Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-06-10

w no Delivered Baccalaureate to the
IS Gardiner High Seniors.
When the APOSTLE Paul addressed
there earnest words OF advice to the
young man. Timothy he was in the
prime of his Years and at the height
of his wisdom. He had lived long
enough observed carefully enough,
studied hard enough and travelled far
enough To have Ie5trned many useful
ana enduring lessons of life. One of
the most important and abiding Of
these iessons, so far as the ordering
of las owa character and the regulat-
ing uf his own conduct was con
ccrned. was tue lessen of self-fespecf.
He held thai intelligent and equitable
respect Tor sell WAS absolutely essen
tiaIfie one would have and hold the
esteem and honor of others
Ard it WAS just his lesson that be
would impart to Timothy when lac
advised him 70 allow no one 10 de-
spise his youth. From the outset of
his Youthful career he was To be so
careful in the cultivation of his char
acter and the governing of his con-
duct that no fair-minded person would
look with contempt upon what he
was and what he WAS trying to do in
the world His influence and sue
cess would depend much more upon
himself tlan upon his friends and his
inehicicnrv and failure much more
upon himself than his enemies His
frlepds, no doubt. would be generous
and patient in theis encouragement
and assistance, but after all. he must
study hard 10 be grateful and worthy
tire OF their Interest and fall away
and leave him alone in his struggles.
ON fhe other hand. his enemies, of
course. would oppose and obstruct
and sometime intimidate him, but
they could neither hurt nor hinder
him permanently If he could but prove
to them that he was clear of mimi.
strong and pure Of soul resolute of
VIII and purpose and untiring of
energy. That only, of veal or woe,
coula possibly return to him only
wlatawas of his own nature and went
forth oht of him,
Such was The faith and point of
Paui's preeept to Timothy. So long
as he did not despise himself no one
else could despise him
Paul's advice is still good for the
youth-of this age. There is no reason
why young life cannot be self respect
ing the same as middle and aged life
and every young man and woman
should earnestly ask and try TO an
swers bhe question as TO how youth
may win self-respect, inasmueh as so
much fdepends upon il. BY way of
inspiration and encouragement let me
hint at a few of the simple and with
in-tflelfeach- of-all wage of attaining
with self-respect in the days of youth.
l. 1elf- respect can oe acquired by
cultivating habits of Intelligence and
indusftr You see | call intelligence
Il habh. Many yainly imagine il to be
a born gift of genius, But the most
mediQcTe of people can he intelligent
if they only begin early enough to
acquire knowledge. 1t is the storing
of ones minds with facts and informa
ton ,tpen many different subjects that
makes one intelligent and this is very
important in this day OF large light
and democratic tendencies
But then it is possible to be intelli
gent without being useful. knowledge
may be carried about in the head as so
much extra and unnecessary baggage,
in this practical age. Each one must
as early as possible try to discover
what particular hicks in life nature
has intended him or her to fill. 1t is
only when this discovery is made is
ii possible for anyone to be to their
fullest powers contributors to the
wealth and welfare of society of which
they are supposed to be a working
part. The fact that a boy has been
born-with a silver spoon in his mouth
does.~not relieve him of the duty of
labor in some capacity or other. Meth
er does the fact that girl has been
borlhsNith some special high talent
give her the right to idle away her
life in selfish ease. Find a place some-
where i'll the great Workshop of life
and begin early in preparation to fill
it wilH efficiency.
Il fpTsl sa