Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1902-07-17

| city In the mountains Is so fortunate to
possess advantages far ahead of many
cities. Mr.. Howard entered into this
work for love, not for glory, and having
firmly established the institution al he
asks is the support of our citizens in
maintaining it-their frequent attendance
and encouragement of all to avail them
selves of the knowledge to be found in
the good books to be found there.
Short talks were given by Messrs. j.
d. Logan, j. +. Parsons, j. r. Fetter,
when the POSTMASTER, called upon c. w.
Shafler, Esq, who responded at some
length, outlining the object Of the gather
ing, as follows:
Mr.. TOAsTsMAsTER:-
1t is fitting that this representative
assemblage should meet in this institu-
ton, dedicated to the public for its
pleasure and betterment. l speak to
men with high appreciation of the
value of education in every direction
and of every kind.
In this community composed of
tradesmen and craftsmen all are neigh
bors, and because we are neighbors we
each others welfare and willing to
yield something to each others circum-
stances.
Let us adopt for our motto, 1.-THE
world owes a living;" let us, however,
give it proper Interpretation, and let
us give thoughts to the suggestions
arising from such Interpretation in our
efforts to discover a just and true
standard of success.
The most absurd thing for men or
women to do at any time Of life is to
allow the least approach to an idea
that because the world owes them
living the world ought to bring it to
them. This is not the way the world
behaves. 1t will pass by all VINO wait,
and bestow on others VINO are working
and striving, the good things it has in
store. 1t sometimes seems that there
are those, who, when their days Of
study are over, harbor the delhsion
that the time Of effort is past, and that
their educational equipment ought of
itself and by its own momentum to
bear them to the easy haven ofsuccess.
An indulgence in this delusion ac-
counts for the disappointed, the COM
planning and the querulous, who be-
come the wrecks that lie upon the
shores of life's activity.
In this day of jostling competition,
one who, by individual, independent
effort, is able to meet reasonable wants
and to live comfortably, may be said to
be in receipt of what the world owes
him. When this point is reached
modest accumulation is close at hand,
and usually only waits on economy
and a repression OF fictitious needs
and if wealth and fortune finally follow
honest, courageous, persevering
and self-reliant effort, the debt the
world owes will not be oyerpaid. Thus
in different degrees, the "lIving'' due
us has been secured, that is so far as is
represented by comfortable existence
and accumulation. More is necessary
however, before this "IiVingn can cor
respond with our standard of success.
For every dePree of living the world
accords to us we owe something to our
telloWs-the people of the world
whether they are of our kin and house
hold or whether they are only related
to US by the broad bonds of common
humanity. We cannot keep honest
books altogether on one side. IF we
have means to meet our wants and live
comfortably, we owe obligations to
lllOSc NtGJCIlNlCliG OIl LiS, anu al Nlul1 III
the maintenance of Il household per-
vaded by cheerful contentment and the
| influence Of morality. If we have
reached the degree Of accumulation,
| the obligations are joined by others
covering larger area; and If the stage
| Of wealth and fortune has been reach
ed, they havesuperadded to them valid
claims uponus in aid of charity and in
| furtherance of enterprises which ele-
vate, educate and improve our fellow
men. With these duties fully discharg-
| ed, we have made further advance in
combining the living we have secured
| with the best standard of success.
The factors of success still lacking
are in no way connected with our
| financial conditions, nor with any
obligations growing out of them. They
are attached to life Itself and to human
| fellowship; they concern our social re-
lations, the duty we owe our neighbors
and associates and the duty we owe our
country.
Kind words to those in need of them,
sympathy with the distressed and af-
flicted, charity and mild counsel for
the erring, encouragement for the des
pondent, thoughtful consideration for
the humble and lowly, and a constant
eXemplitication of the cheerfulness and
happiness of an upright life will fre-
quently yield richer harvests in the
fields of life's success than wealth can
produce. Let us add in completion of
our standard of true success, a constant
example of patriotic love of country
and conscientious discharge of every
duty of citizenship perfunctorily
nor in blind obedience to party leader
ship-but intelligently, ana in sober
recognition of the responsibility the
citizen assumes to his government in a
land where the people rule.
Moved with a desire consonant with
these ideas our worthy townsman es-
tablished these comfortable rooms, and
supplied the large Circulating Library
of history, smaller works Of science and
the standard and recent works of fic.
ton, including the brilliant book by
our talented towns-lady. To this has
been added the Reference Library GOV.
ering extensively the many braHehes
of science, history, literature, poetry
oratory, statistics, diplomatic papers,