Head in Sky and Feet on the Ground. . . Such Was the Advice Given Davidson Graduates by Mr. Scales
Davidson, June 1 (AP)—“Live with your heads in the sun-lit sky and your feet on the ground.”
Such was the advice given the graduating class of Davidson College today by A.M. Scales of Greensboro, delivering the annual literary address at the institution. His subject was “Optimism,” and he maintained that optimism is back of all achievement.
“Optimism is the original name of Leinbitz’s doctrine that the world is the best possible world,” he said, “based on the argument that God being all-wide must know all possible worlds; being all powerful, must be able to create whatsoever He might choose; and being all Good much choose the best.”
“That argument stand whether He crated the world by the immediate fiat of His will, or whether by that same will He built it in the leisurely fashion throughout 10 billion years.
“He doubtless could have made it by either method. Regardless of His choice of craftmanship, He made a great job of it; so much so, that even “He, the Master Potter, was satisfied with it and pronounced it good.”
The speaker discussed the scientific phenomena and the vastness and magnificence of them whether created immediately or by evolution.
But evolution, he said, he was willing to leave to the scientists. And added: They have walked in the footsteps of God and have learned many of His secrets, t the everlasting well-being of mankind.
“Instead of being pilloried by a Christian people, scientists should be encouraged and venerated, for they seek the truth and we have the highest authority for the statement that the truth shall make us free.
“We came to talk of optimism—the disposition to take the most hopeful view of life. It is a good old world and the men and women who would make the most of life, who would enjoy it most, must believe that it is a good word. ‘God’s in His Heaven—All’s right with the world.’
“Many there are who have their hope of happiness centered on heaven alone, but you should remember that the same God who has told us that heaven is perfect has also told us that this world is good.
“You young gentlemen are at the beginning of a great adventure. Would you be great, successful, of service to your fellow man, then be optimists. The world had little to offer the grouch. This does not mean, of course, that you are to live in a fool’s paradise, but that you should live with your heads in the sun-lit sky and your feet on the ground.
“The dictionary tells us that the optimist is opposed to the pessimist and this verily is literally true.
“From the beginning of life to its close the optimist muse oppose—must fight the pessimist.
“Pessimism,” Mr. Scales declared, “is found in fear, while optimism is rooted in faith.”
The speaker then launched into a discussion of North Carolina and declared that her every move forward had been brought about by the optimist, and that the pessimist had fought every progressive move.
Among the progressive steps he cited that had been accomplished by the optimists of North Carolina, despite the bitter opposition of the pessimists, who feared that the state would be ruined, were popular education, good roads, a greater appropriation for the University, the Christian education movement, the construction of the institutions for the unfortunate, and agricultural prosperity.
One thing defeated by the optimists, said Mr. Scales, was the port bill of the Morison administration.
Mr. Scales mentioned leaders in various fields of endeavor in North Carolina and declared that they were all optimists.
There is much yet to be done in the improvement of agriculture, said Mr. Scales. He emphasized the development of the livestock industry, and the growing by the farmer of his own foodstuffs and feedstuffs.
From the front page of the Concord Daily Tribune, June 1, 1926
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1926-06-01/ed-1/seq-1/
