Oakes weekly Republican. (Oakes, Dickey County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1898, 1898-06-03
years. Experience furnishes them to those
whose summers may be counted even upon

years. Experience furnishes them to those
whose summers may be counted even upon
tho fingers.
| "Look we'll and sharply to the begin
nings," is the lesson taught alike by the
wisdom of the ages compressed into the
narrow compass of proverbs; by the obser-
vation of every who goes through the world
with open eyes; and by the experience of
all who are capable of learning from what
they suffer or enjoy.
| 1t is tho part of the wise, and of those
who would be wise to gather up the know
ledge which may be found embodied in
proverb, or which may be CLEANED from oh
scrvation and experience, and to transmito
it into practical wisdom for the guidance of
every day life ssand conduct. 1t is some
thing to recognize and admire beauty; but
it is much moro to possess and be possessed
by the spirit OF beauty, until one becomes
thoroughly beautiful IN temper, and char
acter, and behavior.
1t costs but little to uttor words of approv-
al and commendation to those of this class
who havo done we'll it may demand earn
est cndcavor and vigorous and painful eff
fort for others to initiate them.
Have these proverbs about beg innings
any lessons for you? Have they anything
to teach you?
These are days when oil of us are making
beginnings of one sort or another, but this
day is to you of the class of '98 beginning
day, Commencement Day, the day you are
beginning to fashion for better or for worse
every mind, and heart, and soul about you.
l am speaking to you not as students, but
to prospective citizens--to you, who, by the
sacrifice of loving parents, the generosity of
tax payers, the kindness of school officers,
the help of instructors, and by the influence
of companions and by your own well-dircct
cd efforts, are carving yourselves, and
, bringing out, in your own souls and lives
your vision of ideal manhood and woman
hood.
Suffer a word of suggestion and counse
in respect to some of these beginnings
/ Begin at once to take, and occupy, and fill
your true position. From the very outse
of your lives as graduates of .he Oakes
High School continue life students in tina
school which has its sessions in all places
and at all hours, and has no vacations, th'
school of our common Lord and Master
It. is the part of true manhood and women
hood, to show ones own colors, to stand b,
ones own flag, to speak frankly and fear
! lessly and freely, but always courtcously
/ ones own language and sentiments. re
specting government, philosophy and reli
gion.
Guard we'll the beginnings of new friend
ships, while kind, courteous, and consider
ate in your intercourse with all, take a
your intimate friends only the purest ant
tho best, the industrious, the earnest, til,
faithful.
Guard we'll also the beginnings of new
habits. Resist firmly and without compro
mise the beginnings which lead toward the
l evil. Allow nothing in thought, or word, OF
fdced, which has even the slightest tendency
t to lesson your respect for yourselves. L
matters much to us sometimes whether The
little world in which we move thinks wei
- US, honors and respects us. 1t matter
moro to us whether our friends, those who
are nearest to us, honor and respect us
But it matters infinitely more to our peac
, and comfort of soul, whether we can homo
and respect ourselves.
a Again, my dear friends, time comes t.
each one when the question of life worl
. must be decided, and that time is now yours
+, and upon its decision depend your futur
prospects. Considered in its true sonse i
:, makes little difference for every circum
stance of life has in itself an element of ed
n ucation. 1t is impossible to confine tn
sources of instruction within narrow, statet
=, limits. 4 He that has the will to do some
thing in this world is thousand times NOR
a man than he who has had the misfortun
y to receive classical knowledge without a
idea of what use he will make of it. Many
man is discontentcd and disgruntlcd wit
the world because Of lack of definite en-
= to be attained. A man without a purpose
Il traveller without destination, but to hi,
!, who has determination to succeed, lt