Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1914-06-12

| tons; but know and be advised land tie
sooner the better that every step in tho
direction of the realization OF orr aInbi-
ton brings Us face TO face with new OBJ
legation, from which We cannot shrink.
We must not turn away, for 10 d1 q
would be to acknowledge our uniitness
for the new and higher place. We may
illustrate: We enjoy to-day system OF
free schools surprising anything OF the
kind we have ever had before; diploma
from one Of the States High schools to-
day is the badge of documentary evidence
OF a liberal education, splendid founda-
ton on which to build higher and
broader learning, and we congratulate
ourselves upon the thought that it is free.
1t costs US nothing. the poorest may en-
joy its benefits, the child OF the ignorant
foreigner has an equal chance with the
child OF the richest and proudest citizen
OF this land, and all this is free, without
, cost and without price.
But is it free? Do we here receive
something really worth while for moth
ing? Has all precedent been upset and
are We at last the recipients OF priceless
gift Tor which we have to pay nothing?
We are not. The State OF Louisiana de-
mands OF you returns for what she has
spent upon you, in higher and better cit
izenship, in more productive race OF cit
liens, in happier citizenship. And let
us further be reminded that when we
have discharged the obligation under
which the State has placed us, we shall
have paid for our education at least a
hundred fold.
Again let men warn you against anoth-
er danger, which besets us az We pursue
the goal OF our ambition, and one that
we need to he warned against. The gilt
ter of higher and more lucrative place
in the world engages our thoughts, but if
We attain the prize for which we have
run we will find upon reaching it that
there are new duties connected with it,
new responsibilities, and heavier obliga-
tons. II We reach higher social posi-
ton it means more social obligations, if
we reach higher political position-and
we hope to be true to the power that
helped us to tit means greater obliga-
tons, higher and more lucrative posi-
ton in the world of commerce, it means
more work, better work, and higher re-
sponsibilities. And since this is an i'm
mutable law, and being immutable there
is.always the danger of failure,-this SER
mon this morning lie for no other purpose
than to remind you of this danger, for the
saddest comment that was ever written at
the close OF LIES history is: he has failed;
but, sad as it is, the path of human life is
strewn with the wreckage of those who
have failed. In your short life you have
seen some of these wrecks, have seen q
great many; and / will venture the asser-
ton that in most cases failures occur be-
cause Of lack of some one of the quail
fications so necessary to success, and this
lack is dne largely to a failure on our
part to take advantage of the opportuni-
ties that come our way, or failure to
count the cost, as in the case OF James
and John. They saw the glittering star of
high position in their Masters glory, but
the Lord knew that they were unfit for
the place they craved because they had
not counted the cost. And hear this: you
cannot afford to fail; you will pass this
way but once. Time lost is lost forever.
We so often hear persons talk of making
up for lost time. 1t can't be done; every
moment of our time is priceless, it is a
jewel that should be treasured up, for ev-
cry moment you squander in idleness or
useless occupation means the squandering
OF one Of our most valuable assets. But
there is another thought to which wish
to call your attention this morning, and
it is mistake that go many make, that
is that there is no place in the world
worth having save the positions of lead
ership. But let us not despise the lowly
walks of life, for they are important, and
those that lead are the geniuses and their
is few compared to the vast null
titude of ordinary folks, and the chances
are you are not one Of them. But no mat
ter what your position is, you can either
or minify that place. The Gen.
eral on the battlefield is the man of the
hour, but without an army of faithful
soldiers to do his bidding, all his fine gen.
eralship would come to nought. There are |
great captains Of industry upon whose
shoulders seem to rect the whole econo-
mic system of our country, but all their |
business acumen would be dismal waste |
but for the vast army of industrial work. |
srs to do their bidding. There are great |
social leaders, whose leadership would be |
4 waste of energy were it not for the les
YER social lights to be led. 1t is then the |
faithful soldier in the ranks that mag
1iges his country's power, the army of
Industrial workers faithful discharge of
luty, that msgnifies the commerce of his
nation. 1t is the vast hoard OF lesser social
lights that magnifies or minifes the social
life in which it moves. Besides leadership
means service. The story is told, that on
Ne battle field of Crecy, Edward III of
England discovered the fallen body of
King John of Bohemia. The English