The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-11-12
FACTS NOTTHEORIES
By Long Boy

On some mems dures it hammers
till it breaks down tn dure. an then
1t goes in an wakes him up if he's
asleep, an after wards it works for
him as night-watchman. On some
men 8 dures il knocks an runs away,
an on the dures iv some men it
knocks an whin they come out it
hits him over the head with an ak.
But livery wan has apporchanity.
So tits safe to be prepared for Mr..
apporchunity."
How many men in this institu-
ton are prepared to meet opportu-
nifty face to face when the time ar
rives? How many men are taking
advantage of the privilege offered
them by the officials of this institu-
ton, to prepare themselves for this
opportunity which all of VA must
face at one time or otherf Will op-
portunlty grasp by the hand and
lead you along the high road to sue
cess. or will 1t knock you over the
head?
But" you ask, how are we to
prepare ourselves" The answer is.
by attending night school. Listen,
aud shall prove it.
A young man not yet twenty-one-
has recently come before the pub
lie eye as the personal stenographer
to President Woodrow Wilson.
When a boy of thirteen. Chas.
Lee Sven worked in the mills of
Trenton and at fifteen he was earn
ing five dollars a week. His hours
of employment were long; yet he
spent three evenings a week 10 a
Night School. and had an ambition
for something higher.
The youths ability and remark
able industry soon aroused interest,
and he was given a chance to study
shorthand. He early formed the
habit of consulting the dictionary
whenever he encountered a new
word, and although he had little ed
ucation he soon recognized consider
able knowledge of the meaning and
use of words.
1t is not easy to keep back a boy
like that with an ambition to do
something and be somebody in the
world No matter what his sur
roundings, no matter how badly be
is handicapped. he will find way
out. ne vii, forge ahead. You can
not keep back Lincoln, a Cleveland
or Greeley, if too poor to buy
books they would borrow them and
pick mp an education.
While one man is regrettiDg his
his lack of means 10
get college education. and remains
in i@orance. another with half his
chances picks up good education
in the odds and ends Of times which
other men throw away. From the
same material one man builds a
palace and another bowel.
Where is the boy today who has
| IS chance TO rise in the world than
Ellhu Burritt. appreuticed at SIX
teen to blacksmith in whose shop
re had to work at a forge all the
daylight and often bv candle light?
Yet he managed by studying with
book before him at meals. carrying
it in his pocket tina, he might utilize
every spare moment, to pick up an
excellent education. While the
ldler was yawning and getting his
eyes open, young Burritt had seized
the opportunity and improved it.
Think of a boy working nearly
all of the daylight in blacksmith
shop and yet finding time to study
seven languages in the course IF a
single year!
And yet you set back on your
launches and bewail your opporluni-
ties, aye. even refuse To make an at
tempt to grasp the opportunity that
is within your reach.
Like Chas. l.. Sven, you can
study shorthand right in this ins'i-
tuition at night school. or you can
take up book keeping. even foreign
languages can be acquired, COM
mercial law, and many other SUD-
jects.
He who has thirst for knowledge
and desire for self-improvement,
can overcome every obstacle in his
pathway. Do you desire to make
an effort; have YOU an ambition that
is worth striving for? Then perk
up and get busy. But whatever you
do. don't bewall your lack of oppor-
tunities.
Driving UP to an inn one evening