Mexico weekly ledger., 1901-12-26


Fulton, Mo-, by r. M. White, class Of
'78, editor Of the Mexico LEDGER;
My experience among men teaches
me that college education is Of great
value to a man, no matter what may
be his calling in life. Having owned
and edited a newspaper for more than
twenty-five years, | am sure that
college education is invaluable to
newspaper man. Many ymen have had
great success in life without it, but
they were taught in other schools,
perhaps the school Of experience, and
with a college education this success
would have been much more marked.
You may examine any number of
men in the same profession or the
same business tthey may be farmers or
mechanics, they may be men Of leisure
or toilers) and, everything else hay-
ing been anywhere near equal. you
will find the college men will show
clearly and easily the value Of the
training they received at their dina
Mater. or course there are what the
world calls educated fools,n or col
lege dudes,n who are failures in life.
There was nothing in them. "You
can't make a silk purse ont Of sow's
ear
There are college men who seem
surprised that their diplomas do not
carry them on railroad trains, pay
their hotel bills, and raise them to
places of honor and emolument. They
have not learned that the value Of a
college education lies in the fact that
they are better equipped to fight the
battle of life and that their diplomas
are not passports to ease or glory, Edu-
cation is of no value to those who do
not faithfully apply themselves. When
you are educated the battle is not
over; you are simply armed and in
every way we'll equipped for work on
the firing line.
In the Goth century II you would
succeed in any calling you must be
prepared to compete, not only with
men of brains and "horse sense" but
with those who are, moreover, thor
oughly educated and trained for
action. Competition is sharp, life is
strenuous, and II you would not "fum-
BILE the ball." or lose out In the little
''mix up'' during the first five min
utes, you must have character,
strength Of purpose, and that ability
to succeed, which should follow col
lege education.
They will tell you newspaper men
are born, not made" ! never saw a
newspaper man, nor man in any
calling, who had too much education.
| know some able and brilliant editors
who never went to college, but how
much more they could have accomp-
lished il they had a finished education.
They all agree with me when this ques-
tion is discussed. The same is true Of
every calling in life.
I intended to 20 into detail and
give some statistics, butfear now that
my article viii tax the readers
patience. l will close with two or
three facts which are beyond con-
troversy.
1t is of great value to man to be
able to talk while on his feet You
should learn this from your college
literary societies.
Discipline, habits OF industry and
looking after details will be invalua-
bic to you if life is TO be success. A
college education should insure all of
these TO you, and In the highest
degree.
Patriotism, that noble feeling which
inspires every true and successful
American citizen, is simply the col
lege spirit carried into life. The col
lege boy who is imbued with the true
college spirit will be devoted to the
best interests Of his country, and If
necessary will lay down his life to pro-
tect its honor and its flag.
Character after all is the thing. No
matter what may be your attain
ments in your calling, without char
acter your life will be dismal failure,
to say nothing of the after-death.
Don't show your diploma. Char
acter speaks for itself. Character
should be the result of a college edu-
cation, and is Of priceless value in
every walk Of life.
Can character be moulded anywhere
superior to the brand which is turned
out of grand old Westminster? Why
its very name is synonym for char
acter. What of its graduates. God
fearing, patriotic, industrious, we'll
educated, men of ability. They are
successful In life. Their character
speaks for them without any show of
diplomas or blowing Of brass instru-
mentS.
The value of college education in
the world OF business is character,
character that will live long after the
man is dead and will need no monu-
ment to attest its priceless worth.