The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-06-06
SUCCESS.

Gov. Shaw addresses the graduating
class OF the East Des Moines schools in
the following language:
Failures of life come from the neglect
of the little things of life. In the COM
mon every day things is where we fail.
What of the future Of this class? You
all want them to succeed in whatever
calling of life they may choose to fol
low, There are different opinions in
regard to success, but there is a stand
ard of success in every walk of life. A
law as certain and uniform as the law
of nature and of vegetation. We do
not do one-half as much in this world
as we know.
do not know much about this class,
but if the school has done for them
what it ought to have done and is pre-
sumed to do, they have been made
thinking machines and mills for the
grinding and digesting of mental GER
eals and information with which they
come in contact daily, and unless they
have been so made they have not learn
ed much. You can't buy a thinking
machine. You have been engaged for
several years in mental gymnastics and
discipline. Physical gymnastics are
quite fad, but you have been develop
ing your mental powers. This is for
the purpose of making you masters of
yourselves at the trying moment. This
is not born in you. 1t is developed.
One of the greatest things to learn to
insure success is to cling to the task
until it is accomplished. The young
lady who practices upon the piano for
ten years from the eight to ten hours
per day is encouraged to believe that it
she continues this for ten years longer
she will be a first class musician. Ii
you succeed in life you will see many
weary days.
Life is rosy if you cultivate the roses.
places of distinction and success in the
various walks of life without paying
the price. The goods are there, but
you do not have to take them, and if
YOU do you must pay what they cost.
If when you trip and stumble in the
Journey of life, and perchance fall, you
will tarry long while it you wait for
your neighbors to pick you up. Keen
your feet and run for dear life.
How much of ability is necessary for
success? There is not one of this large
class who may not win success in any
calling OF department of life, and you
all may make ignominiOus failures.
Young men are asking: t'What
shall | do in life?" 1t makes no differ
ence if you can do some one thing we'll.
If you can rank with the best lawyers,
or doctors or cooks in any community
there is always an opening. 1t is sim.
ply a question of how well you do your
work. do some one thing and do il
we'll.
Don't try to play the whole band, but
master some one instrument, Nc
trouble to find employment. Some en-.
terrain the idea that positions are Sc.
cured by pulls. But such is not the
case. They are the result of climbing
by merit. Do something, do it we'll,
and keep eternally at it.
Practice industry, perseverance and
self reliance. Standards wore never SO
high as now. The standards of lite
are all very much higher than they
were twenty-five years ago. You can.
not even join the regular army now
without certificate of character.
Be{a gentleman and a lady every.
whore and always. Fit and prepare
yourself for something. Our standards
of success are varied; what one com
mends others condemn. You may moi
be satisfied with these standards, but
you cannot change them.
bid you welcome into this strug
Cling world. There is a standard with
in the reach of all. You will have to
strive vigorously and yon will succeed
Don't try to farm the whole world, but
clean up garden spot. 10 out and
be an honor to this Christian cOmmnn'
ity, an honor to the American public