The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1903-09-10
THE VIRTUE OF PUNCTUALITY
Rev, G. W. Harlan Gives Elmwood Stu.
dents a Timely Talk on This
Virtue.

w. Harlan, in his address at the
opening of Elmwood Seminary,
said:
Education may be defined: The
acquisition of knowledge necessary 10
usefulness in ones chosen pursuit in
life. More accurately it is, as the
Latin word educo, from which II is de-
rived, indicates "ro lead FORTH
that is, to develop the faculties of the
mind as n preparation for saccess 10
any pursuit in life. Hence it becomes
an important question: BY what
means may one secure an education?
/. 1t cannot be obtained by inher-
ltance, nor received Us a gift, nor
found as silver and gold in mine,
nor bought by any treasure. however
precious it may be. Only by the
earnest, assiduous, perseycring effort
of each one who desires it, can ii be
.ccurcd.
2. As necessary condition of
such work, one must be interested in
it, The student must love his task,
so that he will take delight in it, pre-.
ferring ii TO everything else.
8 Another condition of success in
securing au educ alton is tboroughness
in every branch of study. The stu
dent is not unlike the general in time
of war, when he cutters the country of
the enemy; he must conquer every foe
as he advances, otherwise, through
the attack of the enemy in the rear,
he will be defeated. This may be il
Illustrated by the Importance of the per-
feet mastery Of the multiplication table
as preparation for accuracy in all
future calculations.
4. Punctualily is necessary con
diliun OF success in securing an educa.
ton. | hesitate not to affirm that Of
those who have achieved distinction in
any pursuit in life, punctuality WAS u
characteristic virtue. ! cite as An in.
stance the testimony OF the Hon.
Richard NJ johnson Of Kentucky, who,
though having but few privileges in
youth, diligently improved such ~ he
had, and mainly by his own effoits at
tanned great cmincncc az warrior
and statesman. In the war of 1912,
aS Colonel of II regiment at the battle
Of the Thames, he defeated Trcumlha,
the celebrated Indian chief, whom il
is said he killed, and utterly routed
the 800 Indians under his command;
was member of the Legislature Of
Kentucky, and htcrwald represented
Kentucky in the Congress Of the
United Statcs-2O years in the House
Of Representatives and 10 years in the
Scunlc-and served as Vice President
Of the United States during the ad.
mnist alton of Martin Van Buren,
from 1887 to 1871.
1t so occurred that some time in the
forties he was travelling through Hi.
nois, and among other towns visited
jacksonville, the seat of Illinois Col
legc. 1t was arranged that he should
address the students of the College in
the chapel at 1880 O'Clock in the
morning. Early rs the hour was, Col
johnson came promptly on time and
at once commenced making his speech,
Quite number of the students were
late entering the chapel, and seeing
that the Colonel was already speaking
they were much confused at their tar
dincss and were stealthily taking
their seats Col. johnson, noticing
their embarrassment, embraced the oc-
casion to commend to them the
virtue Of punctuality, urging that they
diligently cultivate and practice it
He testified that whatever eminencc he
had attained in life, whatever honors
had been bestowed on him. each aud
all were mainly due TO this virtue,
which he had formed in his youth aud
had carefully practiced throughout his
entire life. While this eminent man,
commonly known as ''Dick Johnson,n
could testify to the success he had
achieved through his punctuality IN
discharging every duty, the great ma
jorty, on the other hand, can bear
witness to losses and failures through
procrastinaiion.
BY reason of tardincss aud frequent
absence from school, for they are gen.
orally associated together, the student
becomes discouraged, falls bchisd his
classes, fails in examination, and
finally leaves college uneducated. .a
Hence, ! urge that the students fol-
low this wise counsel Of Col. johnson,
form the virtue of puncluality and
practice il throughout life, and thus be
delivered from the losses and failure,
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