Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1899-06-05


people, and by his very earnestness
imbued other men with that grander
and broader citizenship which today
makes his memory respected and revered
by those who associated with him In
public life.
FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
Mr.. Coke, the speaker continued, en-
deavored to give to the generation in
which he lived the best thought OF his
brain and the fruit of his education,
and before his death he laid at least one
foundation of character for future
generations by his founding of this inst-
tute.
| The ex-governor then traced the
history of our system of education back
to the days of the landing of the May
! flower pilgrims, who came ashore with
spelling book in one hand and the
| bible in the other; then later came
| William Penn, who shortly after his
arrival opened the famous Philadelphia
school known as the Penn Charter
School, which is still in existence, and
whose seal of incorporation, dated 1903,
bears the motto, Good instruction is
better than riches"
EMPIRE OF OPPORTUNITY.
Education in America is so fully re-
cognized and encouraged by every state
that while other nations are known as
the empire of tho mountains, empire of
the lands, empire of the seas, etc., the
United States has earned for itself the
title of the empire of opportunity for
the greatest opportunities of life come
through that education which will
mould character and make of men
better men.
That prosperity and advancement of
civilization depend upon education was
instanced by the territory our town and
surroundings occupy today; century
ago 1T was in the hands Of the red man,
who lacked the necessary educa tion to
make use of the countless wealth of the
region.
The speaker exhorted the young men
of the community to take advantage of
their opportunities. He assured them
that the circle of success is precisely the
same in small things as in those of great
est spheres of action-that the man who
when life's work is about over can look
back and say he embraced his oppor-
tunities and did his work well, and that
he was true to himself and true to his
fellow men, that man is triumph, a
success, let his field been ever so small.
oRATIoNs OF THE STUDENTS.
The orations of the students selected
to represent the institute at the exer-
cises were up to the high standard at
tained on previous similar occasions.
The young men, several of whom ap-
peared on stage for the first time
delivered their addresses with con-
fdence and assurance, and in manner
that convinced the audience that they
are familiar with the subjects which
had been assigned them or selected by
them.
With "Pluck" as his subject, John
Lindsay delivered the salutatory, follow
ed by Charles Mietke on ''Scence, the
Light of the Material World" An
GRAFTON on Expansion" by Walter
Davis, was well received, and his views
were appropriately followed by the
subject, The Future of America" by
John Dusheck. Jr.
Patrick Green gave an interesting
address on 1.-THE Importance of Theory
to the Miner" and Charles Dever on
Small Things" showed the necessity of
paying great attention to little matters
of life.
"Anti-Expansion" was the title of
George Denneny's GRAFTON and his re-
marks received much applause. Charles
McElwce gave an interesting biograph-
ical sketch of the Life of George
Washington" William Lesser on ''The
Right Start for Young Man" presented
his opinions in an able manner.
THE vALEDIoToRY.
Roger Dever delivered the vaedictory
and won many congratulations on his
success. His difficult assignment was
handled in an original and entert aiming
style and gave pleasure to the audience,
faculty and directors. After reviewing
the causes which led to the found ing of
the institute and the work it has so far
accomplished, he called attention to the
success which has crowned the efforts of
its former pupils who have entered
Lehigh and other leading universities.
He appealed to the community to con-
tinue its moral and financial support of
the institute, and promised that the
institution would well repay the interest
taken in it by the people.
Chairman McCreary closed the ex-
ercses with his usual good humor and
advice. He also announced that the
building fund has received subscrip-
tion of $1,000, also that another sub
scription of 1000 for the furnishing of
the building when erected has been
given the institute. The names of
these benefactors were not made public