Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-12
SAID IN SHORT, WORDS.
A stfons Talk I'm Ma4esyIlables Made
by an Dido Man.


by an Ohaoa Man.
From the Chicago Chronicle: Is
In these days of turett eloquence, when
public speakers seem toll with one an
other to see how tgiple- jointed words
they can lug into a Speech, and seem to
scorn the strength and beauty Of short
words. an address delivered many years
ago by A. P. Edgerton of Ohio has pecu-
liar weight, and is an eloquent argument in
favor Of short, directanethods of speech.
Mr.. Edgerton is a former member of Con-
gress. and was civil service commissioner
under President Cleveland. The address
ment of the Fort Wayne, High School, in
Indiana, and while 1t was impromptu and
not at all studied effort at monosyllabic
diction. each of the words it contains is a
monosyllable. Not only that, but as an
oratorical effort 1t ranks high. The ad-
dress is as follows:
This day we close for the year the Fort
Wayne free schools, and We now part with
you, the girls and boys we are no more to
teach.
II say girls and boys. for when three
score and ten years have come to you you
will be glad to have your friends say that
hearts warm: that you wear no brow of
gloom, are not borne down with age, but
still, in heart, are girls and boys When
these years come, and I hope they will
come to all, the tide Of time will roll back
and tell you of your school-time days,
when the fair. the kind and the true found
love, but the false heart found no friend.
no tongues to praise These days bring
rich gifts to age. and when you shall cease
to think of them your fire has burned low
and your light has gone out. You have
been here taught in the hope that the free
schools of Fort Wayne would help to make
you of use to your friends and to the
world, would give you faith in all that Is
good and true, and lead you to seek work.
for that you must seek and do if you would
have a good name, wealth, a. home, a
charge to keep trust to serve. Go
forth with a bold, true heart to seek the
work for you to do.
Keep in mind that the hours to work
run through each day and that Gods great
law Of life is, In the sweat Of thy face
shalt thou eat bread.
Now, for you young man, this truth Is
told.
Go where you will through the world
and you will find the front door of
shops and mills, Of stores and banks, and
on ships, on farms, on roads, in deep
mines where men toll for wealth; where
laws are made that make some men too
rich and men of worth and work through
all our land too poor; where men by law
are taught to plot with sin, to spurn the
right that charge and cost and spoil may
make old 'Quirks law firms rich; where
law is so plead that the judge must guess
to find what's law; where quacks most
fight Ger sick mems pains and dead men 8
| DOneS, WneFe types are set anu uOIle 10
mind the proofs; where priests do preach
and pray and where schools are taught
this sign: Brains Will Find Work Here
Don't fear. Step up and ask for FORK;
brains will get it. Don't let I dare not
wait on / would'-like the cat that loves
fish, but dares not wet her foot.
''If it be said, What can you do? Will
YOU learn a tradeo say L have none, but I
can learn one and put brains in it When
you go to place where brains should hunt
for work and be sure to find it, 1t may be
said to you, DO you see that pillow? Can
you hold and drive 1t deep?' That plow,
in it's wise use, gives all men food
do you see that wheel and that crank
and those shafts and that press. and do
you hear the rush and the hiss of the
steam which moves them? Can you make
and hold and run them? Can you build
and drive the works and wheels which
make the wealth Of the earth and cause 1t
to roll and to float to and fro from place
to place, where it is the best for man to
use it?
Can you spin the thread and weave 1t
which makes robes for kings and silks for
the rich and vain. and dress for the poor.
and all that skill and art have wrought by
loom and hand for mans use.
"These things are all shot through with
threads of light-the light of mind and art
and skill, which shines each day more
bright and dims all the old by some new
found light as the years go on.