216 ANNUAL REPORT 



education. The system of education employed in my school days 

 was to teach by telling the rules over and over and "beating" them 

 in. You young men live in a different age and have advantages 

 that we never enjoyed in the earlier days. Young men I am glad 

 you have these opportunities, because it is well said that where 

 there is intelligence there is no danger of drifting back into bar- 

 barism. You are getting the theory of all that we know from our 

 experience in regard to agriculture and horticulture, and you will 

 readily see that you have advantages that we never enjoyed. 



Now, the first true principles in forming character are truthful- 

 ness and honesty. These traits I trust you have all secured. These 

 are essential to your future welfare and advancement. Whatever 

 you undertake to do resolve to stick to it until you carry it through 

 successfully, remembering that there is always the uppermost seat 

 to be reached. I feel happy to say that those who have striven for 

 that have always reached the top rung of the ladder. While you 

 young men have these advantages we are growing old. I have lived 

 my three score and ten years. What I have learned has been by 

 practice and experience, while you know more of theories perhaps, 

 than I have learned during seventy years of practice. You are al- 

 together in advance of where I am today. All I can say to you is 

 as Dr. Perkins says, "go on." There is a brighter day before you 

 and who can tell but some of you young men may be future presi- 

 dents of the United States. ( Laughter and applause. ) 



President Elliot. Mr. Dartt, can you say a word of encourage- 

 ment? 



REMARKS BY E. H. S. DARTT, OF OWATONNA. 



Mr. President you say encouragement; I assure you I 

 would like to say very encouraging things. We see before us 

 the sum and substance of the next generation. The young men of 

 this age in twenty years from now, will be our nation. And it be- 

 comes a matter of a great deal of importance to us what position 

 these young men shall take. Now, we see irj the nation (at least I 

 think I see) a nation that will follow principle ratber than policy. 

 It is said that nations as they grow older, grow stronger. If that 

 is so, it depends upon the course you young men take whether our 

 nation shall prove to be worse or better. If policy is followed, we 

 cannot think that the welfare of the nation will be secured; but if 

 principle is made the point, then we can feel secure; we can then 

 feel safe that when we get through , the next generation will do 

 better than Ave have done. 



There was one idea advanced here today that I rather deplored. 



