The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-06-15
Nay Acquire Wealth
By Ignoring Riches

0SAiaS tGesaiS WHICH VIII permit
their owners to become useful men,
bers of society rather than a des-
perate striving for wealth, fame. or
power is recommended to Ohio nigh
school graduates by Dean John F.
Cunningham, College of Agriculture
and Home Economics, Ohio State
University.
\ Dean Cunningham quotes the
Oriental proverb, "He who has
money but no friends is not rich; he
who has friends but no money is not
poor" The dean does not discourage
the ambitions of the graduates to
secure just rewards for their SER
vices but he believes their lives will
be richer if they realize early that
neither wealth, fame, nor power is
guarantee of happiness.
Many of the graduates will con-
tinue studies in colleges or univers-
tiles, but education alone will not
make a useful citizen. Whether or
not high school graduates continue
their education, Dean Cunningham
reminds them that a useful citizen
takes an interest in government, not
by seeking office but by being a
supporter of sane and sensible gov
ernment.
In relations with other people,
habit of always agreeing with their
actions and opinions often is costly
to all cncerned. A Eyes man" loses
his self respect by agreement with
policies which he believes are wrong
and the other person may be en-
couraged to continue course which
will meet merited opposition later.
The chronic objector also is
thorn in business and friendships.
The person who must disagree with
everything and everybody is as bad
ly twisted mentally as the one who
says "Yes" automatically. A proper
balance between the two habits will
make both social and business life
more pleasant and more profitable to
high school graduates and to their
associates.
The graduates acceptance of the
fact that everyone can not hold the
highest position nor pile up the
largest amount of wealth, should
not make him adopt an attitude of
defeat. Every worker can find sat
isfaction in his work if he can see
that it is a necessary part of
system which brings greater rewards
to more people than any other ma
tion has ever experienced.
The intangible things which are
called virtues must be considered by
those leaving high school for college
or for business. The finger tip of
circumstance points to those who
obey and those who disobey the
principles of morality. Morals are
simply code of rules to permit the
close association of group of
people with the fewest possible vio-
lations of the rights and privileges
of each individual in the group.
Liars are not menaces to society
because their exaggerations reflect
undue Importance upon themselves,
but because their lies impair conf
dence in the statements of all people.
| Stealing is not sin because it is
wrong to acquire property, but be-
cause it violates the right of others
| to enjoy the fruits of their own
efforts.
Graduates will find competition in
any phase of life they choose. Com
petition should not be feared; it is
stimulus to progress. Geniuses
are people who are not content to
copy the efforts of others but who
perfect ways or means of doing
something better than it has been
done before.
There are $4,000 high school grad
yates in Ohio this year. Out of this
group about $4,000 will enter col
lege; but, whether the graduate
leaves home for work or for further
education, the rules of society apply
equally. Each Individual must travel
on his own steam or be a burden
upon others. Every one of these
useless burdens is a handicap to the
progress of the human race.