The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-06-18

l means Oh gaming knowledge which
9 have to teach" And of his practice O
. teaching one says it was characterized b,
its "Totality; it embraced him as whole
D 1t was in his step and eye and tone, anc
D much which can not be even indicated
Q the pupils saw that their teacher was :
: true man and christian; the grasp of hi
+ energy they felt upon them; they knew
not how but the very air seemed pervad
:, ed by his influence. That continue
watchfulness and readiness of mind. tina
never tagging energy, that clearness anG
4 compactness of knowledge, and that ge
NAL sympathizing insight into the youth
full mind, which are demanded in the
' practical teacher, were his in unusua
, measure. And his success was propor
toned to his merits. His pupils were in
spired with fine sympathy with himself
in carrying on the business of the school
accustomed to be treated as a christian
gentleman whose word was not to be
called in question, they learned to shrink
from meanness, to acquire self command,
and to make intelligence and nobleness
their aims. AT the University, youths
from other quarters might excel in the
quickness, the cleverness, and it might
even at times happen, the minute accura-
cy OF school boys; those from Rugby had
the character, the thought, the deliberate
purpose, of men,"
And do you know what it means to do
that for young men and young women?
Can you estimane in any values that
earth knows the touch of such a person
atty upon young people? And, my
Dung friends, you are fitted for life very
largely, if at all, because you have had
the hand OF some such teacher upon you
And this commencement time of yours
has in it an element of sadness for us all,
in that it marks the limit of service OF
our principal, who for five years has
stood for the highest type OF scholarship,
the most rigid application of the pupil,
while at the same time he has shown
himself manly man, inspiring you by
his own high ideals of character,
And just here let me break over my
purpose and say a,work to these our fel.
low citizens and friends. We hear it
about town that some unknown parties
are agitating for drop on teachers sala-
ries, which in the end must mean drop
in the quality and character of the teach
ers. And l should like to put in word
of protest. We can we'll afford as citi-
zens to do without some other things.
We could better deny ourselves the sugar
for our coffee and the Sunday clothes we
wear than to lower the grade OF our teach
ers because we cannot pay for the best.
Good teachers seem to me, to depend for
their goodness upon the few apparently
little things wherein they excel ordinary
teachers. You pay common price and
you get the common teacher who works
alone for his pay. You pay the best
price and you purchase with that little
extra money that over-plussage OF man
hood and womanhood which gives point
and efficiency to all else that the teacher
does and is. Yam willing TO have many
things said of Owosso. If need be l shall
endure longer our muddy streets; shall
not quarrel with the Authorities ut Wash
ington ii they do not giant our request for
government building for some time yet;
but l am not willing to have it said OF us
that the high grade of cur schools is not
inta W. no h1t Nxra
can lily afford to permit our poverty to
rob us Of the very best teachers that the
country can afford. We think we have
them now. Let us- never perDit them to
go from ms.
But this-aside. Ehave called your at
tention to a hunger for knowledge, feel
ing of responsibility for what you have
acquired and the more personal qualities
OF manhoedi and womanhood, as eOnsti-
tuting the best part. of your education. If
you have these things yosn arc in GER
tain high sense educated. In them you
will find your preparation for li6e's work.
With hanger for knowledge your minds
will be open to new truth, and prevented
from the stagnation,o dogmatis@. With
the feeling of responsibility as an abiding.
power within, you will ever seek the life
Of service. Ard with character that IS
establishsdin the manly and womanly
virtues you will be safeguarded aslyou go
your way to some great end. Go, my
dear young people,. to thSn obiest life that
your minds eye can see. Begin right
and you will, by Gods help, end right.
Let nothing come between You and your
God. Make no mistake.
There is little. city called Chalcedon,
on the Asiatic side Of the Bosporus,
known as the "City Of the Blind" The
origin of the title, as given by DR.. j. M.
Ludlow, is this Just across the strait in
plain view of ChalCedon, is the stately
site Of Constantinople. When the great
| ~, 80 Do,,o f,oF co M that marvel.