The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1905-09-23

say this evening will ho in the IA ure of
a message from a student to students.
would call it a lnessag from an old
student to younger students, but ~ Fred
ericksburg College il. and has been. Ii
cO-educational institute, for me To admit
being old might be construed ~ an un-
Kindness To certain class mates who
entered college with me and occupied
seats on the opposite side OF the study
hall. Entertaining, AZ do, a tender re-
gard for the feeling of these fair class
mates. some Of whom ! see present, will
modify the statement to suit the pro-
prieties OF the occasion and call IL, not "a
message from an old student 10 younger
students, but a message from iDrmer
to present students.
Your presence here as students OF this
college Indicate that you have purpose
in view. II there arr any of You without
a purpose then my advice is 10 get one,
and get it quickly. BY all means have "a
PURPOSE in life. God never created any
thing without purpose, and do not
believe he intended that man should be-
without one. To man, the sentient AM
NAL, he gave the power of determining
his purpose and imposed the correspond
ing responsibility upon him to determine
wisely. purpOseless man or a pur-
pOseless woman never has or never will
accomplished anything in life worthy Of
note or emitting him or her 20 honor or
fame. But 10 the man or woman who
has felt the strong, irresistible, impelling
fore OF a purpose in life, To these. diff
culties are easily overcome, dirappOlnt-
ments soon forgotten, and obstacles
which for the time being seem insurpable
arr removed or are used "a stepping
stones 10 the fullest achievement OF that
purpose.
Purpose is therefore absolutely essen-
tial to success, but there must also be-
preparation. If the purpose is sufficient
~ strong and impelling then you will see
toit that you make the best possible use
of your time and opportunities while at
college in this preparation. To the indl-
vidual il left the matter OF determining
upon the purpose. while the special func-
ton Of the college is To give preparation
by training and developing the faculties
OF the mind, and thus prepare the man
or woman 80 as TO make possible the ac-
cOmplshing OF the purpose. Thorough
training in the different branches OF study
usually taught in the college is becoming
more and more essential to the highest
degree Of SUCCESS II n man would lead
in the professions of law, medicine or the
ministry. he must be we'll grounded in
the college branches.
Equally true is IL in the less cOnspcu-
GUS callings or vacations. To be thor
oughly qualified stenOgraphcr reporter
you must have a well rounded education.
Be thorough in your work; much depends
upon il. One Of the most successful mer-
chants Of New York, Stewart, ! think it
was. on being asked to explain in sin
gle word his success, replied, Thorough
ness" In nearly every walk OF life the
demand is always for men OF thorough
training West Point prepares men for
the military service, Annapolis Tor the
naval service, law and medical schools
for the practice OF law and medicine, but
the college is the great training school
where students are prepared forentrance
into these special schools, and prepared
also for the business, social andfeligious
worlds, where they give intelligent di-
pction to public sentiment and thereby
secure the stability Of our social and NJ
ligious institutions.
There was time when man needed
only to know little about his own par
ticnlar calling or profession, but that
time has passed. Competition is now so
sharp, the struggle for supremacy so
strenuous, that he must know n little
about a great many subjects and great
deal about his own, il he would be a
credit to his profession or succeed IN his
calling. Thorough preparation is the
great need of our time. BE prepared
when opportunity knocks. She may not
visit you again. Ii the crew OF great
warship spends weeks, months and years
in training and practice and preparation
for the battle which possibly may never
be fought. how much more important II
il. from the individual standpoint, that
you should spend the few years of your
college life i'm an earnest, persistent EFFORT
to prepare yourselves for the daily con-
fict which you will inevitably be called
upon to wage upon life's great battle
ground.
Do not deceive yourself into the belief
that you will succeed without effort; not
effort, but persistent, con-
tinuOus. strenuous effort. A young
man once asked Chauncey NJ. Depew:
"Mr. Depew. what is the secret OF sue
cess?" Mr.. Depew answered, "My boy,
there is no secret to it. IL is just dig,
dig, dig" There is no secret by which
we may acquire an education other than
work, work, work. You may not lead
your classes or carry off honors in col
lege, but you may succeed nevertheless.
IL matters not that Morse invented the
and you did not; that Bryant
wrote ThanatOpsis and you did not;that
Burke charmed and Beecher thrilled and
you may not. They could do one thing
and you can do another. God has given
to some greater native ability than to
Others. One man may achieve more with |
less effort than another. But every man
is himself, and it ia in proportion as he
cultivates, develOpes and utilities the
power within him that he succeeds-suc- !
ceeds in doing the things he proposes do |
ing. let that purpose be in what the
world calls the humber walks OF life, IL
you pftdSt.
What we should strive to attain is per-
manent, enduring, substantial achieve
ments, not that metioric success which
iazzels the beholder for the moment and
then is no more.
Some OF the brightest students make
the most complete failures. They earn
and carry of honors in col
ege and go out into the world with the
dea that the world owes them debt
and that it only awaits their coming to
settle up. They think to startle the
world with their wonderful genius,
achieve success and fame without EFFORT
and labor. Woeful mistake; Rrievous
error. To such there will come a rude
awakening.
What a student sometimes lacks IN APP
;itude and quicknees of Thought may be
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