Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1906-07-19

70 THE GRADUATING CLASS on
CHARLOTTE HALL SCHOOL,

III WaNerluk Dehet you hU pne cfuclui
point, and steadiastness Of purpose is
not your possession, then youmay know
that the time for embarkation has not
arrived
So soon as you find these two prime
essentials are certainly yours, then you
may know it is the hour to commence
the voyage Of a manly life.
Be courageous and face the world In
this connection, / wish to say to you,
that in my experience OF 30 years as a
teacher, have never known young
man to fail Of making success Of life,
who knows himself and who knows what
he wants to do, and who deyotes his
faculties with assiduity to,the task which
claims the best powers Of his heart, mind
and body.
Surprising that you have reached this
point, what next2
Perhaps, the most powerful factor in
success in life, after the foregoing has
been settled, is the power Of initiative.
IL has been well and TRULY said
"rhe world bestows its best prizes,
both in money and honors for but one
thing and that is Initiative.
What is Initiatiye2 1t is doing the
right thing, without being told. But
next to doing the right thing without
being told, is to do it when you are told
once. That Is to say, carry the message
to Garcia. Those who carry message,
get high honors, but their pay is not al
ways in proportion.
Next there are those who never do a
thing till they are told twice, and such
get no honors and small pay.
Next, there are those who do the right
thing when necessity kicks them from be.
hind, and these, my young friends, get
Indifference instead OF honors, and a
pittance for pay This kind spends most
OF the time polishing bench, and telling
to unwilling ears, the hard.luck story.
Then, lower down in the scale than
this, we have a fellow who win not do
the right thing, even when someone goes
along to show, him how, and stays 10
see that he does IT, He is always out Of
a job, and receives the contempt he de
serves, unless perhaps, he has a rich PA.
in which case destiny patiently waits
round the corner with a stuffed club.
To which class do you belong?
Let us hope, young gentlemen. that
you are Of the first class. Illustrating
this last condition, an anecdote Is told
OF a Cornell man, who during his Col
legiate career was very popular with the
fellows In athletics, he was much IN.
terested for the success Of all the sports
of the great University, but not 80 much
so as to be an active participant in the
games.
His father was Immensely wealthy.
lie was the idol Of the fond father, and
the want ofa dollar for nny purpose his
mind could suggest, was never felt by
him. When any College team needed
money, he supplied IL. lie was Of course
a hero Ten years after graduation. his
class met at Cornell, around the BANQUET
table.
After the feasting and talking were
over, and the cigars were lighted, the
Toast Master called on the members NJ
the Glass, TO give their experiences since
the class parted 10 years ago
Each had his story 20 tell, in which
much o. success was recounted aud much
Of progress narrated
When our friend sturn arrived. he arose
and said-" Fellows, am the same
old business, much TO my modification
TO relate, OF q. q. D. isassociates were
puzzled To understand bis meaning. and
asked him what was the Significance Of
''U. y. d. His answer was why 81
course IL can mean nothing bows but
Calling on Dad
Now, my young friends, Il there anv
doubt IN your minds as to his claasifica-
ton IN the foregoing divisions 81 life2
Again, Cultivate the habit OF being
kind. John Ruskin has well aaid and
You my young friends may profit by his
advice
Perhaps you may be proud. Well
You can get much good out of Pride. Ii
only II be not religious.
Perhaps you may be vain, IL IL highly
probable, and only pleasant for the peo.
pie who like TO praise you.
Perhaps you are little enyious Tint
- really shocking, but then so is every
body else.
Perhaps, you are little malicious
which am truly concerned to hear but
should probably, only the more ii knew
you, enjoy your conversation.
But, my friends, whatever else Won
may be, yon must not be cruel and Won
must not be useless. Let me commend
these closing words To each you.
would urge you TO be tactful. some
people connect this quality with insin-
certify and deceit. No such Significance
can be attached to the word. 10 be
tactful Is to make the path Of your assoc
ciates easy.
To tighten the burdens on the ahould.
ers OF tired humanity, without elusive
show Of aid TO Indicate the line 81
least resistance in LIES journey, which Il
always nature smethod, and not attempt
to force your conclusions ON unwillIng
ears. These conclusions OF yours win
have no convincing power nldce svc1
circumstances. Oliver WendaIl Holmes
has beautifully expressed the thou9ht
when am trying % urge you young
gentlemen 10 accept lie saws:
Don t Halter yourself that friendshin
authorizes you tosay disaoreenbIe thinos
10 your lnt.'nates on the contrary
Dhe nearer y0d come into relation with =