The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-03-29
Vocational Column
SHADY LANES


branch of from the main highway
10 success. These lanes lead 10
blind-alley jobs, shiftlessness, dis
appointment, and sometimes total
destruction. Their entrances are
very inviting TO the weary traveller
who has a long journey ahead OF
him with but little rest in sight.
The students OF the Vocational
Department have been travelling
this hot and dusty road all the
year;-at any rate, II has been hot
and dusty 10 some OF them. The
majority Of them do not see the
celestial city ahead. but they have
been told by people who have gone
this way before them that Il Is
there and they can reach IL IL they
stay in the road and climb all the
hills.
Many shady lanes, with enticing
entrances have been past thus far on
their journey and they have not
swerved from their fixed course.
But dangerous time has come. The
incline Is sleeper and the road more
dusty and hot. Can I stand itY" is
the question found on the lips OF
more than one student. They are
about 10 give up. They say "Oh, IL
is no use TO try: I am going 10
funk anyway. I'd like 10 get out
Of the class for the subject Is not
half so interesting as I thought IL
would be-"
Then. suddenly they catch
glimpse Of a shady lane called "A
Temporary job" In the entrance
of this lane. n man Is standing. A
man who once started on the high
way Ia Success and got as far as
this lane. This man beckons, Come
this way. What's the use TO study
when you can get job that pays
well, and money cash every Satur-
day night" He has been working
under task master at a reasonable
wage year after year: he has ceased
To be personality: he is a cog in a
great industrial machine with very
little opportunity for brain growth
and scarcely no outlet for the
human spirit. He has become
hardened by his job and ceases 10
feel the thrill Of ambition that used
10 inspire him in his struggles for
an educati ion. He thinks that
everybody is trying 10 do every.
body else and advises the plodding
student 10 quit his fooling around
and Hit the job" as he Is doing.
On the other side OF the main
highway is another shady lane call
I'd "Loafers' Retreat" This lane is
more attractive at this time OF year
han at any other time. II guaran-
lees protection from the spring sun,
rom the shut-in school room. and
rom the hard work OF student life.
u has a sign-board which reads
Follow me back home and lounge
around under the cool shades OF
,a's front yard. Just over at the
'orner is store where the boys
Ike to spin yarns and shift the cud
rom one jaw To the other. No rules
md regulations imprisoning the
pirit Of man. BE free. Enjoy the
eisure Of home life!r
This lane, with its attractive
ign-board, has coaxed many a boy
rom his great purpose OF securing
IN education and filling the highest
'lace In life. II has pulled him
way from his own making before
he was finished and left him
Manned man educationally.
We will agree that circumstances
make IL necessary for \
'erson to leave the main highway
md follow a shady lane. We have
few such cases of that kind in
'erea this spring but the great ma
GRITTY OF those who leave the main
Highway to Education and Success
re deceived and allured by the ap-
earances OF these lanes will. their
ntrances. They do not look far
nough ahead. They do not realize
hat the farther these lanes go, the
eeper they get into the wilderness
nd the farther they are from the
GAL OF their ambition. Do not be
Stay in the main high
'ay and you will rejoice when the
,urney is through and the victory