The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-06-10


extemporaneous preparation nor by
specializing for specific acts
Mr.. Eastman here emphasized the
fact that in the most affluent times
of Greece and Rome some of the
most brilliant citizens intellectually
were moral profigates. But, he said,
it was not necessary to go to history
for examples. The same condition
may be seen today. In our prisons
today may be found convic;s with
highly trained hands and minds. In
stances of both were cited.
There is word in Latin that !!
have had occasion to say Is the
strongest rock word in that noble
speech That word is fdes. Trans
late it by as many terms as. you
may, it ultimately stands for abso-
lutte eliability-soundness of charac-
ter. Cicero says that all real friend
ship is based on fides; we may go
farther, and say that everything that
is worth while in life is based upon
it. 1t is the one thing that will as,
sure, corroborate and direct the train
ing of the hand and of the mind.
The hand may contrive7 houses and
streets and bridges and railways; the
mind may devise constitutions and
laws; the taste may be cultivated to
the finest appreciation of literature
and art Yet that life is barren, that
soul is sterile, that is not grounded
in fides-the integrity of character.
It is the only sure guide in the con-
slant, everyday duties of life.
Our comm onest temptations are
not those that urge to enormous
| crimes. They assail US in thousand
petty ways. Some of the most 1nsldi-
Gus are those that call to success by
unworthy means. There is no voca-
! ton that you will undertake that will
be free from them. There is no call
! ing that is not hedged about on ave-v
side by pretense and sham. You viii
not be immune from the urge. In
journalism it will be to the yellow
sheet, or political trimming; in the
| law, to pettifogging; in m ,1lcine, 10
quackery; in the ministry, to sepsa-
tionalism The young woman will
/! find them, not only in her ch jScu
| calling, but in the hollow shams or
social standing and the frivolities that
are so often the menace of the home.
! The inclinations may be bent, but the
roots of character will hold you firm.
| Il have seen an oak tree, reaching
! with it's branchy, leafy fingers to the
| light, gathering in the vigor anc sun
shine of the air; pushing its roots
farther and farther down until along
| their naked length they taste the
SAVIOR of the soil, and gathering hrm-
er hold upon the rocks below Ana
! have seen it's leaves torn and the
branches dashed and Bonded by the
storm wind; and when the storm has
passed l have seen it rise again. calm
/ and serene in the sunlit sky; for 1t
! bo1J 1>1,th he firm
| roots in the deeper soil. Roots and
branches all belong to the single life
! of the oak, Just as the wrong 1ncl1'
| nations and the firmer principles all
belong to the single life ot the man
And in that single life it is the roots
! of fides, of character, that keeps the
| life unbroken by deceit and sham.
The world is calling for men and
women trained in hand and mind, but
most of all it is calling for those OF
tested character.
"eAh, God. for a man with hear
! head, hand.
Like some of the sim pie great ones
gone
Forever and ever by;
One still. strong man in a blatant
! land,
Whatever they call him, what care :
/ T., dutoSiotr o.AS
| Who can rule, and dare not lie
The Changes Of the Day.
young men and women, l would
leave a message with you. Customs
and beliefs are changing. Even. in
my brief life l have seen the changes
| come. Everywhere we hear the az
claim that greets a new age. We are
| hearing the creed of practical e1i-
cheney proclaimed from the platform,
| in the press, and in our schools. 1t
| is here with the blood of youth; 1t
is here with its banners and it's battle
songs. Soon you will be in the midst
of it's new meanings and activities.
| Soon 1t will enter into your lives and
stir your souls. 1t Is the most ma :
velous age in the history OF the world.
! and in some respects the most dan
gerous The call of the gods of build
| ing and creating and speculating-the
| call of the gods of material service,
will come to you like the call of the
wild Give to these, as give you
must. the best service of your trained
mind and trained hand. But in the
midst of the citation and triumph of
material doing, give your first and
most loyal heed-if l have single
message for you tonight It is this
give your first and most loyal heed
| to that stiIler but worthier voice that
calls you to the service Of character
the culture of the heart
81 plead for character in education.
II is not Just word it is a verify.
It is visible in way. 1t CLOVIS in
the warmth of the cheek; 1t steadies
the glance Of the eye: it tempers the
movements of the mind; 1t is felt in
the clasp of the hand: it IS revealed
in thought processes and in speech.
II is the reality by which a life is
remembered
"Out of the shadows Of the years
there rises in my memory tonight the
personality of man who was
teacher of my youth. The movements
of his mind were as sure and unde-
Waiting as the polished steel in An
electric engine. It was from him that
I learned the noble language of the
Greeks. His mind was charged with
The form and fitness of it's structure