St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1902-06-14

est earthly attainment, TO become
strong, pure and wise enough to
wear life, not to be borne down by
its cankering cares and habits to
make of existence a chain OF gold
that shall be held in our hands,
not chain of iron that shall hold
us.
We can by the highest exercise
of will power wear life like a beauti-
full garment, only worn down q
span of perfect existence and
dropped willingly for a freer life.
And the force Which has the great
est influence upon this will power,
hence upon the educating, or de-
veloping of man, is thought. lt is
the dynamo that controls the elec-
trio mechanism Of man. 1t is as
impossible for pure thoughts to
produce an impure life as for vine-
gar to resemble honey to the taste.
Thoughts sown into the mind of
an infant decide its destiny, here
and hereafter. The mind is mas.
ter of the body. A strong emo
tion will send the blood through
the body like the water in mill
race. It controls the body as per-
fectly as giant handles a child.
There is no security for the
earthly tenement when the wreck
less occupant kindles a destroying
fire within, and suffers the flame to
run through all the apartments.
III a man allows himself to be led
by every wild impulse and cratic
fancy, or If his disposition be like
gun cotton, he Is never safe. His
body becomes a kind of magazine
in which the passions frequently
explode and shake the whole
building. That mans house is not
likely to last long, and he should
pay an extra premium for insur-
ance. The Importance of moral
education, development of all the
mental and moral faculties unto
state of perfection will be sufficient
ly apparent If we but cast some un-
biased thought upon the present
state of deceased barbarism-bar-
barity of man toward self.
But unless the mind has grown
naturally, gradually, unto it's
thrown-master of it's earthly hab-
itation-it is a severe discipline, a
self discipline that stands between
men to-day and glorious epoch
making tomorrow.
THE VALEDICToRY.
The valedictory, by Miss Jennie
Caillouet, was in part as follows,
to-Wit
Parents, Teachers, Companions,
Friends-You have come hither
upon this occasion to encourage
and cheer US who are just setting
out ON our pilgrimage and toiling
over the roughness of the first as
cent, we thank you. May your
lives be full of peace and happi.
ness, and like the glorious sun that
leaves glow over all nature, 50
may the light Of your examples
long linger in blessings on those of
us who shall survive to take your
place in the great and busy world.
For you, dear parents, at this IA
vored hour, how the heart sWells,
the smiles, the kind words, the
sympathies, the counsels, the pray
ers-how fondly the memory treas
ures them up and claims them for
its own.
AT this hour what greater re-
ward can we receive than loved
parents smilts of joy and approx
al In years to come, though
Time with his effacing fingers OBJ
literates many impressions of child
hood, still you can hold this knowl-
edge in your hears, that faith and
truth planted in the heart OF
child can never be totally effaced.
No one else on earth has claim
to the gratitude justly due par
ents, save the faithful, devoted
teachers, the formers OF our youth
full characters you, kind instruct.
ors, have the next place in our
hearts. Your paternal care, your
faithful counsels and effectionate
instructions have opened before
as the ways OF wisdom. You
have warned us of danger, re-
moved obstacles when they inn
peded our progress, corrected Us
when in error and cheered us when
discouraged. Tn the name of my
companions thank You warmly
and sincerely. No words of ours
can express the gratitude that
glows within our hearts.
But though we must part, while
we live on earth may we cherish
a grateful and warm remembrance
of one another and may we SO liveas
to become successful rulers and di-
rectors, make of life an harmonious
whole that shall breath obedience
to the Master of all things, and in
turn demand obedience of its own
powers, develop, cultivate and use
them to the attainment of noble
purposes. And in this satisfying
work we shall grasp the pearl of
contentment.
Thus friends and fellow-mates,
though we tonight do say farewell,
the sad tone that rings within the
sound Ia drowned by the music in
the promise of a future nobly
spent, the shadow that falls from
that word SO like q cloud must be
dispersed by the stars of light and
truth that shine above us, lighting
our lives into a perfect end"