Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1897-06-10
OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The Members Of the High School Glass
OF 30 Complete the Course and
Receive their Diplomas.
PRESIDENT d. McGREGOR.
OF the State Normal School. Delivers
an Able Address.

schools, Etc.
The High School graduating exer-
cises took place at the L. NJ. church
on Friday morning, May /.
There was II new departure, and in
the place of the usual essays, PROT
! ID. McGregor, of Platteville, delivered
the address, of which we give an out.
| line. 1t was in good form and
taste
Orchestral music was furnished by
Mrs. Will + Prideaux organl, and
Messrs. Anderson, Dresen, Harker
and Stacey kitto,
Rev. Thomas Kent acted rs chap
! lain.
Principal \. r. Jolley who am
nounced the program, said that
Prof, McGregor was too we'll known
in our in our city to need an intro
duetion, and therefore called him to
to the speakers desk.
Prof McGregor began his address
by quoting the words of Max Mueller
about the influence of words and their
history. This was interesting as each
word has its own biography some
were born to rank: others had come
up from obscurity, Such words as
virtue and humility, in their changed
meanings were full of history, in the
character of the people. Some of
these words had risen; others had
fallen. Palace originally meant the
humble abode of shepherds: tyrant,
ruler: pagan, country. This led up
to the consideration of the word en-
thusiasm which in its etymology sig
mites "God within" The lecture at
this point showed how the old mythol-
ogical thought of the Greek was in
corporated in English literature.
Here, were the deities which now de-
dent. 1t was true that some only
coquetted with these literary deitics,
but they fail, as the coquettish lover,
trusting for success either to Il family
pedigree or simply to an invitation of
success. But this success is only won
by work and thought; and back of all
must be the enthusiasm which calls
for the best in each. The enthusiasm
of youth is best seen in its work;
while increasing years bring enthnsi-
astic thought. Head and hand are
the two powers in life which are of
such equal Importance that when we
! ignore one of them there must be fail
urc. w ork and thought are everything
in the process OF education, and as they
glow with enthusiasm, the rejndice
that one may feel against certain lines
of study or work disappear: as il is
this lack of enthusiasm that 80 often
creates prejudice against certain
studies. makes them hard and dis
tasteful, and robs the individual of
that complete preparation for life that
the public school has IN view. In this
way liberal education is sighted,
and Pope's words, "A little learning
is dangerous thing are again and
again IN after years justified. This
idea of work and thought. coupled
with enthusiasm, always implied a
careful attention to details Here the
lecturer quoted Ruskin. ard cited the
case Of the painter, Turner, whose
work IN detail showed itself not only
in his life, but IN his masterpieces:
. The Slave Ship" and "The Build
ing of Carthage" !" The true painter,
to use the old saying, " Mixes his
colors with his brains The lec-
turer further developed the Importance
Of attention to details. and then
passed on to speak Of the need OF
wisdom in such work. A wise dis
| elimination was necessary. Hore he
related somewhat in detail the we'll
known psychological story Of Minerva,
1 showing how the ancients valued wis
/ dblil ann iiii-l lllI1I llH l4f1hs ltAi7
wisdom, be said, il no better mani
tested than in the recognition that
there ii no royal road 70 learning and
that there i no folly greater than
undue haste. 1t was this folly in
school work that ruined il. the Same
as the haste 10 he rich had made men
| cmbe22lers. The enthusiasm should
he, not to get out with All speed, but
TO ret hi. ard 10 stay in 70 the end of
the course. The power of continuity
IL orc of the best ard noblest powers
ii life. TO il men owe much 81 their
success. and without II there can BE- no
real success. Success should ~
fought oHt. II II should take many
summers. 70 fight II out IN tie lines
for which we are fitted, and when there
has been wise selection, this means
success. The professor spoke of the