Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-06-05
Continued from page y


probably to tnelr advantage, the
wnule lena of Jnelr lives.
Inc U1Iry LhIng tnaU ends tonight 1or
these graduates is Particular pres
criUeu course OF sUuuy. Eacn oI Lnein
mas learned, Whatever his aims may
be, that he Will succeed IN attaining
Jlrem sLep by step oniy and py pei
IurnIng paLIenLly ana Wen the uuly
Whlcn a4es next at hand. 1He meIl-
Der OF the class Jhat LOok the hlgnest
Standing ola not attain II IN Gay,
or Il week or month, or a year. II
was won by performing day aIIer
Gay ana year a1uef year Ine tasks set
DeIore nm. Eacn won MS spurs De-
Tore ne was permitted to wear then,
and some OF them, no doubt, found
Others whose industry was as great
and whose minds were as keen as his
own. Each one adapted hlmseif and
was compelled to adapt himself to
the work assigned him, and 1t may
be that in the general roundup some
of these boys and girls that failed to
attain the highest class standing
have, after all, gotten the most out
of their training and will make the
best record in practical life. AS
none of them found a royal road to
learning, so each of them will have
to work out the problem of life in
precisely the same mannr that he
worked his way through his course
of study, with this probable excep-
ton. In school, each days work was
mapped out and assigned to him.
Each could foresee what he was re-
ouired to meet, although he could not
determine in advance what the result
would be. In practical life, the work
| to be done is much of ones own
choosing. Unforeseen obstacles will
arise and some may be thrust in the
way by hostile hands. But if each Of
these graduates fearlessly, uncom-
plainingly and efficiently bends to the
tasks which he encounters, he will ac-
complish much, though it may be less
than he planned, and through the dis
cipline thus acquired will fit himself
to assume greater responsibilities, ac-
complish greater results and do some
of the big things of life. If it be the
lot of some of these girls to perform
hiusehold duthies, to shove the baby
carriage for mother, to sell ribbons
or laces from behind a counter, to
keep books, or teach school, or pre-
side over a home of her own, If she
performs the duty so we'll as to add
to the comfort and happiness of those
about her, her life will not be spent
in vain, even if some cherished ambi-
ton shall not be attained. If it should
be the fortune of any boy In this
graduating class to be a clerk, or a
mechanic, or farmer, or professional
man, he will begin with abundance OF
competition; without experience and
probably with little or no means. But
if he masters the affair to which he
sets his hand, if he is willing to dc
the little things and perform requir-
ed menial services as well as to dc
the big pleasant things, if he brings
to his task industry, perseverance
skill and sterling integrity, if he
gives a dollar of value for every do
lar he receives, he will tie to him with
bands of steel those who seek his ser
vices, and equip himself to do the
greater things which wait on exper-
ience.
The time is within the easy recol-
lection of many here when the faith
ers and mothers, whose lives hac
been given to the manual toll Incl
dent to clearing away forests anC
building homes and fortunes, were
frequently obsessed with the ldes
that their children must have a bet
ter and easier lot than theirs hae
BEEN This ambition, properly circum
scribed, was worthy one, but it wa:
often so unduly pressed that not only
were the homes, whether on the
farms or in the villages, depopulateC
of young men, but the boys wht
would have succeeded admirably al
farmers, or blacksmiths, or carpen
ters, or other sort of mechanic, or il
any other honorable occupation no
largely in the public eye, were sen
into or voluntarily entered the minis
try, the practice of medicine, public
life, mercantile or other business pur
suits which thrive best in the center
of population, only there to meet dis
appointment and failure and some
times a cheerless and impoverished
old age The girls, more restricted il
their opportunities, less able to es
lcape from their environments and tn
parental roof, less filled with ambi
i tion for distinction, usually left hom
only when the marriage vow was tax
en-, but became, on account OF thel
advanced education, better women
housekeepers and mothers. Man.
instances are not wanting, however
in which they, too, deserted tn
family hearthstone, sometimes to sue
ceed and sometimes to lead lif
more burdensome than that from
which they sought to escape. Th
trouble with many such parents wa
not merely that they unduly depre
ciated themselves and their lot an
magnifed the importance of thei
children. but that thev failed to stud
and know their own offspring and TIL
conditions essential to success in tn
positions to which they taught thei
children to asnire. The trouble wit
: the bows and pirls was that they fail
ed to know themselves. to measur
nanabilities and limitations, and con
seouentlv often adopted vocations 70
which thew were not suited. Childrar
ought to be taught that hands sole
hu honest toll at something to whic
thew are adapted. intelligence. habit
of industry. thrift. and correct livino
are more desirable than soft clea
hands and shabby pentilitv. accom-
nanied bv y strained effort TO pa
each months house rent and hv
dreary outlook for old ace. Som
children are better than their mar
ents. bnt when that situation evist
It should he handled with delica",
The Young people of the present da
ought. when life's journey has ended
TO give batter reckoning than thei
ancestors, because they are living i
better Offering age, better oppor
tunitiee: but the Commandments mad
more than 5000 years ago, "Hono