The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1899-06-14
Commencement Day.

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produced below for the benefit the |
young people who next week will go
into the world 70 fight their own bat
ties:
This is the season when the young /
graduate Of school OF college celebrates |
simultaneously the closing Of his
school days and the commencement |
OF his life's work, whatever it may be. /
The graduate is happy and for that
reason listens contentedly to the adj
vice that is given him, but sometimes
with fine scorn for the speaker who
treats the boy as though he still need !
ed advice, whereas his diploma as
sures the world that he has acquired
all sorts Of learning and is fitted to
engage in some one il not all Of the
professions. And the graduate be-
lieves his diploma. The world Is wait
ing for him and will be glad to accept
his services on his own terms. The
speaker at commencement exercises,
il he be man Of wide experience,
tries to explain to the graduates that
they have. simply been fitted to work
and have yet much to learn that can
be acquired only by experience, and
that they must school themselves to
patient effort in their endeayor To
make practical use OF the learning they
have acquired. The wiser the speak
er the less respect he inspires 10 the
minds OF self-confdent graduates
They have been for years under the
guiding influence Of teachers who
value learning for itself; they are
about to enter a world where learn
ing is valued like any other commod-
ity, for what it will produce and be-
fore many days have elapsed they will
learn that the words Of warning utter
ed to them on commencement day
were words of wisdom. They have
not been cheated at school, except by
their own misconception of the pur-
pose CT education; all that they have
been taught may become OF use TO
them, but until it is used it will be
dead capital. Commencement day
marks the commencement of effort to
use the learning that may have been
acquired, and the world will not pay
for the effort in any kind of coin until
it has borne some kind of fruit. 1t
would be amusing if 1t were not sad
to observe the graduates misconcep-
tion of his value and Importance; yet
it is a kindly thing to tell him even
in his day of pride that he has not
won his fight, but has only been train
ed to enter it. Out in the world his
diploma may serve as useful means
OF introduction, but nothing more,
he will there be measured not by what
his school teachers have said of him
but by what he does himself. His |
learning will be of value only as he
makes use Of it, and he must use it in |
the ways and for the purposes desired
by other people or he will find no
market for the products of his toll
This observation refers not merely tod
the money rewards which are given to
men of learning or to other men who
supply the wants of mankind, but to |
every kind of emolument including
honors. Ones gifts or learning must |
be used in such way as to command |
attention and meet the demands of or
create market, or they will not bring |
a return. This, rather than self-sat-
isfaction with work already done,
should inspire the graduate on COM
mencement day He should feel that
he has yet much to accomplish but
that he has been we'll prepared for
the struggle, and that he is better
fitted in some respects than his uned-
ucated competitor to win distinction |
and the rewards that come therefrom. |
But he should also recognize the fact
that he has yet much to learn and |
that it will require the best use of his |
learning to enable him to keep abreast
with his less fortunate fellows who
have been trained by experience to
industrious habits and to zeal in the |
performance of duties quite beyond |
the comprehension Of the ordinary |
graduate of college or university. Com
mencemcnt day will be the beginning
of successful career to the graduate |
who joins with his learning sufficient |
'modesty to make him realize that !
there are useful and necessary attri- |
butes of the successful man that are |
not taught in colleges; it will be the
beginning of career of disappoint-
ment for those who rely only upon
their diplomas to win for them rank
aud standing in the world of work |
and effort.