The Newport plain talk. (Newport, Tenn.) 1909-1939, 1915-02-03

be Industrious, honest, economi-
cal and sober, and in twenty years
you will find him honored and
well-to-do in life. Boys, are any
of you poor? Never mind poverty.
The rich men of today were poor
thirty years ago. The great men
come out of cabins as rule.
Columbus was a weaver, Hally
was a soap maker, Homer was a
begger and Franklin, whose name
will live while lightning blazes on
a cloud, came' from a printers
clerk. Lowliness is young am
bilious ladder. How inspiring it
is to read of strong hearted youths
who, in the midst of want, of
hardships of many kinds, have
clung to books like bees to flow
ers! By the light of pine logs in
dimlit garrets, in the fields follow
ing the plow, in early dawn when
others are asleep, they ply their
blessed task seeking nourishment
for the mind, a thirst for truth,
yearning for sight Of the high
worlds of which they have caught
faint glimpses, boys who later
became such men as President
Johnston and Marshall of Indiana.
Or recall for a moment the famil-
lar story of that Kentucky boy,
born in the log cabin, who mas
tered the problems of Euclid by
the light Of apineknot, later match
ing his power against the physi-
cal and intellectual giants of ILL
nois, then called by the republic
to guide her safely through the
greatest crisis in her history, and
giving up his life at last upon his
country's altar.
Happy is the man who, weighed
in the balances, is not found want
ing. In school and in busi ess
every one constantly undergoes
examination tests. To wrestle
stoutly with studies means more
than academic degrees; you are
on trial for some position requir-
ing energy. In student days every
responsibility or trust, every
struggle with difficulties is proof
of ones life. The forms and
faces of nature, the active world,
places dictatorship, society offers.
probationary tests. Temptation
to dishonor or dishonesty are the
preliminary examination in indus
trial and civic fitness and the re-
suits 60 on record and remain.
Resourceful, responsible men are
needed in every calling, and only
such will fill high places in this
age of science and reality.
Happy, say, is the man who is
tried and is not found wanting.
Not all educated men are cour-
ageous, but the man who has at
tanned a true self-mastery shows
the highest type of courage. He
weighs the difficulties, knows the
dangers and yet stands undismay-
ed. If right is on his side it mat
ters little how small the minority
that joins hands with MIN. In
Gods own time right and the
truth shall prevail. and He has
courage for patient waiting. He
has courage to oppose wrong in
high places. Misrepresentation,
lies, aye death itself cannot turn
him from the path of duty. Faith
in himself, in his mission, in his
God, shining like a star, leads him
on. My friend, there may be talent,
there may be genius, without
such faith and without such cour-
age il is of a poor and watery
kind. If the statesmen of the
present and the future are true
to the traditions of the past this
republic will continue to be the
land of opportunities; it will give
every boy an equal chance, a fair
field and no favor. Any boy in
America, should be preparing
himself to take advantage of
every opportunity; he should in