The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-12-22

Boys and girls after this week your
trials will be over for Il time and the
dreaded examinations will have been
completed. leaving you free from the
cares of school life and nothing to do
but enjoy your two weeks respite from
school duties. During these two weeks
1t would be we'll for you to take retro
spective glance over your past half
term and ponder well your progress
made during that time, and ascertain
for certainty whether or no you did
your best. or could you not have done
more. We never notice the amount of
time we lose until we come to the sum
ming up at the end Of the half term or
term, as the case may be, and then we
are appalled, by the result. How many
of us have did our duty In this respect.
and can conscientiously say that we
have nothing to regret on this score.
We are afraid that those who can are
few, that we all, more or less, have
been derelict In our duty to ourselves
and others. Then let us resolve that
with the beginning OF the new year and
the last half term that we will strive to
do our duty and, in q measure, atone
for the dereliction OF the past half. Be
true to yourself and then 1t will be ut
terly impossible for you to be false to
any one. BE honest In your examine
tions, boys and girls. Don't copy from
the papers of your classmates. You
are not deceiving your teacher nor your
friends; you but deceive yourself, and
grossly, too. BE honest and upright:
tell only what you know yourself and
this will show you just whore you stand
and give you AN opportunity to look
after the points in which you were
weak Your teachers all explain and
point out the several lessons 10 you all
alike. and your duty is to pay strict at
tention to these explanations in their
order and absorb them. Us it were, as a
sponge absorbs water. retaining all the
intricate points and developing them to
your advantage. II you do not do this
it is your own fault and you have no
one to blame for your failure but your
individual selves. Too many Of you
lack ''self dependence. You become
too easily discouraged when you find
something little bit difficult, and want
the teacher or some more sef-reiant
classmate TO help you. In other words,
to do your work and thinking for you.
This is not of the slightest benefit to
you. and il INDUCED in to any great ex-
tent will make you poor, puny weak
ling who will always be burden to
yourself and those around you Read
the lives Of the successful men and
women of our country, who have risen
from almost obscurity to the ranks OF
bright and shining intellectual lights
and you will find that they ALL
without Il single exception, We're those
who at school:in shop or field were self.
reliant and energetic, firm in their de-
termination to accomplish the end they
had set out to gain, and by following
this course through life have risen tC
the positions of honor they now occupy
Ponder these things, my boys and girls
there are thousands of places awaiting
you If you fit yourselves for them. BE
thorough in everything you undertake
Whenever you begin task make it g
point to continue it to the end. Make
haste slowly. Don't do anything by
halves.
"All that you do, do with your might.
Things done by halves are never done right.
Ssturday nayt will ha Christmaa Ia,