New-York tribune., 1903-06-14
THE HIGHER LIFE"
.4ddrcss By William Tiatcr at the
Staten Island academy.

The commencement day exercises Of the Staten
Island Academy occurred on Friday. June L. at 10
g m, the German Club Theatre, at Stapleton.
Staten Island Twelve students were graduated,
nine Of whom go 10 tne university. Exquisite music
was provided by the Jean L Schaefer String Quar-
ret. There q religious service by the Rev.
Pascal Narrower The trustees OF the academy
present and there was 3 very large audience
William Winter. president OF The academy trustees
delivered the farewell address, which fol-
lows
The festival in which we now participate is one
cssse tle occasion one OF PARTING and farewell.
joy. because this hour Is . gateway OF time. open
iuE into golden vista Of new opportunities. new
duties. and 1eN delights. Mingled emotions are
7ns with the note If Cheer ri'e For the stu
dents who are graduated to-day, nothing can ever
formed through years Of association in study and
in sport VIII gradually but surely be severed. and
equally the pleasures and the pains OF school life
vii become fading memory OF long ago New
circumstances Viii environ each and every one OF
these eager mariners embarking the voy
+fei- minds new a-47l,itio-s will sway their con-
duct. and new interests VIII allure or impel them
unknown fate So il always has been. with the
race Of man. and so il always will be to the
ri the world There is no other way The pa
thec aspiration Of Faust, in the great representa-
tive German poern-Jhat he may follow the sun II
his setting. and thus from some aerial height look
sunset rloxNfe Ionsir7 for ba apiIess f,at
VII abide and endIre--can never be fulfilled Per
Sc-a and Tna~e as he vesrs accu,nIIlafe human
bsi-rs are sec.esiereS and alone Anxious and
sur~ebensivs sohctrde as to the future OF untried
yourh IS therefore, natural feeling in the bosom
Il IS apt 70 reveal Itself in words Of sonore noni-
-icr solemn import. But while this feeling is
natural. i IS practically useless The generation
therein has fulfilled its destiny and lived its life
The generation no" acNanciing comes onward - III
radiant in hope: happy il the tumult Of action;
confident OF success; and. as it sees the sunshine;
Ancws morning hour OF triumph and Of Joy. il
ezar2pIe or listen to ADVICE The Past may have
leaned MS 5sa@ ON 4Fe % rs eHPerne be new 3E' Ee Ie m
i've and learn Tor itself.
come 70 know sone{hlng q the wQrlo a. Gqn'e @ on e
s-5 continue 70 provide them with our counsel.
ard believe we are never quite SO prodlgal Of
when the new generation is more or less az our
June days from every college rostrurn in the land
there comes a voice q warning alIG gulaahce, s
generosity that knows no INIT ana q ON IN , re
efulEence Of advice nlunines every theme ~ @ ht-
- 1sl-i 5ct mn Te,STsfer66I1s and error irrpossi-
rIe-tbe wonder is indeed. that anything should
ever =e disordeTed, or that anybody should 20
wrong Disorders nevertheless exist. and mis-
our Intellectual precepts and bestow our tTultless @
sol3-F observation Of the Hebrew monarch: Wis
aoTP 81 e9e. ~ u -sps-5a4i7 ~ her For since human
lie is necessarily. the invariabe theme Of mo
sno happ.ness 10 HolIs e III eLS U.s. 15
o5 Us S IS + u ,,sF e of human
fife se W. have found il and must commend such
az ss &c o. MS 1tS c@7,ce cl1t f ~ obfy and beauty
II r-is direction Of thought there Is mu2h that
might be said The custom Is 70 eAtoI lhs con @
temporary age: TO exult in popular buster ana na-
-o1--g - -ter 1-4eritarce of liberty and equality:
electricity and monopoly: universal suffrage steam
q baos5' ne My, 3gs or he stcaT+z- sII1ornobile that
when they are well used No doubt the Present
Possesses 5dTantsges that were unknown 10 the
p YET
civilization not Yet tr-7rsceroer1J ot russ aao
that the individual life which never reaches tran
= Is vsll71ted as one OF colossal prosperity and
ne current time is Wanted as one OF suprernely
Is TnEe-i1s 5i,s+ed and tSe speetness Of 1.-The
Strenuous life be disclosed. II is wise habit
of the nind-because IT encourages hopeful ef1ort.
TO look upon the bright SIDE OF eYerythi&ng; & hut but
7er7atsr in every form. is regnant in society all
over the land and almost an over me Wo-lu, let
rne custom cf business enterprise is ruthless greed
the Theatre-irstftutions at once forrna tive and
Tepresenta1iye Of the PeoPle-aTe M %3th & 2g6 1{se @
vicious luxury ostenLati tiously predominant among
the poor that craft and expediercy are frequently
preached and very generally practlseo; that the
national genius for noise has created an internal
uarderorurn. destructive Of all dignity and all re
= 800 ~ a 55rnv face scarce ever "a. be seen.
TIE strife may be saluta-E The portents may al
= l-l5eGIR 81 ereeni+1- Of inteect and T5rifv
- s1i~T-shou-ing themselves in nobility Of char
sc1er and refinement Of Elanners-through which,
~ As-1h civiizsrior can be made tranquil and
joIe- and individual life be blessed with peace
There an egTsTn & 6y ne Lan P9e{ AlaTai -a
wisdom in little space
Tomorrow ycu will live you aIwsvs CRY
n what FAR Country does this Morrow lie.
Eeyon5 The Iraies does thts Morrow live?
It's SC far-fetched this Morrow. that fear
Twill b. both very cld and veTy Dear.
T55sr .tselrs TOO Iate-the wise lived yesterday
Of which is translated in these words:
A. least O Father. ere the close Of life.
voachsafe ! pray Thee. some seQues1red glen
and there seclude ne. rescued from me strlle
vulgar runults and the cares OF men
Co-p.1e+e avoidance Of contact with worldly strife
snd co-lrzotiou Is impossible. and individual IN
6ifference 70 the welfare Of mankind Is neither
healtn-uI nor polite Hamlet's rule Of life is at
once The isest and the noblest that has ever been
formulated for the guidance OF 1ntellectua persons
r. their traf5c with the nultitudes Use them
after YOUR own honor and dignity; the less Lhey
sizcz fe-oorsnce seIfstress base expediency and
forces in human societv-(Jhe majority OF Wrong.
sgesrrsr v-hf-F rfe minority of Right has always
FssT os.posedy-the alterra tive Of wisdom would be
refrain from useless effort 10 regulate other
people. and 70 attend more particularly 10 me
rnniry would De the natural result Of excellence IN
he individuals who compose it Live pure ne
BE noble IN your thought and honest IN your &C
co-5xerti1n Do not adopT the notions OF the
-rT,s fSr1;e,e sri11y f r,oreiFIe wherever YOU
ind IL Be valiant protect the innocent and
strong 10 sustain the weak. Bat co not fancy that
% adjust The nations ana supervise the world
AhoNe al co rot IN ~i-tUl selfishness or reckless
passion create burdens Tor yoUT friends 10 pear
Our acts cur angels are. or good or ILL.,
our .alai shadows that waE by US stil.
To fulfil your duty 10 yourself; TO be meek IN