The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-03-28
THE LESSON HARDING LEARNED

THE LESSON HARDING LEARNED
What have you read that has influ
enced your lite most?
Maybe it's passage from the Bible,
a poem, sermon, "A proverb of a book.
But the chances are If you stop TO think
you can recall some written word that
has been a dominating factor in your
career.
Lincoln's favorite poem was, 20, why
should the spirit Of mortal be proud?'
1t was typical of the sublime democ.
racy of the man.
Hardings favorite bit Of writing is
the lesson from McGuffeys Fifth
Reader mo Excellence Without La
Dor" written by William Writ Read
il ana you may have a better under
standing or the man in the White
House:
The education, moral and intellect
ual, of every individual. must be chief
ly his own work. Rely upon it that
the ancients were right; both in morals
and intellect we give the final shape
to our characters, and thus become, EN-
phatically, the architects of our own
fortune. How else could it happen that
young men who have precisely the
same opportunities should be contin
ally presenting us with such different
results, and rushing to such opposite
destinies?
Difference of talent will not solve
it, because that difference is very often
in favor Of the disappointed candidate.
You will see issuing from the walls Of
the same college, nay, sometimes from
the bosom of thes anne family, two young
men. of whom one will be admitted to
be a genius Of high order. the other
scarcely above the point of-mediocrity;
yet you will see the genius sinking and
perishing in poverty, obscurity ana
wretchedness: while, on the other hand,
YOU will observe the mediocre plodding
his slow but sure way up the hill OF
/ life, gaining steadfast footing at every
step and mounting, ut length, to emf
nence and distinction, an ornament TO
his family, a blessing to his country.
Now. whose work is this? Manifestiy
/ their own They are the architects OF
their respective fortunes. The best
seminary Of learning that can open its
1 portals to YOU can do no more than
TO afford you the opportunity of in
struciion: but IL must depend, at last,
on yourselves. whether you will be in
structed or not, or to what point you
will push your instruction.
And Of this be assured ! speak
/ from observation certain truth There
is no excellence without great labor. IL
! is the fiat of fate, from which no
power of genius can absolve YOU
/ Genius. unexerted, is like the poor
moth that flutters around candle
till IL scorches itself to death. If ge-
/ Mus be desirable at all. it is only of
that great and magnanimous kind
which. like the condor of South Amer
lea. pitches from the summit of Chin
borazo. above the clouds. and sustains
itself at pleasure in that empyreal re-
glon with an energy rather invigorated
than weakened by the effort.
II is this capacity for high and long
continued exertion. this vigorous pow
er Of profound and searching investi-
cation. this careering and widespread
ing comprehension Of mind, and these
long reaches OF thought that
Pluck bright honor from the pale
faced moon,
or dive into the bottom OF the deep.
And pluck up drowned honor by the
locks"
this is the prowess, and these are the
hardy achievements which are to en-
roll your names among the great mer
of the earth.--Enid News.