The Topeka state journal., 1906-06-09

the Book of Proverbs.
This is 4 baccalaureate sermon. but
unlike most baecalaureate sermons. it
viii be short
Just now there are good many
boys and girls. young men and young
women, going out from Kansas schools
and colleges. Unless they are far diff
ferent from those who have gone be-
fore them down deep in their hearts
they are harboring a secret belief that
the world is waiting just around the
corner for them to conquer it.
This is by no means an unnatural be-
lief. It is as natural as youth itself.
You may not acknowledge it even to
yourself. but the feeling viii not
down that if you can only get a chance
the world is yours.
And you are correct if you are the
right sort of a young man or young
woman-and if you are willing to put
forth the necessary effort. That is
where so many college graduates are
disappointed: They have acquired the
idea that the wisdom and learning
they have been accommodating during
the years they have been in college
ought to open the doors of success to
them before they even knock-just by
pressing the button, perhaps-but that
is a great mistake. It will take a lot
Of pounding to get those doors open,
and a college education is merely an
aid in the pounding, if it is rightly
used.
In these days a good education is
almost an absolute necessity to gain
success. and a practical college
education is great additional
help. But college education
must be used as it is is intended
as a foundation on which to build.
knowledge of geometry is of very lit
tie practical benefit in the grocery
business, or in newspaper work, or on
the farm. but if it was acquired by
hard study it is a great aid in rea-
soning out the knotty problems that
one meets in all walks of life. You
viii probably not read Latin SEN
tence in a year and in flve years you
won't be able to remember whether
the amO-amas-amat piece you used to
speak is a declensfon or a conjuga-
ton, but if you studied it as you
should have done it will be a mighty
help to you in the understanding of
language and in the facile use of
words.
The point of 1t is that your educa-
ton is only the foundation, and in
whatever line of work you engage you
must begin at the bottom of the ladder
and learn the rudiments, just as
though you had no education. Your
pay may not be very large at first, but
if your education is sound it will en-
able you to climb faster and much
higher than you could have done with
out it.
So do not lay too much stress, young
man, on accepting a position" IN
stead you had better hustle job The
position will come later after you have
proved that you can handle a job, but
do not be disappointed If you are COM
PEELED to prove first that you can
handle the job thoroughly. Those who
climb too fast are apt to get dizzy and
fall.
And you, young woman, who may
have notion that a famous career
IS awaiting you just as soon as the ink
gets dry on your diploma: Don't you
think a good place to begin that career
is out in the kitchen helping mother
get breakfast and washing the dishes
It's a fine thing If you understand all
about the philosophy of history and
the nebular hypothesis. but it's a finer
thing to know something of the heart
throbs of human sympathy. Once ia
a while the good Lord picks a Frances
L. Willard. or Mother Bickerdyke, or
q Sarah Bernhardt, or a Patti. or
Queen Victoria, and sets them at work
on a career" but the finest career
that can come to the average Ameri-
can young woman is to be picked out
by some honest. stalwart young fellow
that she loves and respects. and enter
into his home TO boss him without his
knowing it and help him make real
success in life-in other words. to
change from an American princess into
an American queen. And it's blessed
good thing that most sensible Ameri-
can girls pick out that sort of a "ca-
reer" without any advice from news
paper editors.
stT4TTF3VVNG RTTSTNFzSS