The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-06-07
GEORGE E. VINCENT

not have clear ideas about their
significance.
There is much juggling with
words. 1t is well now and then
to examine Well-Worn terms.
Selfishness and unselfishness are
constantly repeated never clear
ly, definitely distinguished.
Many men declare seltishness is
the sole motive of human char
acter. 1t is possible plausibly
to explain all human character
Oh this theory, but only by u.s.
ing the word self in several
different senses.
This leads to an examination
of the self which turns out
to be series of eccentric cir
cles about the inner nucleus or
physical self. In these sue
cessive circles are to be found
clothes and houses, and other
forms of material things; then
come family, friends, many So
cial groups, the cmmunity, the
nation, and to a few rare souls,
VI " I'LL Jul
kind There is, then, the phys
zeal self the material self, the
family self, the church self, the
party self, the town self, the
national self, and the world self.
All conduct is selfish provided
the self is widely conceived.
Education seeks always to eX-
pand the self; it makes for what
we may call the larger selfish
ness"
THE times demand men and
women with wide sympathies,
large vision, noble enthusiasm
in short, of broad and eXpan-
sive personalities. Our nation
al life is menaced by social
qualification, by groupings with
in which men and women de-
velop narrow, restricted selves.
Democracy can be preserved
only as it produces individuals
who can enter intelligently and
sympathetically into the lives
and interests of their fellows.
The test of a liberal education
is coming more and more to be
it's power to foster not an aris-
tocratic type of culture but a
larger self. This means toler-
ance, insight, comradeship and
good will"
Mrs. Minnie Schoyen Hubbard
hen played "Fantasie' by De
,eriot on the violin, which showed
hat she had remarkable skill OIL
his instrument. This was followed
y a part song, THE Maiden ant
he Butterfly" from D'Albert, which
yas sung by nine young graduating
tudents.
Brief Address BY Mr.. Auntoon.
President Cooper then introduced
Ir. Huntoon of the Moorhead nor
nal school, who made a short ad
ress before the presentation of the
iplomas. He began by saying tina
here was little left for him to sa!
fter President Vincent's inspira
ional talk. He said it was the
ustom that some normal schoo
GARD member from some other cit!
e selected to present the diplomas
nd this time it was his pleasure tt
e this other member.
"This commencement was but
title landing place in the upward
limb where the students may stoI
nd look ahead" he continued
You have in your mind, among
our acquaintances, men who are
mall, who do not give of them
elves, for the benefit of the PEG
lie; you have in your mind WON
n, who do not give of themselves
ven to the famil, but devote them
elves to frivolity and those are
ot the people you ought to have il
mind as you go out in life. Blu
here are other people who viii
i've, are willing to take a hand ant
end themselves and give theil
ives, perhaps selfishly and perhap:
nselfishly-those people you mus
eep in mind if you are going u
ucceed. Go on and labor as the
faster went" is the substance o.
is short address to the student.
efore presenting them with the ID
tomas, for which they had worked
O hard, although their work wa:
ot done with the sole purpose o
citing diploma.
Explains the Courses.
President Cooper then explained
he various courses and how il
vas that there were five different
during the year, bu
hat the commencement exercises
or all the graduates were held a
ne time.
Members of the different classe:
hen presented themselves in csc