Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-23
CONY HIGH SCHOOL.
CONTINUED from page 81

eyes; look which way he will, that is
the same mo change of circum-
stances" says Emerson, can repair
defect of character" Character knows
no isolation; it cannot. like suit of
clothes. be thrown to one side. If
man is bad, no matter what others
may think of him, his character will
be bad. If a man is good, he may,
through the false motives of those
around him. have a mean reputation,
but his character must be like his self,
namely good. a man may run away
from a bad reputation, for that is out
side of himself; he can never run away
from bad character, for that is him.
self.
Christian character is of supreme
importance, for il is the re-incarnation
of the life of Christ. 1t is of supreme
Importance that we have a true self
and a true expression of a true self.
Every look of ours, every sympathy,
every sentiment, every word, every act
and every inclination should bear the
stamp of a true and recognizable
Christian individuality.
THE GLORY OF OUR AGE.
What constitutes the glory of our
age? Not the size of the census roll,
but the grandeur of it's living souls.
Wherein consists the value of a book?
Not in the number of pages which it
contains, but in the great ideas which
its embOdies. Man is of value to So
ciety when in possession of noble
character. All the choice fruits of civ
ilization are the results of the workings
of Christian character The high ideals
.s.-. fI,.tt
tian character. Let Christian charaC-
tiers cease to dominate and back to
the age of barbarism the drift would
at once begin. Character is both salt
to the earth and light to the world.
CHRISTIAN CHARACTER IS THE
RESULT OF PERSONAL EFFORT.
Every grand product is the result of
hard and persistent work. The finest
product in the world is an ideal char
acter An ideal character must demand
effort in production.
We admire the character of Pres
Roosevelt But his character is simply
the result of a solitary word that he
loves to emphasize. What is that
word? 1t is strenuous; and it means
eagerly pressing or urgent, jealous, ar
dent, earnest, bold, valiant, intrepid
Strenuous is an adjective that embodies
every phase of persistent effort.
We get out Of the world precisely the
things we dig for. He who digs for
dross will find it in abundance. He
who digs for the pure gold of charac-
ter will find the choiCer metal. Every
man has his own statue; builds him
self. Every act is q blow of the mallet
on the shaping chisel. Goethe declares
in the history of his life that what we
desire in our youth we possess album
dainty in our old age" Man by de-
grees becomes the embodiment of his
own ambition; the personfication of his
ardent desires. If the goal Of life be
the attainment of Christian character
that goal will be reached. The purpose
must be maintained by means of siren
uous effort. The prize of life never
falls upon an Indifferent soul. If it is
the aim of the harp to fill the air with
melody it must give up its strings 10
be stretched to the point of breaking.
If the boiler wishes to generate steam
il must submit to scorching heat and
mighty pressure. If the artist aims to
move the world to beauty, he must fol-
low the example of Fra Angelica and
paint in a spirit of devotion with brush
in hand and soul in heaven.
SELECT THE RIGHT THINGS AT
THE RICH TIME.
Remember you are in possession of a
will that is free. Every man has the
inherent force to accept or reject the
terms offered by the world. EpictetuS
declared for each man the universe
may be classified into things which con
Germ him and things which concern him
not" Guard against taking the good
in place of the better, or the better in
stead of the best Education aims 10
teach all to appreciate the best DO
not spend your money for that which is
not bread. Do not toll for that which
satisfieth not. Sift the things Of life.
Classify them. Choose. Enter life with
decided preferences. and with concen-
trated energies ana with burning aspi-
rations and with a distinct mission.
DEVELOP A STRONG PERSONAL
ITY.
Construct your own creed. Formulate
your own religious convictions. Take
heed unto theysolf. Paddle your own
canoe. Let there be no blind imitation
Let all your thought and work bear
the stamp of originality. Follow your
own Independent judgment. Avoid
learning to swim by leaning on corks
and bladders. If God has blessed you
with strong limbs, go through the
world without the aid of crutches
Never march in a procession to please
the captain. Don't be afraid to stand
alone. Never excuse yourself by say
ing "They all do it, That odious
phrase falls from the lips of n being
destitute of self. BE strong and OF
good courage. If you cannot find q
way. make one Remember the saying
Of the old Norseman: I believe neither
in idols nor demons: | put my sole
trust in my own strength of body and
SOUL
BUILD LIFE OUT OF THE OWN +
GRACES.
The greatest business of life is the
formation of Christian character
Persons who are to transform the world
must be themselves transformed. Man
has a sacred duty which he owes him.
self. BY so much as man succeeds in
building into his life the choice treas
ures of civilization by that much he is
expected to inspire his fellows If any