The Colville examiner. [volume] (Colville, Wash.) 1907-1948, 1911-05-27
VALEDICTORY.

Following is complete copy of the
valedictory, "The Spirit of Unrest"
by Miss Rachel Mcmillan:
According to a beautiful Greek
myth. all the miseries and evils were
ushered into the world by woman.
Pandora, the wife of Epimetheus, un-
able to restrain her womanly Curl
osity, opened the fatal box which had
been brought by Mercury, messenger
of the gods. Among the myriads of
stinging pests which were let loose
was one called Discomfort. And
what havoc has he played, yet what
wonders caused! Once this lutte
demon sinks his envenomed fangs in
to the soul of an individual, that per-
son becomes inoculated with malady
which has the peculiar power of
causing him to be ever discontented.
Though he may strive with might and
main and overcome many obstacles,
the object of his pursuit, like a will
o'the-wisp, flies ever onward before
him; over painless fields, through
dense forests, across oceans and over
the burning sands of the desert it
lures him on and on, till he sinks at
last into the graVe-a victim to the
dread 'Splrlt or unrest.
The general idea which comes to
our mind at mention of this term is
the striving for more by man: his en-
deavors to attain point above his
allotted one; his ambition to reach a
goal which seems to be summit but
proves to be but a stepping stone to a
higher pinnacle. i .,ain 1t appears as
a bright and glttering crown, but
when attained is mere bauble with
which he amuses himself for mo-
ment before the struggle is renewed.
Discomfort, whether it be that of
the weary tramp who plods from door
to door seeking his meal, or that of
the millionaire, always seeking to
gain more in this material world,
may be traced back for centuries and
centuries to the olden days of Greece
and Rome; in fact, to the very re-
motest and most ancient days of the
universe. Not only Is the spirit of
unrest prevalent among men with re-
gard to the advancement of their own
worldly affairs, but it Is the motive
spirit of mans endcavors, both spirit
ual and scientific. The spiritua. un-
rest prevails everywhere; new creeds
are being adopted, new interpreta-
tions are being advanced; and from
these interpretations are being set
forth whole doctrines which may
sometime rule the universe. The
scientific experiments and discoveries
can only be attributed to this spirit Of
unrest, which, in these cases, are
not considered for the individuals
material welfare, but to his advance
i,, Irpnu1aIU Un Thttc w
the different phases OF the spirit of
unrest. Now 1t occurs as ambition,
proud and mighty; then as discon-
tent; again as glamour for wealth, In
vanity and pride, rivalry and strife,
predominate; or even as envy, cruel
and evil.
We are living in wonderful age;
in an age in which great political
parties exist; great political ques-
tions are being discussed, whose
outcome may sometimes induce crises
harmful and disastrous to a whole
nation. These circumstances have
always existed, however. Always have
the people of nation been divided
into parties, each seeking to rule.
Had this not been the Gaze, there
would have been leaders springing up
who would have taken the relgnS OF
government into their hands regard
less of results. Who can describe the
peaceful sensations of the successful
office-seeker, or the politician who
views his work accomplished and his
laurels won! Can the individual
himself do so? No need to ask. A
thousand Caesars, with a thousand
Romes at their feet. would be unable
to describe the blissful emotions
which possess them. Thus we find
that the results of ambition, the
spirit which predominates in every
class of people with the most weighty
force, produces only displeasure. The
evident JOY which is derived from our
endeavors for fame and renown Is of
such small consequence that we could