[January, 1923
THE WESTERN AMERICAN
A Charge to American Youth
15
that they still go to movies and get
wildly excited over baseball is nothing
to the contrary. The utter failure of
the world war to bring peace has sunk
deep into our hearts; our faith is shaken
and our minds are perplexed. We are
trying to penetrate into the meaning of
the mysterious handwriting on the wall.
There are two groups against whom I
must warn you; they are the opposite
extremes of the long range of thinking
on our national condition. First there
are the people who insist that everything
is all right, or at least nearly so; that
any proposal for change is dangerous,
even disloyal; that all we need is to
get back to some imaginary golden age
of the fathers; when we really get back
to the real fathers we find that they on
the contrary insisted on looking forward,
to a still better world than was to be.
Notice that the very people who harp
on this string rarely mention any par­
ticular “father,” like Patrick Henry, or
George Washington, or Jefferson or
Lincoln; and still more rarely do they
even allude to anything that these
fathers did or said. Even so recent a
“father” as Theodore Roosevelt, who is
still occasionally mentioned, and still a
real personal figure, is mostly just a
By Dr. Edward 0. Sisson, of Reed College
BN AN ADDRESS to a class of very simply, and any man or woman can
I Portland high school graduates, check up to see if he is educated, To
educated is to think clear and
■Doctor Edward O. Sisson of Reed be
straight, to be decisive and resolute in
■College on January 23rd delivered action, and to love one’s fellow men.
la masterful charge, a timely ad- You will see at once that this is not
Imonision to young America of to- identical with graduating from high
school or college. Abraham Lincoln had
Iday, standing upon the threshhold only
five months of school in his whole
lof life ready to embark upon un­ life, yet he was the best educated man
known seas where only those who of his time; on the complex and baffling
■follow the chart closely will reach question of slavery he thought more
clearly and scientifically than the most
[the harbor of ambition’s goal.
learned men of his day; his unfailing
I To young men and young wom­ resolution held his country to the bitter
en, older folks and youth alike, Dr. task of war until end was won; and his
Bisson’s candid discussion of life’s great heart reached out to all human
black and white, northern and
[problems holds much of value. Al­ souls,
southern. If you really want to know
most every phase of life has been about your own education, try these
(touched upon in such a way as only tests, of thinking, will, and altruistic
[the scholar, the student of life, the love.
Assuming that graduates can think
mature man and thinker could pos-
clearly,
and possess will-power to act,
I sibly present them to view.
and have escaped from the narrowing
I The greater number of The limits of selfishness into the rich abund­
[Western American readers are ance of generous love, it is fit and prop­
er to discuss with them the world in
[thinking men and women, who which
they live and the conditions they
i hold a serious view of life, who are may expect to meet. What you need
CLASSIFIED
builders of purposeful citizenship. from others is mainly facts. You must
Professions—Business
To them Dr. Sisson’s address will absolutely know things as they are, in
I he of vital interest. For their pe- order that you may do your share in
things better. Just what you
ATTORNEYS
Irusal The Western American has making
are to do, now and later in life, no one
Beemed it deserving of the space else can tell you; your own keen intel­
NELS JACOBSON
806 N. W. Bank Bldg. Main 4416
it requires in its entirety as here­ ligence, guided by your heart and con­
science, must do that; and your own will f
with presented:
DAVID E. LOFGREN
I Every progressive state now plans to must drive you on in action, as the 1 1030 Ch. of Com. Bldg. Brd’wy 0462 |
throbbing engines propel the ship thru
| get all its children through the eighth the
|
SAMUEL OLSON
seas.
trade; most of them go willingly, with
1 605 McKay Bldg
Brd’wy 1097 |
So it is my privilege, on this great oc­
■heir parents’ earnest support; some
■lave to be dragged more or less against casion in your lives, to point your eyes ■tfiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiimimiiiimiiuiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitimiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiHUiite
■heir will and even against the will of to some striking facts in the present
Atwater 4000
I the parents. Some lag hopelessly behind state of your country; to invite you to
look
about
you,
to
look
'back
somewhat
■and finally drop out of school before
massing or even reaching the end of the into history, and to look forward into
MILK, CREAM,
| elementary course. Someone recently de­ the misty portents of the future.
First, America is in a critical mood.
clared that we are a nation of fifth
BUTTER, EGGS,
traders, and there is too much truth in The great mass of quiet common people,
X
■this for comfort. But it still remains who make no speeches and write no
COTTAGE CHEESE
■hat the state has set its minimum goal articles, but who work hard every day,
I at the completion of the elementary live modestly, love their families, their
■ school, and is pushing nearer to the goal neighbors and their country—this great
body of every-day American citizens are
■very year.
Cornell & Brook Sts, Portland Ore.
I Attendance at high school is mainly deeply disturbed and trying hard to
think
themselves
out.
The
mere
fact
ruiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiifiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiir
■voluntary; it is up to the pupil and his
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Barents; the state will usually not com-
Bel. It is true that more children go
E
I to high school in the United States than
I in any other country; still only a small
■ per cent go even here, and naturally a
■till smaller per cent graduate, Conse-
Buently high school graduates are a
Belect class, the few among the many;
Paints, Oils, Varnishes, Glass, Sash, Doors
■and higher education begins not in the
I college, but in the high school. Every
High Grade Lubricating Oils
Btudent who even enters high school
Brushes, Etc.
I shares in the privileges of higher educa-
Btion, and what is equally important in
■ its responsibilities and obligations.
Portland, Oregon
I
Northeast Corner Second and Taylor .Streets
■ The aims of education may be stated
Portland-Damascus Milk Go.
RASMUSSEN &
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