The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1906-06-02

commencement exercises have
held the right OF way Everybody
has handed up their sincere good
wishes to the sweet girl graduate, or
to the boy who has completed an
other stage of his school life and now
stands at the parting Of the ways
will he 90 on to further opportunities
for formal education or will he Law his
books aside and begin to wrcStlc with
the bread and butter problem What
is to i" the next step in that boys
career? And the answer to that ques-
ton must be dictated largely BY the
quality of the bOv-hiS industry, his
earnestness his capacity. Education
is great equipment for life. but it is
not worth while to waste $4,000 on a
$40 boy. And there is lots Of that
sort OF thing being done. Going to
college and getting an education"
are by no means Synonymous terms.
Don't you imagine my dear fellow,
that you are doomed to fail OF an edit
cation because forSooth the stern ne
cessiticS OF life deprive you OF the op-
portunitv for a college course. Edu-
cation, in these davs of diffuSed learn
ing, is not all crampcd and cribbcd in
side Academic walls. 1t walks abroad
and you can have it. if YOU want it.
Think OF some of the men who live
close beside You and are notable for
their culture and intelligence. but who
hold no diploma from any "hgher
institution OF lcarnino" And then
think Of some other men who have
wasted MANY precious hour and many
a good dollar in the seats of learn
ing, and are able to show no results
that are at all commensurate with the
time and money spent Now. don't
miSquOtc me. ! am bringing no in
dictmcnt against our colleges, and
am not thinking of such a thing as de
crying the value OF education a. an
equipment for living. But 7 am saying
that all is not education which bears
that label, and am saying that be-
fore you talk OF going to college, have
few serious moments with yourself
wherein YOU ask honestly and earnest
ly what YOU are going for2
Back OF the graduation exercises.
back Of the sweetness and the beauty
OF the scenes that are lust now being
enacted in all our schools. I think
much OF the fathers and mothers who
have made these scenes possible. and
whose daily sacrifices and loving toll
have been given without stint or com
plant that ''my boy may have bet
ter chance than | ever had" The
wrinkles are deepening in the mothers
face, the fathers "lyart haffets are
wearing thin and bare" as they plan
and toll and sacrifice together for
their chiIdrcn'S advancement. And
what shall repay them for all this la
Dor OF love and years Of almost bitter
self-dcniaI? What but the fond hope
and belief that you are getting what
they are giving YOU the chance to get,
at so great cost. But are YOU get
ting it: Do school DAYS mean lust so
many more days OF escape from much
OF the hard drudgcry of life which
somebody else does for you? Or do
those days mean to you Just the
chance o the prize OF winning better
equipm mt for living?
1t is time, nv dear boy, for you to
ask yourself these things Nobody
begrudgcs you the diversions and joys
OF life. Nobody wants you to wear
burdened heart and to be old before
your time. But your heart must not
be cruelty selfish and you are quite old
enough to realize that the little family
sacrifices, which are made for your
advancement, appeal with trumpet
tongues to every particle of manhood
that is in you. Take your part in the
sacrifices that are made for you re-
pay love with love, thoughtfulness with
thoughtfulnesS, toll with toll When
the full tide of extravagant indulgence,
which is SO sad phase of modern
college life. threatens to bear you
away on its flood, remember the folks
at home" that are denying themselves
almost the bare necessities of life to
keep you at school; when you are
tempted to forego laborious days and
sport with Amarylls in the shade or
with the tangled tresscs of Nerea's
hair" remember whose backs are ach-
ing from the burdens they are bearing
for your sake And then, if you are
worth three hurrahs in purgatory, put