120 THE ALUMNI JOURNAL 



of the pharmaceutical machine, the part which has during the past 

 two years been handled with the greatest care, — the part upon 

 which the future working efficiency of this machine depends. Let 

 us look to our worthy trustees ; they are the mechanical structure 

 of this machine, our noble professors represent the energy inher- 

 ent in this machine, and what, classmates, are we? We are the 

 glowing arcs, the product of the energy of our instructors, and as 

 such it is our duty to go out into the world to promulgate the know- 

 ledge which has been bestowed upon us ; it is the duty of everyone 

 of you to exert your greatest efforts in order to accomplish some- 

 thing that will eventually make your existence worth while. Of 

 course, classmates, in striving to attain our end point, many diffi- 

 cult problems must be encountered, but more important than think- 

 ing and worrying about encountering difficult problems is the 

 consciousness, that as a result of the past two years, although you 

 may not be on the Honor Roll, you are fully qualified to meet 

 these. Let it not discourage you if someone else, probably less 

 worthy, temporarily and seemingly rides apast you on the road to 

 success. Bear in mind that your success does not depend upon 

 your capacities, it is not gauged by your achievements, but it does 

 depend upon the ratio existing between these two. Your capa- 

 cities may not be great, however; if you make the most of them 

 you will far surpass men who may be a great deal more talented. 

 However, the one and great thing to bear in mind in weaving your 

 design for the tapestry of success if that the latter is not gained 

 by crowding out your associates in your own interests. Take as an 

 example the life of Napolean. He thought of nothing but tram- 

 pling down millions of men in order to eventually make himself 

 the ruler of all Europe. He sought for success by showing the 

 most ruthless indifference to his associates. AVhat was the ultimate 

 result of his intellectual but grafting efforts. Instead of making 

 a wonderful success he Avas an aggregation of a million failures, 

 and one of the greatest checks to advancement that Europe had 

 thus far known. Classmates, this is an example worthy of note, 

 for these same things are enacted daily in the common walks of 

 life. Although you do all you can, there is always the possibility 

 of striking the wrong path, the path of failure. But let it not dis- 

 courage you. Failure under these conditions is a proof of eft'ort 

 having been exerted, that you are striving to obtain something, 

 that you are breaking away from the old rut of doing things. 



