Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-06-27

low minded might take such n view
Looking at the multiplication Of labor
saving machinery the rapid growth Of
population. the great influx of foreign
born peoples. the growing trusts and
monopolies the glutted factories. the
overcrowded department stores, and |
the ovcrdone professions the super-
fetal readily conclude that there Ia
no chance to-day for n Young person |
to get an even start with the world. The |
thoughtful student of human affairs.
though. finds these multiplex condi- |
lions the ground of hope and the basis |
of opportunity
OPPORTUNITIES OF TO-DAY.
The very complexity of ,ur latter
day civilization Increases the demand
for clear heads and skilled hands. 1t
has been the history IF the race {, ON tn.
beginning of things that advancing
civilization has brought increasing
! wants and increased wants necessar-
: lily mean increased demand for service
If there be multiplication of labor
saving machinery. more skilled ma
chinists will be required to manufac-
ture It. and a larger army of labor
ers will he demanded to take care of
the product IT there be RAPIDLY
growing population by birth and by
Immigration. the service of students
OF economics and sociology VII be
needed to assist In the great work Of
REIMBURSEMENT. There will also there
with be increas d demand for the ply
sician. the nurse. the lawyer. the
minister the merchant and the me-
chanic.
n combinations Il capital and labor
threaten to crush ,ut competition and
destroy individual freedom. then there
Is need for the genius of the resourceful
man to counteract tie attempts Of selfish
ness. If there be over-crowdins in GER
tain lines. the far-seeing person will Gre
ate demands in Other lines.
Without these great problems Of an
intricate civilization there would be alb
solutely no incentive to human endcavor
Instead Of deplor!ng the fact that we live
In this crowded day 1t were more fitting
to rejoice in it. II Is better to have lived
to-day than yesterday. The twentieth
century is a better era in which to live
than the nineteenth, and If we mourn at
all. II were more logical TO lament the
fact that we cannot live in the 2lst CEN
fury. rather than IN the 10Th. When
there Is one person for every square
yard on the earth, there will be greater
opportunities for successful service than
we even now dream of. The optim 81
faces the future with hopeful heart. He
knows that there are monster obstacles in
his pathway, that there are difficult prob
lens ahead of him hut he also knows
that the great JOY of living consists in
surrounding rough obstacles and in sov-
ing difficult problems.
THE PROMISE or THE FUTURE
I congratulate you, then, young people.
that you graduate this year instead OF
last. I shall congratulate the class next
year that they graduate a year later. be-
cause they will face a somewhat greater
opportunity than Is open to YOU.
II were to comniscrate YOU at all. /,
would he only on the ground of difficulty
In determining what opportunity to seiz,
from the many that are open to you
There are more failures among men thar
successes. but failure Is always due &c
lack of effort TO grasp an opportunity
Everyone Of you may be em!nently sue
cessful from the worldly point OF view.
In your chosen life work. you canno
succeed unless TO intellectual ability vol
add the finest quality OF moral courage
You will need this courage IN your voca
! ton and. since you cannot escape the re
sponsiblity OF civic duty. you will neec
, Il in your avocattons. "A sound Of bat
} tie Is IN the land and OF great destruc
ton" Right Is In a conflict to the dealt
! with Wrong for its utter destruction. Yo,
could not. II you would. escape the chal
. lenge to battle. You may help bear tn
banner NJ ultimate victory II yo,
will. Are You prepared for TN
conflict? Are you physically prepared
/ Are YOU intellectually prepared? Ar
you spiritually prepared You mus
mako answer. II your college life ha
: been all It might have been. you shou
he stronger in body than you were a
The outset. II you have been honest wit
yourself, YOUR feilow-studcnts and you
teachers. You must have developed IN
telectual strength. Your need of spirit
d tual strength, though. is OF the great
est concern. for II is in the realm G
spirit that the moral courage necessar
. FOR successful battle resides. Youn
; women. you will need this spiritual dc
velopment for the firesidc and all tn
duties OF the home-life; you will nee
3 It for the school room and the large
t activities OF the outside world. Youn
Q men, you will need II In your chose
e field OF life-work; you will need 1t a
o the hearthstone; you will need II az cit
= zens. The emergencies of the BATTLEFIELD
: call for exhibition OF the highest sort
II tactful courage and there Is need
: thorough preparation therefor. He VIII
- IL able in great or unexpected disaste
4 or when surprised by a wicked enem,
= TO keep cool and fearlessly meet the d.
y mands OF duty. In a victorious soldi'
= even IN the presence Of apparent d.
feat Can the need Of spiritual READINGS
then he too strongly urged! Your pa
ticular calling Is the smallest and mo
:, insignificant feature of your service c
- the worlds great battlefield. Unle!
. your business or profession ministers
=, the advancement and uplift OF mankin
"a you will be failure and. at the en-
ri no triumph worth while will he place
>, to your credit Your existence will
"a worse than worthless unless the wor
is made better by your having lived.
n THE SUPREME DUTY.
d The supreme duty OF every man ar
" woman Is TO wage unceasing warfa
y against evil in every form. Nation
l. and State and municipal wrong W
30 never be put down by cowardly cor
Is placency. 1t Is easy for us by fosteril
l. n false spirit OF patriotism to becor
IN proud OF few good things in our II
lnllA n