The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1939-06-03


School at the Commencement
exercises, which were held {
o'clock yesterday afternoon al
Bayview Park.
Choosing as his subject, "On
the Threshold the speaker was
listened to with rapt attention
throughout, and as the address
was brought to a close the aud
fence showed their appreciation
by applauding vociferously.
To-day you stand upon the
threshold of a new experience
Behind you are the years of pre-
paration. If you have any regrets
for wasted opportunities, it is
wise to forget them. The past
win not return, and to dwell
unduly upon it viii only hamper
your efforts to improve the pres
ent and 60 forth to meet the flu
fure with a courageous heart.
-You can make that future
what you will. It is like the
plastic clay ready for the sculp-
tors hands, and what you make
of il lies entirely within your
own ambition, determination and
character. 1t has been said that
man walks in the direction to-
ward which he looks. So, ! say
70 you, as you cross this threshold
into that broader, and infinitely
better. and more interesting life
which lies just before you, look
out, and look up.
True education is not the mere
acquisition of knowledge; it is the
development of character, and
training in the fundamentals of
right thought and conduct, SO
that when the problems with
which we will be confronted in
after life arise, we will be men
tally and spiritually equipped to
cope with them.
you, together with the hum
dreds of thousands of other grad
yates, all over this land, are the
potential leaders of your COM
nnunity. Let me urge you, by all
means, to remain in this COM
munity and to take your part in
leading our own Key West into
that glorious future which is her
Tightful destiny.
In the past, many Key West
ers have been driven by adversely
to seek opportunity elsewhere. It
is possible that this draining
away of potential leadership has
been one of the contributing
causes of our local difficulties. II
Key West is to make the hoped
for progress this condition must
be changed. Opportunities must
be made which win provide suit
able employment for these young
people.
This community is today also
standing upon a threshold 1t is
moving over that threshold into
a future that offers opportunities
for community service, for in
spired leadership, which should
hold out the prospect of sufficient
reward TO satisfy the highest am
bition.
Il believe that the next five
years in Key West will be the
most interesting, most exciting
and satisfactory years of its ex-
istence, and that the ultimate flu
ture of this community will far
sIHpass our most optimistic hopes
and dreams.
Grateful as we are for the as
sistance of a generous Federal
treasury in time of adversely, il
is doubtful if that assistance has
added anything to our individual
capacity to take care of our
selves. We should lose no time
in preparing ourselves for that in
evitable day when we win FIND
that we must get along without
il. When we will have to stand
on our own feet, and, by the ex,
ercise of our individual initiative
and determination, carve out oul
own destiny.
What makes a community
greatg II is not material wealth
II is not palatial residences, tai
buildings, broad boulevards. A
community is made great by thoS.
eternal qualities of the. heart
mind and soul which combine L
constitute the character of it
citizenry. And that, my friends
can make of Key West a com
mupity so desirable that Their,
win not be room enough upol
the old rock for all who vii
want TO make their homes here.
Upon this threshold Key Yves
stands. Forgetting the past. lie
US all stand here with her, unite.
in one common purpose, and
hand in hand, step over tina
threshold with her into the glo
rious future.
Our nation is also standing o.
the threshold of better times. ]
has been said of America tina
its genius lies in this: that me
and women of all races an
creeds. and of all shades of polit
ieal opinion. can and win wor
here, side by side, to maintain tn