Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1899-06-29

bOOhb uOi ObhCl Pi OdhSb VI
skill, but life itself, yields the basis
for all education. A seeker after
knowl edge is also great man. He
goes down into the depths of thought
and accepts nothing but facts. He
knows that truth is truth, and val
ues it as such, whether it be uttered
the lips of king. True knowledge
also makes us great in character. To
possess "a manly character is to possess
all that is lofty and noble in man. 1t
is the reserve force which acts directly
by its presence. 1t is more than tai
ent, for it is the power that makes
talent trusted. 1t represents some
thing. When knowledge is backed by
character it means something, for when
such man speaks he is believed.
Many go through life aimless, like a
ship at sea without "A rudder, drifting
here and there; others are carried
along and jostled with the crowd, ruled
by the thought and governed by the
opinions of those who make the most
noise and clamor; but the silent and
careful worker with definite aim and
purpose, is usually the successful one.
1t is not for us to follow explicitly the
path marked out Tor us by our grand
fathers and our fathers, but to push
forward into untried fields, climb un.
trodden heights and carve grander
and better future. The days that are
past have been happy ones, though
mingled with grief; many pages have
been turned, and difficult lessons
learned.
Let us hope as we turn the leaves Of
experience in life's school, we may
learn our lessons we'll. While we bid
adieu to the dear old schoolroom, TO
the kind teachers who have passed
with us many mllestones, and thank
the parents, friends and members Of
the school board, who have interested
themselves in our behalf and for our
welfare, as our eyes look forward TO an
untried future and the pathway seems
difficult for our feet, may we feel Sc
cure in the thought that education
prepares US to live, in the widest
sense - He closed by quoting poem,
illustrating the true secret of success
in life and how it is won by sticking
to the bush"
~
Minnie Alberta Mcconnell gave a
recitation entitled "Old Time Happi-
ness, and she rendered that quaint
production portraying genuine life in
the character of an old lady relating
the happy days Of old, to perfection,
both IN manner and dialect.
A chorus of little girls followed Miss
McConnell's charming selection in
Happy and Light. "
The Grafton was the part MIR. Carl
ton w Washburn had on the program
and he certainly distinguished himself
as an easy and fluent speaker, careful
thinker as we'll, and one who undoubt-
edly has read much and digested what
he reads. His subject was the popular
one of the day, "rhe PHILIPPINE Ques-
tion, > and he touched upon IL with a
knowledge of the situation which many
an older head does not possess.
Americans the world over have
been proud of their country. They
look with pride upon its geographical
advances: its numerical, its financial
and greater and more glorious than al
these, its historical progress.
Let any man of any other nation
turn back the pages Of its history foI
two hundred years and see il be car
show Us as brilliant and glorious {
record towards the moral and intellec
tual uplifting OF the masses rs this
young nation can. He may show M
greater men and grander wars; hC
may show us kings and emperor'
throned and dethroned; but he can no
show us in better degree the stead.
march of It's people toward that goa
which is the highest and purest obiec
of all nations, perfect civilization
Our government has just emerged from
a war begun to bring liberty to cap
tives and to let the oppressed go free
to secure peace and righteous order t,
the remnant of "A cruelty broken race
To uphold the honor of our country a
an unselfish and powerful friend Of tn
down trodden.
"And now in the course OF events w
find ourselves wrestling with the Phil
lppine question which should be OF in
terest not only to the statesmen tha
manage the affairs OF our government
but to every citizen in the Unite
States. The Philippine islands, j
which we have been especially inter
ested since the memorable victory {
Dewey and the brave sailors unde
him on May l., 1898, consist Of abou
400 islands in position similar to a fa
with tho north horn / u2on in tho ppntp