Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1897-10-27
Ex-President Cleveland at Princeton.

The 151st birthday anniversary OF
Princeton University was observed last
Friday with elaborate exercises. Ex-
President Cleveland gave the address of
the day, his subject being the self-made
man. Among the good things he said are
the following:
There has been SO much said of the self
made man at random, and he has been so
often presented as an altogether wonderful
being, that it is not strange if there exists
in some quarters an entire Misrepresentation
of the manner of his creation aud an ex-
aggerated idea of his nature and mission
A romantic and sentimental glamor has en-
veloped him, magnilying bis proportions
and causing him to appear much larger
and in every way greater than other men !;
and the notion seems to be current that his
size and greatness are the direct results of
the trowns of fortune which deprived him
of educational advantages and doomed him
to travel to success by a road rugged with
obstacles and difficulties. OF course, in
this view success is necessary factor in
the existence of this self-made man; for
unless he accomplishes something not alto
gether commonplace and usual, he is
deemed unworthy of the name. Indeed, it
ought not to surprise us to find that sue
cess alone, if reached after fierce strug-
gle with difficulties ard disadvantages,
should lead by familiarity and easy associa-
ton to sort of hazy conception that these
difficulties and disadvantages were not
merely incidents but positive aids to such
success. desire here to explicitly ard
emphatically express my respect and ad-
miration for those who have won honorable
success in spite of discouraging surround
ipgs, and who have made themselves great
and useful in their day and generation,
! through the sheer force OF indomitable will
and courage. Nothing can be more noble
and heroic than their struggles and moth
ing can be more inspiring and valuable
than Their example AMI achievements, and
whatever may be their measure of success,
their willingness to undergo hardsbips to
win it demonstrates, that they have in their
nature the fiber and lasting qualities that
make strong men. But while we thus pay
a deserved tribute to true manliness, we
by no means admit the fanciful notion that
the difficulties that stood in the way OF
| these Sell-made men were essential to then
suceeA They were obstacles which they
overcame, and thus won distinction and
honor. Thousands OF others have beer
discouraged by these same obstacles ano
found an appropriate place among dullard.
and drones. Ii is true that many eager
men have laid the foundations Of future
usefulness and greatness, in study between
the hours of their labor for bread, and by
the light of pine knot or open fire place
but many others have spent the same timt
not more proftably than in careless, sleepy
Incidence, and have by the same light un
dermined their mental and moral healtl
with vile books and companionship, and in
learning the first lessons in vice.
The truth is, the merit of the successful
man who has struggled with difficulties an,
Disadvantages, must be judged by the sue
cess he has achieved, by the use he make
Of it and by its effect upon his characte
and life
Happy is the land where examples O
heroism and wise craftsmanship abound
but happier is the land where the peopl