Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1907-05-23
AT THE BAR OF PUBLIC OPIN-
ION.
"SOW AN ACT AND REAP 4 HABIT, SOW
A HABIT AND REAP A CHARACTER,
sow A CHARACTER AND REAP
a DESTIN Y.


| A DESTINY
| What are you going to SOW? To the
graduating class of 1907 this question
is addressed. All of your friends are
interested in tn" answer yon shall
make.
Doubtless you are little dazzled by
the fact that you have just won the
first hard earned victory in the school
of requirement; and your heads are full
of cherished dreams. Can you realize
them? Why not? The ability to graf
ify your ambitions depends upon
yourselves. Every person is the arbi-
tersof his own destiny, and whatever
you want may be yours if you have but
the daring, the determination, and the
perseverance to strive for it.
Too many are disposed to conduct
their lives as if they were boats with.
out oars, floating at the mercy of
chance tides. 1t is ptiful to see them
drifting towards some pathetic no
where. Baffied and discounted by
humping against obstacles, they wabble
around for while, and then let them
selves hoplessly shipwreck on the rock
called failure. On the other hand
there are high minded souls with
grand aspirations, but without suffi-
cient energy of purpose to put forth
the right sort of effort to gain the
coveted prize. 1t is the brave, per-
severing spirit that breaks dov the
barriers, and grasps success.
Everything depends upon what you
SOW, for the fundamental principle of
nature is progress-a tendency to be-
come either better or worse. Traits of
character grow into myriad virtues, or
myriad vices. Eyery good act is the
precursor of other good acts; d
every bad act leads train of OF Ter
evil acts. 1t is these seeds we SOW that
make, or mar our futures If we SOW
ldleness, we reap poverty. If we SOW
industry we reap wealth. If we SOW
anger we reap hate If we SOW kind
ness we reap love- If we SOW intem
perance we reap shame. If we SOW
honesty we reap respect. If we SOW
elfishness we reap neglect. If we SOW
consideration we reap friends. If we
SOW immortality we reap contempt.
And if we SOW noble deeds we reap
honor. There is no escaping the con-
sequences of what we SOW, for exis-
tence is continual retribution which
marks the different stages of evolution.
Do not SOW something that will cause
you to look back with painful regrets
upon the defeat of your better selves.
Those who fail to carry out the instinct
for betterment commit moral suicide,
and become degenerates. Every youth
has the germ of splendid destiny in
his composition when he starts out on
his unread journey. But impulse is
not enough to enable one to conquer.
Heaven is not gained by single bound;
We build the ladder by which we rise,
From the lowly earth to the vaulted skies;
And mount to its summit round by round"
Block by block, you must build the
character that will furnish you with
power to struggle up the path of light.
1t is the steadfast, answering fidelity
to purpose that enables one to reach
the goal. The ability to realize honor
or obloquy lies within each of you.
Only weakness, Ignorance, or coward
ice can prevent the fulfillment of your
happy dreams. 1t is just what you are
and do that will reap your harvest in
the field of achievement. 1t is lust
what you are and accomplish that will
pass judgment on your lives when you
stand at tho bar of public opinion.
EMMA MERsEREAU NEWTON.