Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-04-09
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I A CHAPEL TALK TO THE STUDENTS
OF PARSONS COLLEGE, FAIRFIELD.
A. ". OTTUMWA
Believes in College Education.

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Believes in College Education.
l am a firm believer in a college ed
ucation for both men and women. In
sthe attainment of true greatness, the
Tine asrre of which is rnsefulness in the
highest degree, tits an immense help
land advantage. In estimating the
value of a college course, take into
&little account what may be ones ulti-
mate vocation and, place in life, pro-
.vided they are worthy and honorable.
Fate frequently determines these mat
tiers for us.
Z. AS for myself, when in college |
studied to be a mining engineer. In
zeal life | am a newspaper editor and
publisher, two professions about as
widely dissimilar as it is possible to
suggest. Thrown entirely upon my
own resources, the, chief necessity of
life obtaining something to eat-solv-
Led the problem for me-. do not
question but that it was the hand of
/, Providence Yet 1 have never found
that the course which took in higher
mathematics when in college has been
q detriment to me in my life work.
My experience has been quite to the
contrary, and Lean heartily confirm
statement made by Chas. A. Dana,
one of the greatesto of American editors.
When asked If a college course was
desirable for man who intended to
..takeEup newspaper work as profess
sion, he replied Significantly: 81 have
never yet met a newspaper man who
knew too, much, excepting some who
knew too many things that were not
true"
A. Definite Purpose.
The student should be in college for
a definite purpose. That purpose is
to secure an education. The real stu
dent will utilize and appreciate his
opportunities to the utmost. He. will
keep the element of practicability in
mind. He will learn to keep books.
He will know where he Is at each day
with reference to his personal finan-
ces, his studies,. his reading, his ac-
tions and his character He will re-
alize that for every credit there must
inevitably be a debit; that
something has never yet been
produced from nothing; that
cause and effect are inevitable and in
separable companions. He will seek
) to have a definite plan and aim and
60 straight for the point. If he has
not yet selected his occupation or pro-
fession, he will get just as much gen.
eral knowledge as possible and he will
KNOW what he knows.
When / was in college, looked on
the man of forty ais old, and supposed
that when / should reach that age l
would long previously have completed
my education. 1t never occurred to
me then that would do some of the
hardest and most practical studying of
my life after the 40 mark had been
passed. Indeed l think college men
and women need to realize that when
leaving college. instead Of being thru
with their studies, the work of the real
student has just begun. Then, it is
true, comes the great and crucial test
of applying knowledge, of putting
theory into practice, but in order to
do this successfully there must be
constant additions to the sum OF
knowledge possessed by the individ
ual.
Material Success.
1t is natural and proper desire that
all should hope to win material sue
cess in life. The world is calling to
day, as never before, for men and wo
men who can DO THINGS. Andrew
Carnegie, the poor weaver's son, the
telegraph messenger boy, has become
the richest man in the world, not only
because he could do things himself
but because he had the capacity of at
tracing, holding and developing me1
of exceptional ability in every depart
ment of his business. There is al
most monotony about the story o
such a mans career. Every thing NJ
works at. he does better than his olde
and more experienced companions
Thoroness. accuracy, comprehension
and initiative are the chief essentials
In nv own business, have many ap
plications for every position, and yet
mt Of the many, the number who cal
really do the work which they thinl
they can do and which they expect t
be paid for is so few, that this fact
which is equally true in all lines of IN
dustry is one of the most serious ques
lions that the successful business MAJ
has to meet. The man or woman VIII
can really do something, who can d
II better than it has been done, is jus
ssure to have that fact recognized an
raid for. as day is to follow, might
\ Michael Angelo, whose great accom-
plishments have placed his nam
among the immortals, in enumeratin
the essentials for success, said:
"To confide in ones self and becom
something Of worth and value, is tn
best and safest course"
The price of success is labor. iro
labor" The man who wins is the ma
who can toll terribly Nor does SUI
cess mean, necessarily, the attainmer
Of wealth or fame or wide distinction
The vast majority Of us must OF n, n.
cessity be ''just ordinary folks. Di
you ever stop to think that If we wel
ali geniuses, these mental prodigie
would become dreadfully common
There is a greatness that brings di
tinction and wide reputation, and thei
IL a greatness tina. is known only
the narrowest environments OF tn
community and home life, and no or
rHEIIRRARY OFFER.