The Delta independent., 1924-05-30
Talks to Cortez Students

Governor Rockwell of Paonia, made
the principal address before the gradu-
ating class at Cortez last week, and
his remarks were not only highly COM
mandatory but offered much food for
thought to the class which had just
completed their final instruction in
the schools of that place. In speak
ing to the graduates Mr.. Rockwell
said:
"I urge upon each one of you if pos
sible to continue with your higher
education. This is a day of competi-
tion and the better prepared one is,
the more certain is he of success.
Preparation is necessary: Find the
work you like best and then prepare
for it. Colorado's institutions of
higher learning rank well among
those of other states of the Union.
Zone of our writers of today said
IF a man is dependent upon his own
capacity of observation and deduc-
tion for his learning, without schools,
teachers and books the maximum he
would attain after a life time of eff
fort would be comparable to third
grade in school, Simple addition and
substraction would be the height of
his possible individual achievement.
For all that you have learned beyond
that you are under obligation to some
one else Theirs is the spirit of serv
ice to you and in turn you owe an
obligation to make good.
ITO educate young men and wo-
men as we do today without their
having proper realization of this
spirit of service and obligation to
their home, to their country and to
their church, is dangerous. Our
penal institutions today are filled
with those who have not recognized
this obligation. Here is where we
train our 'bunco men and those who
think that because they have their
minds trained the world owes them a
living. Your parents and the taxpay-
ers of this community did not build
this school and hire these teachers in
order that you might waste your
time in riotous living. They gave you
these opportunities in order that you
might become leaders and serve.
There are several different ideas
of service 1t is a word which has a
new meaning today in the business
and professional life of this nation.
The definition in Noah Websters die
tionary which comes the nearest to
expressing what | mean is this, AS
sistance of kindness to another At
Colorado Springs the other day l
heard a very practical definition of
this word, Service is the rent we pay
for the space we take up in this
world If / were preaching a bac-
calaureate sermon, l would take this
text from the Bible, Joshua XIV,
13, I have given you land for which
you did not labor,-and cities which
you built not and ye dwell in them,-l
vineyards in which ye planted not and
ye do eat
Everything you have today, you
owe to someone else. Your parents
have sacrificed much to buy you
clothes, food, to give you this edu-
cation. Your neighbors have been
taxed and have sacrificed to build
and furnish this school for your use.
The state and nation have been taxed
to furnish you with colleges and uni
versities to go to il you have the de-
sire. To maintain good govern
ment, with protection for your lives,
homes, and to care for unfortunates
For all this you and owe the duty of
service to our parents, our commun-
ity, and our nation.
1.-TWO things you must learn:
"The world does not owe you a liv-
ing.