The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-06-13

13
thing, but the nation has paid dear
for it. Millions have had leisure and
wasted it that one might have initia-
tive. The craving for leisure is uni
versal, and without it, progress is
dead. But fear we have paid too
much for our leisure We should buy
in cheaper market so that more
may have it.
THE progress in material lines
and social lines in the past century
has been greater than it has been in
the fifty previous centuries. During
this time the invention of the steam
engine has opened great growth OF
invention in labor saving devices,
making inanimate power do the
drudgery This removal of the druds-
cry from the working people has
produced culture. There is an end
of slavery There is hope for culture
among the masses rather than among
4 few. Democracy has arisen in the
free public schools, and the problems
of society begin to be solved.
Merit Will Win.
''In this country man gets what he
deserves. Merit wins. In many coun-
tries, however, a boy of lowly birth
may not hope to achieve honors
There have been three invncible
armies in the worlds history. The
first was Cromwell's. Cromwell was a
man of low degree and the men of
his army were chosen on merit The
second army was that of Napoleon,
who was also a man of low birth and
whose officers were chosen strictly
on merit. The third army is the
army of Japan, and no better army
ever faced death. In Japan the sons
of the FISHERMEN and farmers may
enter the army and if they show
ability they are educated for that
work at the expense of the govern
ment.
1T is our pride that America is a
land of opportunity. There are three
tests for man here: Does he know :?
Can he do? Is he true? If a salts
factory answer is given the future is
open to him, and his success depends
upon the use of his leisure time.
The Rise of Pasteur.
There is the example of Louis
Pasteur of France, who was only
three generations removed from serf-
dom. He earned his way through
college and was given a chair in
his college. AT that time the hos
pitfalls of France were in such condi-
ton that it was more dangerous
to be in them than it was to be i'll
in a PEASANTS hut. Pasteur realized
this and it was he who persuaded
the surgeons of France of the truth
OF the theory of transmission of
disease germs. There is no finer ro-
nance than the story of the shepherd
who came from the Alsatian hills
to be cured of hydrophobia by Pas
teur. He was cured Pasteur was
voted by the French people last year
to be the greatest Frenchman of all
time. His greatness was achieved by
the proper use of his leisure time.
Other Notable Examples.
Then there are the examples of
John Henry Comstock, who is one
of the greatest entomologists of this
age; of Simon Flexner, who has
solved the problem of cerebral men,
nights and infantile paralysis, and of
c. III. Thorgeson who is one of the
great electrician IF this country.
Let us bring this thing home to
ourselves and see what the future
has in store. The leaders of twenty
five years from now are the indus
trious boys and girls of today who
use their leisure time wisely. 1t was
said of one successful man He is
full of work. and that is what is
necessary for us to be successful.
Shall our schools be the best?
Shall our government be honest?
Shall human life be sacred? The
answer lies with the boys and girls
graduating now. We common people
in America can have anything we
go after"
Excellent Musical Numbers.
Several very excellent musical mum.
bers were given. Miss Mildred OLE
son sang April Morn" very beauti,
fully and then gave an encore. A
trio composed of Miss Oleson, Miss
Mary Lloyd and Miss Katherine
Jones sang Greetings" Mrs. Harry
lverson played the accompaniment
on the harp and it was exquisite.
Other numbers were given by the
Glee club, one of which had a violin
obligato played by Miss Julia Hub
and Charles Schwanenberg.
S. Fl. Somsen of Winona, mem
Der of the normal board, presented
the diplomas with, a brief talk in
which he expressed the sentiment,
Don't take life nor yourself too seri-
ously." Rev. w. r. Keesey gave the
invocation and the benediction.
The stage was very beautiful in it's
plants and white flowers and with
the graduates in their white dresses
presented very pretty picture.
Traffic Officer Hartzall