The Washington times., 1906-06-14
Look to the Future.

hope and believe that you have
profited by your advantages. That is
the first important consideration. and
the second is. VIII you profit by them
in the future? VIII the learning that
you have avquired broaden and deepenP
VIII the character Of each boy continue
10 develop on these wholesome lnes2
VIII the ideals set before you here be-
come part Of your life and be your
guide and support in the future?
We may draw our ideals from humble
as well as from exalted sources. The
word, as I wish 70 use 1t, applies not
only TO individuals. but 10 the exhibition
of all admittedly fine traits Of character
whenever and wherever found. Some
may typtfy self-reliance, some courage,
some perseverance. some self-Sacrifice.
some loyalty, some patriotism, some
craftsmanship some scholarship, some
fine distinction of homeIy toll and some
the equally fine distinction Of wealth.
honestly acquired and honestly spent TO
further the cause Of good government
and good citizenship. These are among
the ideals you will find personifed all
about you. and in the pages of history.
But no more admiration for them, no
attempt 10 pattern after them in a
slaVlsh spirit of imitation, will avail
10 strengthen and enrich your lives.
You must have not only the ideals but
the determination that in you, too, they
shall be reality. You must strive TO
make them live again, If only in part
IN your own careers, fashioned through
your own pluck and determination. and
above all, marked by your own individ-
uality: for no life realizes its highest
possibilities II 1t crushes out individual
jty. individuality based upon high
ideals is the foundation for self-relience,
and without self-reIiance, life Is dwarfed
into poor and weak existence
What glorious ideals we can have in
this country Of oursi How its history
thrills with the deeds of mighty leaders
IN al walks of life. We may find them
among It's Presidents, 81 its Supreme
Court, In the halls of Congress, and its
other great departments, in its army
ana navy, in its marls OF trade IN its
factories and workshops, among its
Icachers. and in its churches-in all
nelds OF endeavOr in State and nation.
George Washington. the father of his
country; John Marshall. expounder Of
The Constitution; Daniel Webster, de-
render or the Constitution; Andrew Jack
son, ''Old Hickory Lincoln the eman-
cipator; Grant, the silent soldier-all
the long line of illustriOus Americans.
among the dead and among the living
from the discoverers and the hardy pio-
neers, from the first President to Will
liam Mckinley and Theodore Roosevelt.
statesmen and orators and Generals and
admirals and teachers and preachers and
merchants, the workers and toilers
eVSrywhere. who have contributed. each
IN ms sphere, 10 make the name Ameri-
can honored among men.
As we turn from our own to the b{s-
Tory OF other @ peoples, as we read Of the
mighty ages. how wonderful is the story
and how inspiring are the annals OF the
great and the good who have become
''the beacon lights of history"
But as I have already said, we find
our ideals among the lowly as well as
among the exalted. Can any whole
some, manly boy fail 10 gain added
strength from Judge Kavanagh's story
OF Scrapper Halpin. the poor little out
cast on the streets Of Chicago, who de-
spite all his struggles and temptations
when the test came. emerged from II
with the words on his lipe: Anyway. I
was square, or "Jim Bludsoe." /" fmmor-
talized by John Hay. Or THE Goliath
Boys"
Lesson of San Francisco.
In the dreadful catastrophe at San
Francisco, how many were the Incl
dents OF devotion to duty. presence of
mind. high courage. and abounding
faith! That city beautiful will rise from
its ashes more beautiful than ever. be-
cause there stiu lives there and through
out this land the spirit of pluck and
energy and faith and self-reIiance. The
American boy of today should consider
il a privilege that he has heard and
read of those things that are worthy
and OF good repute
1t is a good thing to have an ideal. II
IS a better thing 70 be an ideal A boy
without ideals is like a clock that has
run down; he may be ornamental hIlt
he is not usefr.. Many of your ideals
may be beyond your ability or your re-
sources, but YOU can determine to ex-
eel IN whatever you undertake; You can
place the st2ndard of character and ac-
,counplishr1ent hfeh and saw --rI,a~o tr- -.