The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-06-23
1.-THE Formation Of Character
in College Life His Theme.
Character is the Man; It is More Than
Learning, More Than Talents
or Dexterity.

things n the divine steppingstone to
becoming ruler over many.
RECREANT TO FAITH AND DUTY.
III human abilities were fixed guam
tity and no man could improve on what
he has, then indeed self reliance were
"A vain thing. but ss growth is the or
der OF creation. and as the smallest
seeds produce under favorable condi-
tons some of the grandest productions or
nature he who despises himself Is a re-
creant to faith and duty. To stand up
among men for what we are. without
pretence and yet without fiinchng, this
Is one of the prime qualities of man
hood. To hold ones opinions indepepd-
emily, TO cling to them till convinced
or error. to change or modify them can
'didly, here we have the source OF
knowledge and sincerity.
There is reverence for the past and a
Willingness. even JOY to listen 10 other
views, because the self reliant man
would have that which he could honest
ly harbor in his own bosom.
He does not hold his own opinions as
something extrsneous or 10 be used for
ulterior purposes. They are a part OF
himself and he will have no opinions ex-
cept such as he can cherish with sin
cere affection; such as he can advocate
with fervor. such as he Is willing TO de-
fend against opposition. One. of the
worst things that can be said OF a man
and sure in the end to defeat the high.
est success OF life Is to say that he has
no convictions: even though he be a
man like some we have known. able
and versatile. man to challenge admi-
ration. and to be sought for the merri-
ment OF an hour. such a one cannot be
long trusted or esteemed.
IN ia strange that when n has
so much love OF himself h. cannot be
willing TO make much of himself. but
should ever be imagining he were some.
thing else or not willing to be what he rs
He complains of his limits instead OF
feeling that those very limits may make
the channel deeper and the stream more
affiuent and rapid Nike the river that
cannot escape from its rocky bed. nor
waste it's waters over marshes that can
only breed miasma.
MANS TRUE RIGHT.
st. Paul could say. by the Grace ve
God | am what ] am" and to be what
we are. and no other. and TO look on the
heritage God gives us as something OF
priceless worth, and to be wrought up
on as possessing infinite potentialities
of God. this is mans true right and
this is what all the benefactors OF theic
race have striven for.
The greatest commemorative have
sprung up n places that seemed least
favorable for growth or power. We
cannot help thinking of our own New
England, whose rocky soil gave our Fa-
theirs such scanty support. but where
were laid the foundations Of life for all
this continent.
New England says James Russell
Lowell sits by every freade In the
land where free-thought and piety are
found"
History teaches the rise Of power in
strange places. Think Of that weird
dream-like creation OF city which
once drew to IL all the wealth and hom-
age OF the nations. whose structure rose
from out the wave
"As from the stroke of the enchanter's
wand
when many a subject land
Looked to the winged Lions marble
where Venice sat In state. throned on
her hundred Isles"
But with far greater reverence do we
look to Holland, our fathers refuge IN
persecution. the birthplace of modern
liberty. whose people forced back the
sea and then availed themselves of IL
for traffic with all nations: who made
the winds. as Taine says, that swept
unimpeded across their fiat country to
swell the sails of their vessels and move
the wings of their windmills;" and give
ing art and manufacture some OF their
highest triumphs. gained grander lau-
rels by the heroic sacrifice that would
have cheerfuly suffered the sea TO over
whelm and destroy them, had IL no.
been the will OF heaven that IL should
rather save them from the cruelty %
the oppressor.
WHAT SELF RELIANCE IS.
= Self reliance in nations IL but the
same quality that has wrought I'm in.
dividuals. Let us not mistake what II
is II is not self-conceit, for the self
conceited man plumes himself on quail
ities that he has not. or believes that
these qualities will somehow he &C
knowledged without be'ng put to proof.
The true man takes himself at no fcs
titious estimate. but only at the valus
of what he can do.
He walks the earth az having q right
To be here. and never doubts that right
any more than the fauna or fora that
belong in a certain climate.
Only with the self-reliant man the
world "A his. and he takes up his abode
where he chooses. assured that soue-
his faculties were meant for use and
growth.
! He is not enslaved 10 circumstances
because he believes himself 10 he y
circumstance always To be reckoned
with.
II may he said. perhaps that youth Is
the time or generous admirations
which lead college students 90 initiate
rather than 90 develop their own
powers--it NAV be so In some cases.
but there II that In liberal studies
which swakens the desire to strike out
q path for ones self. 10 have ones own
life and ones own principles. not as
wholly apart from others. but chosen