The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1920-05-06

we IolL LIdI he Was dlJHO11OJ OAA S'SAS
subject. We accepted without question
his ruling in thousand details OF con-
duct. To speak truly, we feared nm,
though I am sure he did not intend US
to do so. We feared his disapproval
and rebuke. To most OF US his wish
was law. We might err through care
lessness or weakness, but very lew had
the temerity or wish to deliberately
ignore his advice. Regarding obedl-
ence to rules, he once spoke IRON a
passage of Scripture which then
seemed to me too severe. The thought
is that he who offends in but one point
Of the law is guilty of all. Not until
later did | come to see that deliberate
defiance of one law does show con-
tempt for all.
In speaking of the management OF
the school, [ am reminded that IN the
early days with the small number of
students the president bore nearly ali
the responsibilities of management.
There was no principal Of the IRAN
ing School beside him, there were no
faculty advisors for classes, there was
no Dean of Women. He took personal
charge of the study room, halls and
school grounds. We used to think ne
was everywhere and saw everything.
| cannot remember as q child to have
been impressed with the authority OF
anyone else at school except the JAM
tor
Mr.. Parker had many eccentrlcltes
which we old students have treasured
in our memories as being SO distinctly
civ part of our friend. He was foisd
of using odd words and unusual
phrases. some of which still recall.
His quaint humor was oftenest ex-
pressed in peculiar phraseology, not
always easy to comprehend. He was
known to be able to write beautiful
hand on occasions, but his writing was
usually almost illegible. He often left
notes on the students desks, and I'll
was with the greatest difficulty that
one determined with the aid of friends
whether one was the object Of praise
or blame.
1t is much easier for the common
mind to recall the details of a friends
words and acts than to analyze his
character, his motives and aims. Tins
| know of Mr.. Parker: He had implic-
it faith in his work. He believed IN
Normal Schools and in the mission CT
the teacher, and he inspired the same
faith in his students. He looked upon
the business Of attending school as a
thoroughly serious one. He laid great
stress upon punctuality and regularity
of attendance and conscientious prep
aration. He had no patience with pre-
tense or sham. Daily at Assembly
then called morning exercises, ne
talked to US on the problems of life or
brought us messages from great VIII
ers. Human nature was not essential
" different then from now, and | re-
member that we sometimes wearled OF
lectures, but nevertheless the admoni-
lions which we received, we have never
been able to forget. They were given
in a most forceful manner, and by
many repetitions became indellbly I'M
pressed upon our minds.
One or Mr.. Parker's favorite read
ings was an essay entitled, BLESSED
be Drudgery" l found an old copy of
it among my treasures and it sounds
so much like a message from Mr..
Parker that | will quote few sent
ences from it:
Power of attention, power OF IN
dustry, promptitude in beginning
work, method and accuracy and dis
patch in doing work; perseverance,
courage before difficulties, cheer under
straining burdens, self-control and
self-denial and temperance. These are
the prime qualities, these are the very
fundamentals Of all fine manhood and
WomanhOod."
'There is wide difference between
men, but truly it lies less in some spe~
cial gift or opportunity vouchsafed to
one and withheld from another,-less
IN that, than in the differing degree IN
which these common elements of hu-
man power are owned and used. Not
how much talent have, but how much
will to use the talent that | have, is
the main question. Not how much do
[ know, but how much do | do with
what | know"
Zone thing l do, said Paul, and
apart from what his one thing was IN
that phrase, he gave the watchword OF
salvation Men may be divided IN two
classes, those who have a ''one thing,
and those who have no zone thing" to
do, those with aim and those without
aim, in their lives: And practically #
turns cut that almost all the success,
and therefore the. greater part of the
happiness go to the first class. The
aim Of life is what the backbone is in
the body Without it we are inverte-
brate, belong to some lower order OF
being not yet man."
''The artist is he who strives to per
feet his work-the artisan strives to
get through it. The artist would fam
finish too, but with him it is to finish
the work God has given him to do. 1t
is not how great a thing we do, but
how well we do the things we have to
do, that puts US in the noble brother
hood Of artists"
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