Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-08-16

to amplify what has already been said.
The ancients placed candles on their
graves to light the departed spirit to
the other world. We do the same but
not to guide spirits but those who come
after us and our candles are our Ii
braries. Nothing could be more beauti-
full as a background for this occasion
than the lives of those simple, indus
trious, honest people whom we have
heard described. l have never seen a
better selection of books in so small a
compass as l have seen. today on the
shelves of the library presented to the
town. A great book is born not in the
mind, but in the heart. 1t is born of
the experience of the race Shakes
pere did not make the plays which bear
his name. He observed the develop
ment of his race and give it expression.
The secret of genius is the possession
of the key to yours and my experience.
We have a good modern example of this
in Kipling. Where would he have been
but for India and its people whom he
loved and understood? The secret of
the power of great writers is that they
live and die with US. A book when
separated from life ceases to be a great
book
"A great deal has been said about the
sinfulness of the race. But if the latest
theory of science is a true one, and |
believe it is, the race has come a long
way Every step has been made by
some self denial. The sufferings. loyal
ty and piety of the race are to be found
on the shelves of a library There can
be no real education without contact
L l. L. l.,
all. suffered all. We are what we are
because men and women before us have
lived not for themselves but for pos
terity.
There are two kinds of success-suc-
cess in occupation and success in life.
The library ministers to both. No man
ought to be content without success in
| both. To have wages of money and
miss the wages of life is perhaps the
bitterest thing of life.
To-day no one succeeds but the
trained man. This does not mean nee
essarily that he must be the man OF
the college or university, but he must
be one who in some way has made him
self an expert. Men must have more
than a strong arm and willing spirit
to succeed in the present. whatever it
may have done in the past. The world
now only has a place for those who do
one thing well. How few have learned
that we are not made by circumstances
but that man himself decides for him
self where he shall go. He himself de
cides his success.
Years ago we believed that the pro
fesional man needed careful training.
but that the business man could get
along with his natural gifts About $50
years ago the Germans We're in every
field Of knowledge. although perhaps
they did not always use their knowl-
edge best. AS one has said. The Ger
man scholar digs deeper. stays down
longer and comes up muddier than any
other The old German thoroughness
made her a leader. Thirty years ago,
people called Germany poor ana un-
practical. Then came the war cloud
over Europe. That war was different
from all others. In most wars the ar
mics have had first to learn how To
fight. But when Germany marched in
! to France it was not the work of school
boys but Of mature and trained men,
When the war was over France asked
what had happened. She sent men of
all kinds to Germany to learn of her
They went and studied and reported
and their reports are today among the
most important works on education.
They gave many ideas. but agreed on
one thing and that was that it was the
thinking bayOnet of the German army
that conquered. The German staff Off
GERS had better maps of France than
the Freedmen themselves. They knew
every requirement that a German in
vading army would have to meet. They
knew France thoroughly. Her old
thoroughneSs in other fields had gone
into the army. After the war they said
that the Germans are good soldiers.
but are poor business men. In the last
50 years Germany has taken science in
To business. Now the one word is. Ger
many is driving us out. Young Eng
Hshm"n cannot compete in commerce
with young Germans because the lat
ter has a thorough training in the
splendid business schools Of his coun-
try. Where the young Englishman
speaks one language the young Ger
man speaks four The legend, Made in
Germany has been like the hand
writing on the wall in England Amer
ica has To meet the best trained men
in III world and if our men are not
able to meet them we will have to take
q back seat.
There are two ways of looking at
busincss-thc long way and the short
way. a man may deal for what he can
get out Of his business this year, or he
may deal for what he can get out of it
in 80 years.
That library means fortune and
success for every one who will use it
properly" The speaker then illustrat-
cd with a story Of a young man in the
West. He With friend started a bust
ness out there. In few years it was
paying perhaps $4,000 a year. one of
the partners saw greater possibilities
however, and so, one day, said to the
other member of the firm. Its no use
one Of us must be educated and on the
whole 1 think it had better be me. |
will go abroad and study for TWO years.
while you run the business" He did so
: and. last year, the firm did a business
amounting to $50, 200. 600 which would
have been impossible had not one of the
partners seen the requirements of flu
ture years and fitted himself for them
The speaker then continued: "A