Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1901-04-04

more a man than the strong man
bound. Let US look into our lives
today and bear In mind that character
is the greatest thing in life and with
out 1t there 10 no true success; that
character is what we are, not what
men think Of us.
We of America enjoy privileges that
too often, fear, we fail to appreciate.
fully. The American, from among
all men, should be the standard Of
the worlds manhood, for he alone is
full heir to the greatest and best gifts
at the hand OF nature and OF his
fellowmen. He need recognize no
nobility but that of character, no
king but that OF conscience, no heri-
tage but an untrammelled freedom TO
"enjoy life, liberty, and the pursuit
of happiness. 'Tis he that need
depend upon no father-fame or fore
father-fame; he may date his ances-
try from himself and though born of
obscure and lowly parentage may en-.
roll his name among earth's greatest.
Free from the course OF apprentice
ship and caste, the American boy is
permitted to exert his every ability,
and to obtain that position and in
fuence of which he may be worthy.
Believe me, with US lies the liberty
and the power to become men which
the world shall recognize and will
reward. Why do we not succeedp
Why do 80 many fall short of realiz-
ing their best In life? The late
Philip ID. Armour, once said that
"men fail for the most part, not be-
cause they are not smart enough, but
because they are not good enough TO
succeed" and was he not rightp
Cheek, gall or brass never get ahead
OF merit" Honesty is still the
best policy" and the Golden Rule is
still the surest guide to greatest
material and spiritual wealth.
During the summer OF 1899 1t was
my privilege to spend two weeks In
the Bad Lands OF South Dakota.
Vegetation Is there very sparse and
for the most part OF a light or greyish
color, and the same may be said con-
corning the color Of the soil. About
our camp, which was made near q
small spring at the foot OF wall
nearly 200 feet high, might have been
seen at each meal hour several little
chippering, frolicsome ehipmunks,
but unlike their brothers In the hills
these little fellows without exception
wore suit of grey, instead OF the
usual brown. Their nature had
simply responded to the law Of
enviroument--that law which effects
all life, be 1T physical, mental, moral
or spiritual and tends to harmonize 1t
with its surroundings and association
God has most graciously endowed US
with q higher life than that OF our
fellow creatures, but He has sub
jected our higher and spiritual ma.
tures to the same law. He has made
us beings OF reason and will. We are
tree agents. Unlike the innocent
little chipmunk. we have the ability
as men to ordinarily determine and to
considerable extent make our own
environment, and Ill does 1t become
US to fall the victims OF cir
cumstances.
IL our associations are not mutually
helpful, and uplifting, we can and
should seek to form new ones that
will be Of such character. II the
Influence Of your friends tends to rob
your life Of ought that makes for
good, young man, may you be directed
to wisely discontinue such society,
and II you, by your friendship and
association have been dragging down
some soul from heights that were
purer and fairer may God pardon you
and give you the courage and sense
and strength, the manhood, to break
away from such course today.
Assert your manhood; be leader
of self first, and afterwards Of others
whom you may help but not harm.
The social glass, or even the social
cigar, ties no bonds Of helpful or en-
during friendship. A courteous and
frank refusal Ia such indulgences will
occasion offense In no sensible man.
On the other hand the world respects
and honors the free, upright, indus
trious young man. Go where he may
among the educated, cultured and
moral or among the ignorant, coarse,
and vicious, and the man Of principle
and character enjoys the confidence
and respect of all alike. / believe
that In every soul there is spark Of
the divine, and that none are too low
to commend the good In Others.
The world hates hypocrite, The
young man who is a moral fellow
among the moral, but a hale, good