The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-01-23

ToWNE MAKES ADDRESS
Certificates Presented to Graduates
by A. 3. Huahes-AIdrich
Makes Short
Talk.

Forty-two school children were to-
day given certificates of promotion
from the grade schools OF this city
and from now on will be known as
thigh school students" Special exer-
cises for thu occasion of presenting
the certificates were conducted at
the George Washington school this
afternoon, the program beginning at
1870 o'clock.
An address to the class was deliv-
cred, by o. B. Towne. manager of the
Industrial Association. The csrtifi-
Gates were then presented to the
pupils by A. B. Hughes, president of
the board OF education. Following
this a short talk was given to thu
pupils by William Aldrich, superin-
tendent Of the board. The exercises
were attended by large number OF
visitors.
Mr.. Towns's address follows:
4 It is a difficult proposition to speak
to the graduating class of a school of
this standing, without repeating,
many times, the advice of those old
er in life and experience than myself.
Yet, at the same time, truth is the
same regardless OF conditions under
which 1t is uttered, or the person
uttering it. Because Of that fact l
shall take it upon myself to say
many things to you today which, no
doubt, have be an said again anG
again probably in your hearing. Lest
] should grow tiresme in this reitera-
ton, 1t might be well to reN ember
two things.
First, that speak these things to
you because OF the fact that young
: life inspired, as 1t is, with hopes anc
ambitions, is confronted always by
! the great problems of life which have
. come down through many years.
: Second, the conditions which pre-
vail today, although changed funda
mentally in detail. yet from tn
: standpoint of fundamental principle
are the same
q Laying the Foundation.
. It's a fact, curious to us, perhaps
a yet fact, nevertheless, that an an
a NAL in developing from infancy int
!. the adult stage is trained first to b,
the best possible animal of It's kino
After that 1t develops as circum
stances demand. In this present da,
Of advanced education the old prin
ciple Of laying the best foundation TO
20 the best kind Of manhood and won
anhood is sometimes forgotten.
= We spend too much time an
:, thought on the cultivation of the spe
. cial abilities which we may posses
and neglect, many times, the NOR
. fundamental purpose which broade
. life and which are responsible in
u great measure for its success, regard
less of the walk of life which W
:. may pursue.
- Because of the above facts, we fin
many grown people who are unabl
= to take care of themselves and ar
- as helpless as children. A helples
= grown person is pitiful object. w
~ feel sorry for the helpless invalid BIZ
cause OF the conditions which CIV
'e rise to the heuplessn ass. Many time
this is unpreventable. But when
10 human being purposely neglects tn
vital knowledge Of life and become
helpless through choice, it is ma
ter of concern to the people Of tn
N world
A singer may be wonderful sin4
!. er, and yet at the same time be les
of burden to herself and to tho;
who help care for her. than many
them are at the present time. Ar
is the great artist does not necessari
-. need to neglect the little things I
nm life which go to make him attractiy
IN personally, simply that he may pu
70 sue his art. In other words, one
os the main things that we neglect
10 our modern education Is emphasis u
NO on the necessity, in this day al
=. generation, of more common sens
ia more ability to take care Of one
self, more ability to lear the burd'
of responsibility, and more OF Tn
substantial broad mindedness whi
will solve the problems of life wit
out creating more
We cannot all be the leaders
society politics and busin sss. r
great majority OF US have to folio
va A few of the one hundred MILL
ey people who make up the populati
on of the United States are among t
ch leaders, but only very few. fl
women in the one hundred MILL
people who make up the populate
of the United States have arisen
rk prominence. but only very faw. I
we great majority of them are amo
er. the rank and Ale of American soc
| ~ d. iar,S Do1,auco 81 ihiS faCt