The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1906-06-07

Then each one Of us should find out
what mission we should perform in
this world for which our talents pre-
Icisely fit us, and having done this, We
should throw all the energy of our
very soul into seeking its wise accom-
lplishment. If we have only one
talent we are responsible for its wise
Iemploy ment, and if we cannot do all we
wish we can at least do our best, re-
membering that the battle of life can
not be fought by proxy, but we must
be our own helper, be careful, diligent
and earnest, and if we do not win
success we will have done the next
best thing, been worthy of it. Then if
we wish to be successful we must do
as we would to get in through a
crowd to a gate all are anxious to
reach. Hold our ground and push
hard to stand still is to give up hope.
Give all our energies to the highest
employment OF which our nature is
capable. Be alive, be patient, work
hard, hope for the best, and if we fail
to reach the goal of our wishes in
spite Of the utmost effort we will die
with the consciousness of having done
our best, which after all is the truest
success to which man can aspire. For
the heights by great men reached and
kept were not attained by sudden
fight, but they, while their companions
slept, were toiling upward through the
night.
An Grafton by Miss Mable Cen
now and an essay by Miss Agatha
Henrietta Parks were then rendered,
and +. Fremont Woodcock thereafter
sang solo entitled, Good Bye,
Sweet Day, /" and responded to an en-
core. Mrs G. A. Galley accompanied
Mr.. Woodcock on the piano. A pa
per by Harold VanAlstein, essay by
Mabel S. Prescott, Grafton by Charles
j. Walker and class history by Chas.
T. NJ. Brace were next in order on the
program. Following these Miss
Helen Doris Patterson delivered in a
delightfully."- pleasing manner vocal
solo entitled Tell Her I Love Her
So" A recitation by Lillian Frances
Kaliher and an Grafton by Monroe
Ames was followed by the valedietory
oration, 8 Joan of Arc, most credit
ably rendered by Miss Mary Irene
Patterson. The Grafton:
All nations, all times must have
their heroes and heroines to save them
from ruin. There must s-be those to-
rescue them in the supreme moments
of despair, as we'll as those to guide
them in the hours of peace. The rea-
son so many nations do not succeed is
because their great men are not there,
or when they do appear the nation in
its rage and despair is not ready to
receive them and will not bend in hui
manity to their guidance. The great
heart, the clear deep-seeing eye, must
be sought and followed. We all have
great men and wOmen-love, venerate
and bow down submissively before
those who have stepped forward when
the down rushing, sorrowful, decay
and ruin is visible to every one.
Those who number among the great
men and women are not necessarily
those who have won great applause.
There are many things essential to a
noble character, and the greatest one
OF these is courage to face
whatever comes into our paths. The
best of all opportunities are those
which arise out of strong, resolute,
faithful mans own character and per-
sonality. Those who have faith
enough in God and themselves to form
the history of people. True nobility
is possible to everyone if he will but
let the divine in him have control.
Wherever generosity, purity, self
sacrifice, truth and fidelity are found
there will be found also that for which
everyone should seek-true nobility.
Courage and simple faith are then es-
sential to those who would truly be
great; those who would lead a great
nation, those who would make the
history of a people. Where in all
history can we find a single character
which has proven this better than the
savior of France, Joan of Arc? With
out her what would have been the
history of France? Alas! poor bleed
ing France, bound down by war and
oppression, who should be her savior?
Not her king. Was it Napoleon or
Hannibal? No, the pure, innocent,
but faithful and courageous, maid of
Orleans, Joan of Arc. She was not
of noble birth, but of humble parent
age, her parents being poor peasants
in the village of Domreney. Perhaps
of the lives of all our great women,
that of the Maid of Orleans APP