pom
Enmm's Ciiaiu.
101
character of the motives tlmt control
tlicm, ami the end al which they should
really and persistently aim, until life be
comes a wretched punishment, and failure
at the beginning inevitable. He who
waits Mil gcnius'calls, waits perhaps for
ever. Uut'to live the lite that behooves
all mankind there must be an object, sonic
aim,rupon which all energy and effort
must concentrate, well selected "and ap.
proved motives, that give a nobleness and
spotless purity of character to these ef
forts.'lifeachievemcnts, depend upon this
end for which we aim. Mankind has by
chance, in recklessness and moral aban
donment, strayed upon success, worthy to
he coveted bv men of genius and high
pursuits, but it is unwise to adopt the plan
nnd.follow in their course, 'for dishonora
ble motives tarnish the'glory of the most
noble acts, right aims, and worthy mo
tives, are therefore essential to the make
upfor a successful jlife-t Lot not self be
made the chief end of yourjiction.jwould
you have a broad, -higher "character, ex
tending over that whichpprtains only to
individual and personal interests.
gaMakc no delay then in ferreting out
the object for which you intend to Mrivc,
study well the motives which control
you, observe without prejudice tlio.se ob
staclcs that ma- present themselves, and
prove everlasting impediments to your
success. 'Tis no doubt true, that many
a genial iron-smith has been lost to the
world, by the fatal error made in endeav
oring to penetrate into the mysteries of
the common law. Make then, not beyond
reach of lhatjpower with which you are
endowed, the goal, the oblaincnce of which
you intend to so manfully strive. It is
said, that 'tis better to be a mechanic, and
be a good one, than to be the King of En
gland, and be a poor one. Perhaps the
saying is a little overdrawn, but the prin
ciple set forth nevertheless teaches us not
to go beyond our means.
Upon every one of you, then, rests the
power and duty to make this choice. If
failure crown your efforts, none are to
blame but you. If success, then by your
own individual efforts you have gained it.
Those who live in this sphere, will ever
rise in excellence, enlarging in the com
pass of their iullucnce, and increasing in
power to benefit mankind. Hence failure
and success are resulting conditions, op
tional with each individual. Failures in
life are not intended, but arc only the re
sults of the sad errors made in choosing
those measures blindly, and which has
been so persistently followed. The choos
ing of the means to the end, is choosiim
the end. lie careful, or you err. Decide
then, xclutt you fmll be, and by unyielding
and persistent labor, be it.
After the work of last year was couiple
ted, and students had gone to their homes,
they were undoubtedly surprised and
shocked to hear that the University build
ing had been condemned, and nccoiding
to orders of the Regents, was to be taken
down. And not only was it a surpri.-e to
the students, but also to every enterpi in
ing citizen within the state. After an ex.
penditure of over one hundred thousand
dollars, with success just commencing to
reward those who, with such unyielding
cflbrts, labored for its advancement, such
tidings were discouraging in the extreme.
Meetings were called by the people, plans
offered and suggestions made. Architects
examined the building and gave as their
opinion such ns the Hegents bad given
before. The press, throughout the slate,
argued and re-argued, pro and con, faults
were found, unjust attacks were made,
vile epithets used, and still the University
did not come down. Finally, upon the
opinion of architects from the cast, who.c
decision, after their long experience in
that capacity was worth' to be received,
it was concluded best to remove the old
foundation and insert in its place one of
solid, substantial limestone, which accord,
ingly has been done. The walls of the
superstructure have been braced to their
proper position, and the University is nrw
prepared 4o undergo the wear and tdtr,