The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-06-04

for which you must prepare will come
just as surely as that you are sitting
here tonight. When you take up
your business, your trade. your pro-
fession. or whatever your life-work
may be, you will find yourself il
competition with men and women
who are prepared for the work they
are doing, and you will find that you
Will be compelled to prove yourself
before you can receive the recogni-
ton which you crave. 1t will not BIZ
fight made with your hands, nor
will 1t be over in a day, month or a
year. 1t will be a far more wearing,
long-lasting contest, fight that will
be made with your brains and your
moral strength. You will find that
there are people just as smart as you,
Just as capable as you, just as ener-
getic as you, and sorry indeed will
be your plight II you are not pre-
pared. God has given you brains, but
remember, you cannot use them to
advantage If you don't know how.
DO not let yourself be fooled by the
old saying that the world owes you a
living. Remember that 1t is up to
you to collect. And the world comes
as near being execution proof as any
debtor that ever ran across. If you
are satisfied to think that the world
owes you a living and that somehow
1t will come to you, the chances are
that your heirs will have to collect
the debt. Seize every opportunity that
offers for your further and better
preparation. If it lies in your power
to go to college or to take course
| in technical Institution, then don't
jbe satisfied with your high school
education. Persistence in your educa-
tion is no less to be desired than in
your after life. Let your preparation
have en- aim; let your life have an
aim. Don't be carried this way and
that by every wind that blows.
Choose that which you believe you can
do, that which you will take an inter-
est in doing, and then direct your eff
fort to the accomplishment of that
work. Stick to it and learn to do
that thing excellently well. Take a
lesson from the postage stamp, whose
great usefulness consists in its ability
to stick to one thing until it gets
| there
| said that half OF the philosophy OF
/ success consisted in being ready. A
good portion of the other half lies in
opportunity. Was it not Mr.. Dooiey
who said: Opportunity knocks
wunst on livery mans dure. On tn
dure of one man it knocks and then
runs away. On tn dure av another II
knocks, and then opens the dare an
goes in an wurrks fur him as &
night-watchman. An on tn dure a,
another man it knocks, an whin he
comes out it hits him in tn head Wit
an axe" cannot altogether endors,
the cynical reflections of the Irssl
philosopher, Opportunity comes t
!. those that go after 1t. 1t awaits 20
everywhere. 1t awaits you in th
home where the armor of life is g:vG
ed on. 1t awaits you in the ferti:
fields which hold the sustance Of mao
i 1t awaits you in the bosom of I'll
mountains where the treasure of tn
earth is stored; it awaits you in tn
cataracts of the rivers, where powe
dwells. 1t awaits you in the mysterie
of the electric current; in the sun
q light; and even in the airs tina
breathe above you, which may We
bear the burdens of mankind. Trade
commerce, industry, science, medicin
and law, beckon and call to you =
give them the strength of your youn
lives. You will surely find opport,ir
ity If you diligently seek it.
And whichever voice you may heei
whichever call you may answer ma
God grant that it will bring YOU int
the fitness of achievement. 1t is til
dearest wish of Keokuk, whose grea
heart of gold CLOVIS with love TO. a
of her sons and daughters, that whel
ever you may go success. with he
handmaident, prosperity, shall ;tsren
your steps. But whether it fa"s t
you to serve in the ranks, or to lea
and to command, walk straightly !
the path Of duty, be faithful, and b
SO much as you have done these thing
will you have contributed to tn
cause of exalted citizenship and hav
brought honor to yourself, your ooui
!, try and your God.
At our very portal stands GOODIES
who exemplifies the spirit of en'ign
| eminent She holds aloft torch. Nc
the torch of anarchy and destruction
but the torch of knowledge; the tore
that Eliminates but does not col
sumo. Truly the torchbearer! An
as it's rays first greet the eye {
those that seek our shores, the ligf
of liberty and knowledge clears ava
the mists of centuries of darkness an
oppression, and its pure beams fias
out the message of hope to all mai
kind-Ye shall know the Truth an
tbo Truth shall make YOU free!