Year: 1873

found in the learned professions, in
literary and benevolent institutions, in
politics, literature, art, science, In au-
thorship, presiding at the newspaper
press; in brief, in every field of useful
ness. 1t is not too much to say Frank.
lin College may be proud of her record,
and proud of her two Literary sOcie-
tieS-rivals but not enemies, each
stimulating and encouraging the other
to excel for the good which may thus
result to men. These too have nObly
performed their part. ...
And now, young gentlemen, encOur-
aged as you are by the splendid page
our common dina Mater, and her Lit
terary societies have written in the
worlds history, / congratulate you,
/ greet you, and bid you God speed!
But know this is not enough. You
can not repose on laurels which others
have won. The moon may shine with
borrowed light-refected from 'the
glorious orb of day'-but i'm the Liter.
ary constellation, in the galaxy Of
great and good men which life in all its
vOcatiOnS requires, there are no satel-
lites. Each man must shine by what
he is, not by what Others are or hare
been. Sometimes the son of noble
sire fancies his ancestral name will


bear him on to usefulness and renown.
But all such when destitute of great
requirements and the capacity to
rightly apply them only becomes the
more obscure and pitiable by ancestral
contrast. Birth and position can not
give requirements, nor the cultivation
of talents, which alone are the sources
of aminapea apd Dlafuluaca ...-..
"Act well your part. there all the honor lies.


Whatever may be said as to the ex-
istence of hereditary physical or intel.
lectual qualities, these in whatever
degree they may or can exist, can not
give that knowledge of literature, sci
ence, art, of men and things, and the
mode of applying all to useful ends
without which there can be no success.
1t is a part of the economy of God, that
the way to eminence and usefulness is
open to all, and with a wonderful
equality in the capacity to achieve sue
cess. rrE --9r ge a


If may judge from experience, and
observation made with some care, the
questions of doubt which most fire.
quently disturb students at college
young men everywhere, are these:


"Can secure employment i'm de-
sirable location p" "Can 1 succeed in
the business of life?"


The first of these inquiries is readily
answered.: Go read the concurrent
opinions of men in all ages, listen to the
teachings of history, the voice of OBJ
servation and experience, look at men
and business everywhere-there is the
answer. Excel in your vocation--un-
dertake nothing you can not perform
here is the secret made public. -'i] 40.


There never has been time when
men of integrity and of superior capae-
jty and qualifications in every profess
sion, art, science, or business failed to
find demand for their services. The
great difficulty everywhere encounter
ed is not to find employment for such


men, but ii is to find them to employ.


Young men sometimes look out upon
the world and say to themselves "the
professions are full to overfiowing-
every department of life is crowded."
There is indeed a superabundance of
inferior, of mediocre degree of capacity
in too many of the pursuits of life. But
the man of known integrity with sur
passing qualifications never yet failed
to find either demand for his services
or inadequate reward when rendered.
Just now it is more difficult for the
President to find the man who has all
the great qualities which will give lus-
tire to the position of Chief Justice than
to decide between those who may have
the capacity and the inclination to ac-
cept. The Republic is blessed indeed
with abundance of men having all the
desired qualities, but there are so many
other demands for such men, that they
can not be had. Itwas because of this
that one of the ablest of all our Justices
OF the Supreme Court some years since
resigned his Office for other fields of
usefulness. -tj 2slitF!.i "a i'.ifl.i-


The manufacturer whose fabrics are
of surprising beaaty, utility, and dura-
bility, finds for them q ready market.
A village blacksmith within the men,
ory of living men commenced the
manufacture of shOvels in Massachu-
setts. The establishment grew until
Ames' shovels by reason of their excel
lenee swsrmed along the public works,
penetrated every mining region in the
land, and became familiar at almost
every hamlet. The painter whose
imagery surpasses in beauty, the poet
whose harp is "tuned with sweetest
lays" the orator whose eloquence con-
vinces most, the physician whose
therapeutic skill is best, the merchant
whose goods most fifty meets the pub
lie want, tie statesman of surprising
usefulness and fidelity in his trust
these and men of kindred qualities in
their respective pursuits, are found
rather sought for than seeking employ
ment. But iG is not enough that every
man should pursue the business which
he thoroughly understands. He must
not withdraw his energies from that.
He can not along with it safely en-
bark in pursuits he does not under
stand or to which he can give no per-
sonal attention. No man can faithful.
ly serve two masters. One of the ablest
lawers in Ohio earned several fortunes
in succession by his profession, and
squandered them all by ventures in
outside business beyond his learning
and to which he could give no ade-
quate attention. When he had earned
one fortune he said to himself, SIT must
be invested" Instead of putting it
into lands or houses, the management
of which he could comprehend, he
bought and built steamboats, and en-
ployed agents to run them. But the
great lawyer did not know enough
of the business to judge of the skill if
he did of the fidelity of his agents.
His boilers did not explode or his boats
sink from river snags, but his fortune
exploded or sank by reason of the in
capacity or dishonesty of those to
whom 1t was entrusted. .i.'


1t must not be supposed I would set
bounds to the acquision of knowledge.
Let him who is master of his profess
sion or business add to it all attainable
knowledge and skill. Progress should
never cease. Let no one weary in
well-doing. A great intellect may in
deed master many sciences. Webster
was great lawyer and q great states