It. There is no doubt that gen.
orally the man who is better educated
and prepared for business than his fel-
lows will succeed to a greater degree
than they. Therefore, were to pre-
sumo to give you advice, that advice
should be that you prepare yourselves
by acquiring the best education aHoroed
you With it you will be more capaoie
of managing your own business, ana
should 1t be your lot to be employed by
others you will find that employers
want Intelligent educated employees
In this age, when competition is most
sharply felt, both in business and in
professional life, only those especially
fitted succeed. 1t Is an old saying that
there is room at the top OF the LADDER,
but before you can get to the top you
must climb by the lower rounds, ana
the ladder must have firm foundation
on which to stand. A good substantial
education is the best foundation. In
the history Of our country there are
many successful men who nave re-
ceiyed their education unaided by the
advantages which surround you. THESE
are what are termed self-educated men.
Idncoln. whose name stands in the front
rank Of American patriots, and before
whom there Is no grander man in any
age or In any country, was such a
man vet he was especially we'll edu-
Gated and fitted for the positions in life
which he occupied and only by unceas-
inc foil and an indomitable will was he
apah1ed tn acquire the knowledge which
he possessed
There IS no easy way to acquire knoWl-
eapa but I am sure the best way Is
by the public schools. You nave put
laid the foundation upon Which 10 pulio
your education: the education Whlch
your parents desire you TO nave anu
which YOU, surmounting every oostacie
which NAV lie in the way, should lnsist
upon getting 1t lies now with you
whether you shall advance along TINS
line. or severing your connection with
school work. lose the benefit of that for
which YOU have already strivenh- You
must either go forward or backward;
there is no middle ground. You must
either add to that which you nave
or to a great extent lose it,
You are no doubt all familiar with the
.Parable of Ten Talents" You will re-
member that man having three ser
wants. and being about to travel In far
country. called them before him. TO
one he gave five talents, to the other
two. and to the other one, and return
6ng after some time called them TO an
accounting. The one to whom he mad
Given the five talents returned the five
and five more. which he had gained. He
was commended and told that as he
had been faithful in the matter entrust-
cd TO him he should be promoted and
given greater power. the one 10 Whom
he had given the two talents was also
praised and advanced In authority, out
when the servant to whom ne had
given one talent returned II ana sald
that because he knew him TO be hard
master he had hid it that he might re-
turn it again, the master became an
yry and took the talent from him and
gave it to the servant with ten talents,
saving: Unto every one that hath shall
be given, and he shall have abundance,
but from him that hath not shall be
taken away, even that which he hath.
Use. therefore, the talents given you ana
add to your store of knowledge by the
use of that which you have.
practice thy spirit to great thoughts and