The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1922-06-09
FACTORS THAT MAKE LIFE
(Bu ADA FAULkNER)

to our stages of intelligence and
growth, and the dry facts Of his
tory, literature, language and sci
ence were infused with the living
personality of the teacher and made
to take hold on our minds and
lives.
But what of the influence of the
pupils? Here we have had a little
society, a little government, a little
church, little world all of our
own, and have had training in
living. The impress of it will be on
US forever. And may we here pause
in these sober reflections on the
factors that have been moulding US
to say that the process has not been
one altogether of tedious study.
We have had good time. Among
ourselves we have had our ups
and downs, our petty envies, and
iealousies, and rivalries. We have
loved and hated, fallen out and
made up, lost our sweethearts and
won another's. There have been
whispered loves and stolen sweets,
looks sometimes languishing and
loving, and some times sullen and
pouting, but, taken all in all, the
boys say it was fine, and the girls
don't think it was bad. every rose
has its thorn, but amt the roses
sweet" So says one, and the rest
echo amen.
We have mentioned two factors
in our making-6rst, heredty; Sec
ond, education, including home
and school. There is a third-the
self, that power within which rises
up in the majesty of it's imperial
might and says, I will not yield to
the forces Of evil and Incidence, I
will not give up in despair, will
not fail, I will work, I will wait, I
will win. Many influences pour in
to US. All that We have seen, and
heard, and thought, and felt, and
hated, and loved, make their i'm
press upon US. Nothing leaves US
quite as it found us. But we can not
lay our failure to hard luck and
capricious fortune. The trouble
lies nearer home. 1t is lodged in the
self. Circumstances affect, but char
acter creates destiny. We may not
control our circumstances, but we
can control ourselves in the midst
of our circumstances. These three
factors-heredity, education and
self-have wrought out in us
through the long process of study
and trial and association the pro-
duct in mind and heart that ex-
lists in the character of each of
the graduating class.
For the part you have had in
this work, good people of Abbeville,
we thank you. BY your contribu-
tions and taxes you have supplied
the money that erected our build
ings, equipped our rooms, and paid
our teachers. The Trustees have
given time, and exercised patience,
and showed wisdom in laboring for
the school. Thousands of boys and
girls, bright and ambitious and as
good as we, are scattered through
onr County, who have not enjoyed
the advantages you have given US.
What we are tonight we owe large
ly to your wisdom and liberality
and goodness.
Dear teachers, you have been kind
and patient and efficient. The dol
lars and cents Of your salaries have
not paid you, and the words we now
speak can not pay you, for the
! sympathetic and lasting service you
have rendered US. A great poet
has said, 'The evil that men do lives
after them. The good is oft inter-
red with their bones.' This is only
half true. The evil can die and the
good can live. We may have at
times seemed to you a little sullen,
unappreciative, and mean. You may
have seemed to us little i'm