Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-16

Youth IA not fond OF abstract ideas, but
learns through the concrete. Speak Of
virtue, ana the youth e. needless but re-
count The noble deeds of "A good man. and
tne noy or glrl is absorbed ia the glow
ing tale. Speak 90 the poor farmer boy
on STAT smauship and public service. and
ne remains unmovcd because he secs no
connection between his humble life and
ioity public station. But place in the
hah9s OF this iarm-boy a life of Garfield ;
let him read how this son OF humble
iatherS care, ovcrCamc one by one the
obstacles I'M his path. how he FOL owed the
pioW, thcn learned TO WELD the pane ard
StW' then Tor two years drove the mules
OF "a cana boat TO earn the money for
Which 10 begin his education Let the
reader FOLLOW Garfield as he nlOds HIS
way through Hiram College and after
wards through Williams. and at quickened
pace advances from y, ofossOrs chair TO
the halls OF Congress and presidential
h0nors NOW our boys spirit is kindled
WITHIN him. tie sees visions. Ambition
Whispers What man has done. man may
90, ana the ladder Of fame stretches its
golden lenGth IN clear perspective before
hiil. such boy was Abrah ham Lincoln.
when. by the HIGHT Of cabin fire. be
read ia borrowed books the lives OF
Washington and Clay end resolved to
prepare himself for his country's service.
NEED NOT BEMOAN.
Many girl bemoans her lot, and
wishes for "a career. She has heard OF IA
nous women In every century, and she
longs 90 write her name I'm indeHble cha
racters on the page Of history. Such "A
girl should read the narrative OF the
early struggles OF the sclf-educated farm
srs daughter. Mary Ann Evans. What
MS or desperation came to her. when,
aillo her household duties. she wrote 'hat
she mad lost hope OF ever being able TO
accomplish anything She struggled
against adverse fortune. however, and
came out Of the contest 50 sturdy ana
INDEPENDENT that an admrng public fall-
cd 20 find In the books OF George Eliot
any trace OF womans frailtics.
Mary Somervile whose death twenty
i've wears aSO deprived the world of one
OF its greatest Astronomers had TO study
Ea'lt NN thc f.gat % rugiGinel canal
household cares. But she tOled on at her
seif-ailotted task. and not only did her
tull duty by her home and her children,
but linked her name indissolu''l with
those of Herschcl. Newton. and Laplace
] speak not to you Of hereditary kings
and queens. You will find much 10 inte-
rest and inspire you in the biographies
of Alexander and Caesar, and u Eilzt-
beth ana Victoria. but ! bid you study
rather the lives Of men and women whose
early surroundings were beneath rather
than above you're IN the study OF biogia-
ply you viii find counsel. encouragement
earth have ACKNOWLEDGED their debt 10
biography read in youth
MENTAL EXERCISE BENEFICIAL.
Biography cOmpels US TO examine our
own lvcs. and 10 compare them with
those of other men. Our motives and our
acts must pass in procession before US
and our aspirations must come forth from
their secret hiding places. But who VIII
claim that such mental exercise is not
beneficial to the young VOyagcr JUST set
ting sail in l!fe's tTackless sea- As wen
might the mariner declare that he would
f.. rrfstr ~ nd
because they would show his doVaion
from the true course as that the youth
should refuse 10 take his bearings IRON
the virtuous ones of earth, who nave bcch
luminaries I'm the armament Of history.
Is a boy a plOdder i'm his classes? Let
him read i'm SlOnewall Jackson's uosrd-
ply how the hero OF a hundred battles had
often TO answer "unprcpared, but peise-
vorcd until he had Quickcned his SLOW per
ceDtiOns and graduated NJ West Point
among the first IN his class. rs there one
here who would get rich-and the dccu-
mutation Of wealth for useful ends is no
mean ambition--let him read the lives OF
Cornelius Vanderbilt and Andrew Carne-
gle The world is better for the thrift o.
such men. and the noble use they nave
made of their vast wealth. The world IS
lust as full to-day OF opportunity as X
was fifty years ago. and the same pIlh-
CiDles that have guided the mlillonalits
ar the present must control those OF inc
/
aspires TO serve his country, ] commend
TO his pcrusal the history OF Daniel Web
ster. During his struggles for an educa-
ton at Dartmouth College friend sent
him some tallow for his boots. The poor
fellow i'm the midst of his dire poverty
could only reply That grease might Keep
out the water. but could not event
pebbles from coming through the holes.
FRAIL BODIES no IMPEDlMENT.
Does any one here despair Of useful
ness on account of iran health or Il
crippled body? Go with me 10 the halls
of our national Congress two decades ago.
and ask VINO is the most distinguish
ed member of that distine uiSned poay'
any one can point him out. Ionder ne Is.
Unable 10 walk or stand, ne SITS IN
rOu-chair IN the centre aisle. ana WIN
pale wan face. but cage eye ne watches
The progress Of debate. Ever ana anon
courage he defends the princi-
Piles Of Democracy or pleads for justice
Tor the Sunny South. That helpless GRIP
pie was Alexander Hamilton stephens;
who. i'm spite OF poverty, ana disease anu
suffering. attained foremost rank IN TWO
and died in the Governors
chair Of the Empire state Of the south.
AS [ have read these biographies, WhlCh
| commend TO YOU. the thought has con-
sta1tly REQUIRED that the keynote run
nirg through them all is preparation
Among The many lessons the lives OF
great men can teach Us all no one is
more important IMAM l4it HtNfSHiAf. Va ~
for living the best possible lie.
I am aware these are cXCepuOndi men
and women 10 whom ! have called your
attention. but ] wish 20 emphasize me
fact that as boys and grs they attracted
lo more attention than many OF YOU
l. n.lr DISTINGUISHING characteilstlcs were
willingness To do hard work, ana a puf-
pose 10 make the amplest preparation Ior
life .,.
PLEASURE AND VICTORY.
rot if4sffp Oh
hearts tonight? j have no desire 10 STIR
false hOuCs or 10 deceive YOU about your
future. II you love ease and seek plea
sure, ] beg you turn deai ear 10 my
words. | say 10 YOU as GdrDaldi sald 10
bis soldiers. IN Sicily: stay where you
,re. and YOU may ind ease and pleasures,
BAT 20 forward. and / promise you ION,
hardship, CisappOlItmcnts, pflVdlOnS, Dul
lcrchance victory. and Il not glorious
loqth" L believe there are some VINO VII !
;av. with Garibaldis thousand; I'VE VIII
20 forward" That decision changed me
lcstinies Of Italy. and, Ike resolve 10
you. The road TO fame Is as rugged as
yer You may learn the way from
hose who have gone before, nut tney
,ould not pave the rocky steep. NOR |
couId these wise men have made the way /
,asier If they could. They knew that
while idle ease ana pleasure were Ioi
hidden TO those VINO would achieve great
,es vet true happiness comes from the [.
1ctorv over obstacles and the wrestling OF /
success from opposing fortune.
In cloing | commend TO you as a de- |
ice worthy of your banners these words,
which / bring YOU from the wo iion
biographies preparation, determination. |
rhcre is no grander passage in history /
nan q brief sentence which recurs DAY /
'fter day In the law-book of Columbus /
Iou know something OF the dangers me /
)old adveuturer had 10 encounter as ne /
IF with his face towards the setting sun /
nd sailed into unknown seas. How mys- /
IRONS was the waste Of endless waters, /
md what fearful shapes and hideous |
t,,t Columbus sailed on. After weary /
CrnifIece ronfnp 1nutfnv seized |