Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1909-06-10

opement as shall enable it to keep
step with the ever enlarging demands
of our Civilization.
Fadism is not progress; yet out of
the wholesome unrest of the opening
years of this new century have come
much of genuine progress; decisive,
in~vigorating, which should make us
glad to live in this progressive age.
GRATITUDE TO TEACHERS
To the capable, high minded, SYM
pathetic teacher the student owes a
debt of gratitude he can never repay.
II am indebted to my father for liv-
ing" said Alexander the Great, ''but
to my teachers for living we'll" I'm
consciously, my young friends, you
have absorbed much from the lives of
those who have guided your intellect
ual footsteps. 1t is not what they have
said, but what they are, that has in
iuenced you most. Ii is unselfish de-
yotion which counts; the silent infiu-
ence which molds. Your teachers
standards have become in a measure
your standards; their ideals your ideals
their aspirations your ambitions. In
the tender thought of this hour you
gladly give acknowledgment of the
help they have rendered you. The
value of that help will stand before
you in the future even NOR clearly than
now. 1t is one of the blessed compen-
sations which comes to the true teach
err, who, at the sacrifice of much of
life's energy, has led the sometimes
unwilling feet OF youth up the toilsome
path to the victory crowned summit,
that the appreciation of the worth of
that leadership will Deepen with the
years. | have in mind tonight, q
teacher of hallowed memory, whose
words of wisdom in the bygone days
fell upon unheeding ears, and whose
sanity life awoke almost o feeling of
opposition in my hayward heart.
With the years his words have come
to meaning and power and | thank
God that such men live. The real
teacher-the teacher worthy of his call
ing-does not put his pupils out of his
life simply because they have gone
out from under his instruction. We
love those we help. The ideal in~struc-
tor teaches with heart as well as mind.
He puts his soul into his work. He
lives close to the needs of his pupils.
He feels q personal hurt in their de-
feat, a keen JOY in their victory. He
gives them place among the things he
loves and in touch with the vigor and
sunshine and springlike development
of their young lives, he renews his
youth and with drawer heart and firm
er resolution comes himself into the
possibilities of more efficient service.
These young people who graduate to-
night have many friends who wish
them we'll but non will follow their
future sOlicitude or who will rejoice
more heartily In the success which life
may bring them, than the teachers who
have aided them most in preparing
for life's battles.
INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY
1t is a fitting thing that the love Of
parent and teachers, the kindly inter-
est OF neighbors, and the good wishes
of the community at large, should be
evidenced on this occasion TO the MEM
bers of this graduating class; but yet
despite the loving kindness and sym
pathy of the hour there is something
about this act of graduating-this
aside of the old and taking up
new-which brings US face to face
with that vital fact of our existence
which the poet rightly calls 1.-THE lone
illness of human living" In the final
analysis each individual is his own
architect, his own builder. He may
gathered the material from a
sources; it may have come
TO him on the current of numberless
lives, but upon him is put the respon.
OF sorting hat material and
using it in the building of man
hood. We are indeed wonderfully and
fearfully made. In every life there is
holy Of holes into which no human
is admitted. In that inner sane
tuary the issues of time and eternity
are considered. 1t is the court of last
resort where all the momentous ques-
lions which make or unmake charac-
Ter reach final decision; and for the
outcome, the builded personality. the
world and God hold the individual to
account. If there is any one
great overshadowing truth which the
young people of today need to see
it is that of personal RESPONSE
bility. Industries may be merged but
personalities never. Each indi-
vidual stands alone, a social unit and
responsible for his selfhood. This
makes life a solemn thing and yet it is
the glory of human living. Itadds
to our earthly existence. 1t
makes of every individual a kingly
who makes and carries into exc