The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-06-21
Was the Message Which
John w. Gordon Gave to G..
S. Commercial Graduates
CLASS OF % GIVEN
THEIR DIPLOMAS
Interesting Exercises Y Sc
Held at School r :
Last Evenin' -

50
Twenty-three students : no have com
. pleted the course in the commercial de-
partment at Goddard seminary under the
direction of Miss Bridges and C. l..
Hoernle received their diplomas last even
ing at the conclusion of interesting exer-
cises in the school chapel. School and
class eolors bulked large in the attrac-
tive chapel decorations and there was a
large gathering of friends of the grad
uates, students and others Interest
shown in the program demonstrated
anew the fact that the commercial de.
lpartment at Goddard is performing
real service in the curriculum of the
school and that that service is being ap-
Ipreciated.
John w. Gordon Of Barre was the
| speaker of the evening and while his
solid contribution to the program was in
the form of an address that will not
soon be forgotten, there were other fea-
lures that made for the signal success of
the commercial department. The sem
| mary orchestra played the opening over
ture and after the invocation James Me
| Aabb sang De Koven's "Recessionals in
| pleasing voice. "Vermont's Business On-
lportunities" was the subject of the salu-
tatory essay by Miss Edna Murphy, who
proved herself to be conversant with con
dltions in the Green Mountain state Al
got knutson chose for the subject of his
essay, Success in Business" timely
topic that was handled in capable fash
ion. Albert Goslant of Lanesboro con
tributed violin solo. I'll Tro,atorev
Verdi and just before Attorney Gordon
was introduced Miss Ella Wilson sketched
the history of the graduating class in q
most entertaining fashion.
Mr.. Gordon's Address.
Attorney Gordon's address teemed with
pertinent advice to the graduates, Here
and there pointed analogies, grounded in
history, were aptly rehearsed to empha-
size point and now and then pat ex-
cerpts from poets, past and present, in
terlarded his remarks. When Mr. Gordon
addresses an audience on most any topic,
he invariably holds the attention OF his
hearers and the attitude of the gathering
last night was no exception to the rule.
He spoke in part as follows: On occs-
sions like this it is important TO impress
upon young people the Importance OF
high ideals. They are told to aim high.
to watch the rainbow of promise to seek
its treasure of gold to hitch their wag-
OH to star" These admontions have
their use. Sometimes source OF in
spiration and effort. they have a forma
tive effect upon character and career
The treasure of gold may never be found,
yet the attempt to follow these admoni-
ions may serve to define purpose and
ievelop strength of mind and character
They are useful gymnastics of the mind
md character.
As distinguished from these high ideals,
wish TO direct your attention to those
hat are popularly considered to be Of a
over order. BY this ] do not wish to be
to mean anything mean or
ulgar Perhaps the term practical aims
rould be a suitable nomination of my
heme.
The charge of impraeticability is often
lade against our schools. More of the
'orld, less of the book. is proverbial
tatement of the remedy. How to put
he big world into the schoolroom is one
+ the grand and difficult tasks for the
,publie TO master How far are we
lstiied in making such a charge? The
ravamen of the charge that is made |
Ike to be this; The average student dis
,ins the more useful and essential scrv-
es of society. Preferences of the young
an and the young woman run in paral-
lines. the one for baseball rather than
the carpenters trade or that of the
onecutter; the other prefers the piano
the oven, the parlor to the kitchen,
av be- And the most curious feature
all is that these preferences. many
mes, are unaccompanied by ability and
suitable TO their realiza-
IN. How far our schools tend to de-
lop this daintiness of preference among
lpioyments is not easily determined.
It where there is prevalence of such
tions there is weakness in the state.
my so-called civilizations have failed
cause they rested upon false eoncep-
ms of essential employments.
As contra sted with nations that have
Tered from some of these misconeep-
ms. we are a splendid example. Con-
sedly the most prosperous nation is
one where every kind Of useful labor
honorable: where the individual pre-
is his works. not his birth. as a claim
where appointment by lot
rotation l. not the mode of election.
cannot be said that such conditions
-e always existed in this country. But
e. with us. they have been rightfully
ored.
Generally speaking labor il held in
h esteem in this country: specifically,
5 not. The native born element shuns
nv employments. There i 2 notable
vitation toward the city Urban life
its advantage and so far as found
on social instincts nf mankind and
on false classification Of pursuits.
: not reprehensibie. But when the
nr man graduates from college and
-ses Ia 70 back % the farm because
has persuaded himself that his little
8 hodge is too valuable TO b lost in
7 oisscurity. bc often fnds himself
,out au honorable means 81 suhsist-
and &c last reaches an unehosen des-
tien. Life is never truer than in the
country. where The horizon Is set
mountains and the star fields are