Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-09-28
BEGIN RIGHT.
Text Of DIR. Murray's Lecture to CONNER
cinl golIeee stndents,

Murray, ~ ~, on DcRln hlEuI.
before the students of Goldey Will
mington Commercial College Thursday
afternoon was decidedly interesting.
lie said.
"There is an old proverb Work well
begun is half DONE This may seem
like an exaggeration. 1t IS impossible
20 overestimate good beginning
Magnificent buildings topple and fall
because the foundations were not
properly laid. Men are often en-
barrassed through life because of
youthful indiscretion and lack of care
in laying the foundation Of a good
character. So we want to emphasize
the Importance of good beginning.
This may be secured In commercial
course, first by mastering the studies
here prescribed. Tho principal, Prof.
Goldoy, and his associates have eeen
Is years arranging and perfecting tho
course of study they now put in your
hands. 1t is mot yet perfect, nor will
it ever be, but it Is up to date and the
best their ability can command for this
years work. They ask you to master
it, You may become discouraged, but
stick to it. Others have conquered,
SO may you. You are in no class.
Therefore, you are neither held back
nor pulled along by others. What you
do will count. II you fail to do you
cannot hide behind others. You must
depend absolutely on Yourself Begin
honestly and squarely. Watch your.
selves. If you want to cheat here, the
cheat is in you and you will want to
cheat in business. If you deceive here,
deception is in you and will seek to
IN, laN
falsify here it will be hard for you to
tell the truth in a larger sphere. If you
are dishonest here how are you to ex
pect men to trust you with their posses.
sions when you leave here? Before you
are through you will probably be
tempted to some crooked way or short
cut, but remember these are all CON
trary to sound business principles and
will handicap you in the very be-
ginning.
Second. Make friends. | cannot
too strongly emphasize this. The I'M
portance will grow on you rs the years
go by. You have great opportunity.
You will meet each other in the years
to come. Early impressions are deep
and lasting. III you are here convinced
of each others sincerity and integrity
it will abide with you and aid you in
the larger activity. If you are i'm.
pressed to the contrary it may prevent
your having friend when you will
need him most. Therefore, make
friends in your school days of your
school associates. Don't snub boy
because he wears shabby clothes When
Edison, the inventor of the telephone,
first entered Boston lie wore a pair Of
yellow linen breaches in the depth of
winter. Don't snub boy because his
home is plain and unpretending. Abra-
ham Lincoln's early home was log
cabin. Don't snub boy because Of
the ignorance of his parents. Shake
speare, the worlds poet, was the son of
a man who was unable to write his
own name. Don't snub boy because
he chooses humble trade The author
of Pilgrims Progress" was tinker.
Don't snub q boy because of his dull
ness in lessons. Hogarth, the cele.
brated painter and engraver, was q
stupid boy at his books. Don't snub
anyone; not alone because some day
they may o,itstrip you in the race of
life, but because it is neither kind, nor
right, nor Christian.
You will begin we'll If you make every
member Of the faculty your friend.
Not by any superficial or shallow
means, but by solid merit and substan
tial worth. They will probably know
more about you when you graduate
than you will know about the course.
They will be able to get as high n
mark il examined on you, as you will
make in your final test. You can there
fore sac the necessity of making them
your friends for you may need their
recommendation or endorsement. You
ought to learn in the beginning that il
is as vicious policy to endorse a
doubtful young man as it is to endorse
q questionable note or hond. There are
those who are at home and perhaps do
not feel the Importance of making
friends as those who have come to us
and are boarding among us. This may
account in part for the country young
man or woman slipping into good posi-
tions while our own city boys wonder
why they were not chosen. The wise
man has said "A man that hath friends
must show himself friendly.
TT is also a fact that we are SO
fearfully and wonderfully made, so
peculiarly and mysteriously environed
that we shall all need more than human
friendship and more than human aid
in the struggle of life. We shall need
a divine guide. Think as you may or
do what you will you can never make
the best beginning as business mon
and women without recognizing God
Take Him as your silent partner. Many
a young man has started ON bright
morning with beautiful day before
him, but has fallen by the way because
he did not listen to the voice of cor
science and of God. There is very
old book which mentions young man
who was driven out from home and
felt he had not u friend in the world,
slept under the stars, with stone for
pillow, and saw with his eyes closed
in sleep what he could not SOC with
them open, shining way. Spirit
beings were travelling that way between
him and the Heavenly Father, who
stood looking down upon him. His
better self was aroused He made God
his friend. From that time Jacob, the
young Hebrew, was conscious of a
strength and guidance he never know
before.
Having resolved to make these your
friends start at tho bottom. Some have
an idea if they can graduate at this OIL
some other like institution that they
will then find royal road to wealth
and honor. Many have made such
preparation, but ! have failed to find
ono who has found the easy way. Pre-.
pare yourselves. Then if you must,
strike in at the bottom. II may be d
little humiliating at the start. but you
will be proud of 1t when you succeed.
You will tell your friends about it.
You will inspire young men by re.
ferring to it. Two boys left home
with Just enough money to put them
through college. They graduated, took