The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1906-06-06

practical. If he ventures an opinion
upon political or social questions he
is called a crank, but this is far from
true. II the views of the educated
are not accepted or adopted it is be-
cause their aims are too lofty, their
standards too high for the age in
which they live. We often hear
sport made of agricultural colleges
and scientific farmers, but this. too,
is mistake. Mans superiority
over the animal kingdom does not
spring alone from the fact that he is
man. Take him away from the
world, rob him of the experience of
the past and the wisdom Of all the
ages that have gone before. and MS
boosted superiority will vanish. Elk
perience is the greatest of teachers.
but 1t is not at all necessary that the
experience should be our own. 1t
is the experience of all men and all
times that gives us what we have
and makes us what we are. The self
made man is noble product. We
all admire him and he generally ad
mires himseII. But notwithstand-
ing the fact that he commands our
respect for what he has accomplished
unaided and alone, yet we must all
concede that liberal education to
start with would have improved him
even beyond his grandest concep
tions of himself.
II do not mean by this that sduca-
tlon comes from schools alone or
that all self made men are uneducat-
ed, but many of them are lacking in
this respect While there are ex-
ceptions to the rule, the uneducated
man is usually narrow minded and
provincial. He cares for few things
and knows but little of the world
outside his narrow groove. He is
interested in his town, his business.
perhaps his church and family, but
beyond this he has little knowledge
of, and small interest in the world
at large. If he does not know how
to do thing he is helpless and lost
THE educated man, on the other
hand, has been brought in contact
with distant places and distant ages.
He can command his resources and
concentrate his powers on the task
before him. IF he does not know
how to do thing he generally
knows where and how he can gain
the necessary information. To those
of you who have completed your
education without any intention or
desire to prosecute your studies
further, I will only say, do not let
your education stop here. Read
good books and good papers-Yaki-
ma papers, If you please. Keep
yourselves informed as to what is
going on in the world about you. Be
just and honorable in all your deal
ings with your fellowmen. and be
fearless and conscientious in the ex-
ercise of every duty appertaining to
your citizenship. To those of you
who will become teachers of others
| will only say, do not grow old be-
tain a teachers certificate, do not
forget that you were once child.
Remember that poor humanity is the
same the world over. Remember
your own trials, your own troubles,
your own failings when at school,
and remember the succor that was or
might easily have been afforded. In
fine, be human, and not an anti
quated bundle of theories. | admon
ish those of you who aspire to some
of the learned professions that a
college diploma is the beginning and
not the end l would not discour-
age you, but I would fail in my duty
did I not impress upon your minds
that you have before you life of
toll. However great your capacity
~. oil, orb 1ifn to, for
short. to give you knowledge of
all you might know. Whether you
know much or little, whether you
succeed or fail, will depend entirely
upon your own exertions. So live
that you will be an ornament to
your profession and an inspiration to
mankind. Never from considerations
personal to yourselves neglect the
cause of the helpless or oppressed,
and never belittle or demean your
professional brethren.
ITO all of you I will say, you have
been taught here to think Alright.
Alright. Up to this time you and
your teachers have shared a divided
responsibility, but from this day
forth, the responsibility is yours
alone. Success is within your reach,
but failure is much easier to attain,
Aim high and qualify yourselves for
any position to which you may
aspire. Honorable ambition is al
ways commendable. Do not hide
your light under a bushel, on the one
hand, and on the other hand, do
not attempt to make searchlight
out of candle. Whatever you un-
dertake in life, do your best, and do
it with will. And after you have
done this, however humble your sta
tion, you will find that contentment
with your lot is the greatest boon in
life.
"Above all things, my young
friends, do not attempt to occupy the
stage all the time. No human incl
lect is equal to the task. Say what
You have to say: say it once, and say
it well, and when you have done.
leave the stage to others-as / do
now"
The music by the ladies' quartet
was greatly appreciated, as was also