Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-10-06

j
ating class of the Training School for
Nursing at the Alma Sanitarium on
Saturday evening of last week:
Ladies and Gentlemen Life is what we
make it. This axiom contains the truth,
that everyone has locked within himself,
all the possibilities of happiness and sue
cess. The individual decides whether he
will succeed or fail. One may be deceived
in his estimate of life or follow false
ideal, yet life is with everyone what he
chooses to make it. To deny this is to
destroy the reality of responsibility and
individuality. 1t is therefore necessary
that one begin life with a proper estimate,
as success will be commensurate to the
correctness of thought and desire as we'll as
ones achievements. One may accept his
environment however lowly but with the
determination to rise above 1t in character
and accomplishment "A mans life con-
sisteth not in the abundance of the things
which he poSsesseth. Rightness OF
character is more noble and lasting than
wealth. position or fame. Success without
this is counterfeit. To succeed one must
have an intelligent appreciation of the
possibilities of life. We cannot expect to
| excel in all things. A universal genius is
| an impossiblity. He that sips at many
arts drinks none" Knives that have seven
blades and cork-screw and a file and a
| tooth pick and screw driver and pair of
| tweezers and a shoe buttoner is an ingen-
| Gus humbug. The lack at all trades
amounts TO but little in this world. Trying
| to compass the earth" in knowledge, work
or business and having no definite aim in
| 70 rNloi ha Of foil
| In estimating our possibilities, defining our
| purposes and creating character that will
succeed in making life worth living, we
must have spiritual, intellectual and ply
sical education. The great day of lie is
our spiritual birthday when we come into
conscious harmony with our creator. Next
to that is our intellectual birthday, the one
in which we enter the world as thinking,
| nquring, educated, brain cultivated indi-
viduals. Education and character are the
only orders of nobility in the American
| Republic. Education is the process that
makes men and women and a completely
| developed man or woman, of good char
| aCter, is the noblest work of God We
cannot at present realize how much this
| education is worth nor how well our labors
are amply rewarded from day to day,
| Education brings its possessOr a distinction,
which pride cannot overrule nor money
| purchase; wealth OF knowledge which no
sheriff can levy upon and no creditor
attach. The only execution that reaches
IT, is that which its possessor may bring by
/ its degraded use. 1t is not only useful,
but an imperlshable ornament which never
| loses its lustre, and a faithful companion
| OF which one never tires. Notwithstand-
| ing your long period of preparation hard
study, experience and training you have
as yet but learned the alphabet of your
profession. But the alphabet is the key to
all knowledge. From Heroditus to Ban
| croft il has told of the worlds greatest
| events, with il from Homer to Longfellow
beautiful thoughts, in musical words have
swept all the chords of the hearts passions,
from Cicero to Webster the alphabet and
its combinations have swayed multitudes
| by their choice words and sentences, whose
echo is still heard by ears attuned to lofty
strains. This alphabet, however makes it
possible for each of you to blaze your way
through pathless woods, in search of new
treasures for the comfort and relief of suf-
fering humanity.
All the means of action and the mater
ials for labor lie everywhere round about
you; what you need now is the genius of
application, to weld them into good words
and noble deeds You have the power to
soothe the lowly and weary. proffer a
hand to the sinful and weak, power TO
make sunshine in hearts that are dreary,
and show them the Friend they all ought
TO seek.
In your profession the days Of your great
achievement lie jus, before you. Each one
has a mission and there is an audience for
each of you be it small or great, in which
you may prove an oracle or guide. You
can encourage virtue and discourage vice
Hope now sings on the sunny upward
slope of hfe's hill while you ascend You
are rich in unpurchasable wealth of time
and opportunity. Your knowledge and
training is not a treasure to be hid in a
napkin but it is to be used for the good oi
of others that it may grow and increase.
Your duties service, helpfulness and self
sacrifice, the noble ends TO which you con-
secrate all your powers as nurses, extend
from the cradle to the grave. The world
is hung in its orbit; the sun set to warm it,
the moon and stars to wait upon it, in
order that the babe which is born upon
this little ball of clay may think God {
thoughts after Him" and be a student in
His university forever.
i
parents the laws of life and lead them in
ways of health and happiness Your
hearts must be filled with the milk o
human kindness You will cultivate good
ness and virtue, that pure thoughts may
chisel the face and mould the features in
to forms of beauty and loveliness. 1t vii
be. your privilege to console and aid the
afflicted, smooth the wrinkled furrows o
care and soften the downward path o.
declining years. Even when the clouds o.
adversely overshadow the sufferer whose
cry of anguish will reach your ear, you will
speed to administer relief, Race, creed
habits, conditions. all must be overlooked
when anyone created in the image anc
likeness of the Great Physician seek,
advice, care and assistance at your ready
hand. You will give new significance anc
Interpretation to who is my neighbor" az
did he who prayed. tasted. suffered anc
died for mankind and who came not to be
ministered unto but to minister Such Z
spirit of helpful service and benevolenc,
knows no geography and the sphere o