Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-06-12

terial with which to enable the schol-
ars, to construct such foundations for
themselves. We are all architects. No
good architect will plan his foundation
until he has planned the superstruct-
ure. No architect would build a frame
residence on foundation constructed
for a brick church, or a business block
on foundation for mill or factory.
What the superstructure is to be, de-
pends on your own tastes, objects and
abilities. What foundation you will re-
qrire, depends on the superstructure
you have in mind to construct.
"Would you become doctors, your
knowledge at this time of medicine and
surgery, is not such that your best
friend would trust his life in your
hands. Would you become lawyers,
your best friend would not trust you
with his case. Would you become drug
gists, he would not trust you to COM
pound his medicines. Would you be-
come bankers, he would not trust you.
at this time with his finances. The
fact is your course of study has been
for the purpose of enabling you to
gather material out of which doctors,
lawyers, druggists and bankers and the
like are made. Long months, and it
may be years, of training and discip-
line is still required to enable you to
obtain the end in view, especially with
honor to yourselves.
81 was struck on yesterday by re-
mark made to the graduating class in
the law department of the State Uni
versity by the dean of the department
of law of the University of Michigan,
in his address to the class. He said to
them: You are wiser today in your
own opinions than you will ever be
again. What did he mean by that eN-
preston? He knew that boys in such
schools usually measure themselves by
their fellows. He knew that when
they left that school they would be re-
CURED to measure themselves with
tried and experienced men in the pro-
fession.g Again, as an experienced edu-
Gator he realized that their work was
just begun; that their two years work
in that school might or might not have
a lasting influence upon their lives;
that it depended upon themselves. He
realized that they had simply taken
the first steps towards becoming law
yers; that SO far they had simply been
gathering materials with which law
yers are made. That the young man
who realizes his want of knowledge and
experience and has will to succeed
would continue on the same line of
work after leaving school. He felt
that no difference what estimate they
placed upon themselves the world
would take them for whatever they.
showed themselves to be worth.
Young ladies and gentlemen, SO far
you have been studying theories. From
this time on you will have to contend
more with realities. Ordinary duties
are left to ordinary men; eXtraordina-
ry dutiese to extraordinary men.
| He succeeds who is equal to
the unexpected. Some spend their
whole lives in getting ready; others
are ready when the occasion comes.
When you leave this hall do not sit
a down and wait for something to turn
up. My young friends, get out and
turn it up for yourselves.
Professor MacBride,s address.
"Schools and Scholars" was the sub
ject of Prof. MacBride's address, during
which he demonstrated the growing
needs of education and clearly illus
trated the effect which ones surround
| ings or environments have on his in
teMectual advancement and attain
ment. He complimented the Ottumwa
schools most highly and said it was to
him great pleasure to be permitted to
| address such a large class of graduates.
Many very apt illustrations, not a
few of which were blended with suf-
\ fcient amount of merriment to inten-
sify the interest, were related by the
Ispealer in illustrating the truths
which he desired to impress upon the
minds of the young people. In his
direct remarks to the members of the
graduating class he told them that just
because they have completed the
course of studies outlined in the high
| school, they must not think that they
!. have gained all in education. Educa
|. ton is broad and comes slowly.
Nature, he said, was a great educat-
Tor. Parents many times think that
when they take their children into
schools that the knowledge they gair
therein from the books. is their educa.
ton. 1t is not so. It is not what they
learn in books altogether, for they are
i being educated on their way to schoo
]. and on their return. They are educat
ed as they accede to the influence Of
their surroundings.
i He then told of the great Possibilit
lies in, this country for acquiring an ed
|ucation, the surroundings by which al
may be led to knowledge and cited
i incidents illustrating his point. TIL,
natural environments are broad ant
the splendid schools control and com
plete the course. All schools are sim
I ply environments. Prof MacBride re
Gently met the Boer ENJOYS in Chicago
and to more thoroly illustrate the poin
in mind, referred to them. He die
not take up the issue in an argument
: ative way, but to illustrate that hat
the university of Pretoria been as wide
" renowned as the gold mines at 10
i hannesburg, there never would hav
!. been cause for war. They are people
t educated alone by nature. The en-
: vironments have made them what the.
) are.
In conclusion Prof. MacBride turned
to the members of the class and said
I"Now nv Young ladies and gentlemen