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About The Chemawa American (Chemawa, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (April 21, 1926)
i £0 j 3 W « The Chemawas^American Printed at Chemawa, Oregon, and Devoted to the Interests of Indian Education Vol. XXVII Wednesday, April 21, 1926 THE FITNESS OF THINGS In nearly every walk in life we find that which is proper and fitting as well as that which is improper and unfit. In some people we find a consciousness of “the fitness of things” highly developed, while in others such consciousness is wholly lacking. We seem to live in a world of “opposites,” of “contradic tions,” of “unfit” things in many ways. But this, some will argue, is as people think. True, to some extent, but we are quite well convinced that many things are true and that certain conditions are the outgrowth of other and previous conditions, regardless of the old declaration that “thinking makes it so.” Aside from the workings of the laws of the universe, which are impossible of change, there are laws made by man—some good and others bad. Man’s laws may be changed and made better or worse. The laws of man are usually an index to the character and men tality of the people of the state and age of their adop tion. From the viewpiont of the statutes it is expected that everything shall be well with all classes of society if these writs are observed—that the “fitness of things’ ’ will be the result. It these writs, or laws do not bring about the results expected a well-ordered citi zenry will change the laws. They will not become law-breakers. Let all of our young people fit them selves for an intelligent part in the making of laws by which they and their fellows are to be governed. Now is the time to get fit—not tomorrow, or the day after. The perfectly well-ordered individual does not nec essarily have to be supplied with a book of laws in order that he may live right, or do the right thing by other people. Such a person has an intuitive sense of what is proper, and with a high moral sense added he has courage to face conditions and do that which is right—simply because it is right. He is a law unto himself and if he violates a statute it is usually a mis take, or is caused by a condition of high excitement aroused by the “unexpected” happening somewhere along the line. With such an individual his sense of the “eternal fitness of things” will not permit pre meditated or willful violation or law—of order. Above all things he is proud to be known as a “good citizen.” The hoodlum boy or the hoodlum girl are so classed for the simple reason that they lack the ability to see No. 30 the “fitness of things.” When they essay to be loud in dress and address they prove themselves ill-bred creatures, devoid of a true vision of manners and mor als. From hoodlumism to crime is a smaller step than many people fancy—little by little, it is a matter of growth. Inability to conceive the terrors and shame of crime goes hand in hand with the inability to con ceive the “fitness of things.” Where a good brain is lacking such cases are very nearly hopeless—a com munity liability. It is for the disposition of cases of this character that police and justice courts are maintained through out the land. So long as people refuse to use their minds in living for good things; so long as they turn a deaf ear to the voice of conscience which God has given them, just so long will courts be necessary to maintain justice for all according to the merits of the individual and his case. Observe always the “fitness of things” and you will be able to face any crisis courageously. FINAL EXAMINATIONS SOON In about thirty days our students will be face to face with the final examinations of the school year. In looking back it seems as though the year had passed as if by magic—but any way, it has passed. We imagine that the thought of the “final exams” creates a panic in the minds of a certain percentage of our students, and it is well that it should, for there is still time to bring up to some extent work that has not been taken so seriously as it should have been. Go where one may, there is always to be found a fair showing of pupils who are a trifle too easy-going for their own good; they count on sliding through in some way. This course will not do; it will avail them nothing. The benefit a student shall derive from his school days lies in the mastery of his course— not in what others may think he knows, nor even in what he may imagine he has acquired. An education is of value to its possessor only, and the greater the amount of it is stored in the mind the greater its value. It is too bad to be confronted with failure, but it must seem doubly hard for the student who awakens too late to find that not only has he failed, but that he alone is to blame. He had the same chance as others who passed with good grades, but he took matters too easily and did not endeavor to gain a mastery of his subject. There are always a few who will not pay attention to the instructor, who are listless and indifferent—now and then one whose conceit is his greatest handicap in securing an education. “Right now” is always the time to study—tomorrow it may be too late. Let those who are lagard get busy—be serious for a while. Don’t be failures.
