The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-09-10
SAYS BOYS AND GIRLS
MAKE MICHIGAN GREAT
TIMELY PROCLAMATION BY SUPT.
PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
MIR. Keeler's Words an Inspiration Not
Only to Boys and Girls, But Fathers
and Mothers as Well

Between lies an empire-ields of grain,
sparkling lakes, and richest mines
People truly exclaim: Michigan is a
great stated" But neither because it is
large nor rich is Michigan great state.
What then makes Michigan great?
will tell you.
If the boys and girls of Michigan join
hands. they form solid line from Ke-
weenaw to Lenawee-six hundred miles
in all.
And who are the boys and girls in
that line
know who they are, know them
all. They are the Joy Of Today and
the Promise of Greater Tomorrow.
see in that line young fellow. tall
and green as the cornfelds that grew
him. l like him. Through the most
clustering blizzard of the year he
walked sixteen miles from his home in
the country one Sunday night to be in
time for school next morning. Whether
at last he shall work in field or factory
or forum do not know. and it does not
matter. This know, and that matters
much, he will do what he promises and
he will do it on the minute.
see girl at her piano with the ris-
ing sun. Morning, noon, and night
she helps in household duties. Her
days work is done when at last she has
rendered with finish the last line of her
Virgil. If there is hard theorem, that
she delights to prove. But above all,
she proves every day that needle and
dishpan lend charm to piano and poetry,
and. moreover, are just as respectable.
see girl without father or mother,
who, by her own pluck, has made her
way until now she has done with credit
the work of the public schools. Some
say she is poor. / say girl with such
spirit is rich. She is going to college.
l know for she says so.
see girl who works hard and fails
often, but for all that Is never defeated.
She smiles and says, "Let me try once
more" They say she is not brilliant
student. Perhaps that is so. But
every Sunday afternoon see her on
the way to the home of an old man who
for years has sat by the window seeing
folks go by. Her bouquets of roses
mean more to him than expert knowl-
edge of imaginary roots.
/ see a smiling, curly-headed boy
who thinks wireless and flying ma
chimes. He told me once he was going
to make a machine that would run for
ever, but he knows better now for he
has studied science some. This, though,
l believe, he will some day make ma
chine that will tighten the load of la
Dor; and if he lays the keel of ship. it
will be safe ship.
see a girl, modest, refined, and ac-
complished. She is Industry, Loyalty,
and Cheer. Why does she work so hard
when her father has lots of money?
Swift comes her answer: 81 am greater
than money must be true to myself.
Then some day may use money so it
will be of service to others and to my
self blessing"
| see boys and girls, ten hundred
thousand of them, all different, all as
piring. all good.
1t is they that make Michigan great.
The Public School is their Opportun-
ity and how eagerly do they grasp it!
One bitter cold morning last winter
l was in town in northern Michigan:
The roads were hemmed in by snow
banks so high you could not see over
them. On my way to the station met
three girls trudging on through the
deep drifted snow. Under their arms
they had books and lunches, while their
hands shielded their faces from the
biting wind. knew they were school
girls come far from the country to the
high school in the village. As stood
at the station l saw boys and girls
dotting the distant hills in all direc-
lonesome walking, some running,
others pulling sleds with brothers and
sisters in them-all bound for school
that day.
Inspiring
almost cheered. And what l saw
there was happening that moment in
every district and village and city in
Michigan-indeed, in all America
Why is it, when all the world is war
ring. Uncle Sam is so calm and patient
and unafraidY You know. It is be-
cause from ocean to ocean, from lakes
to gulf, he hears the tramp, tramp,
tramp, of twenty million boys and girls
who every morning, rain or shine, set
out for the American Public School to |
conquer the knowledge Of the World.