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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.