The following is a letter, over one hundred years old, which even today is still significant & provokes great thought and self-examination. It has true South Florida historical value as well , as it was written by Mr. Paul Ransom (the founder of what is today Everglades-Ransom School) and is addressed to Francis Bird and/or his brother Charles Sumner Bird (the family after which Bird Road is named) and is essentially a response to the Bird brother’s interest to attend what was then known as Ransom School for Boys…
“Your parents have asked me to accept you as a pupil at my school, and I have consented to do so provided I find that you are in accord with me as to the purposes for which you would come here and are willing to agree to certain things which I consider necessary if those purposed are to be attained.
The people in this world may be divided roughly into three great classes, according to the attitude they hold to life. The people in the first class believe, or seem to believe, that they were put into the world to see how much they could get out of it. Provided they are comfortable themselves, it does not distress them that others are in misery. Their object in life being to get all they can and to keep all they get, it sometimes seems a matter of little consequence to them if they get some things that rightly belong to other people. The people of this class are often rich, sometimes they are talented, but if the world is better off for their living in it, it is not because of any conscious effort of theirs. They never find the contentment and happiness they seek so eagerly.
The second class is made up of those who do not give life any thought at all, who do not like to think very deeply of anything. They are contented to drift along and take what comes, but are too lazy to take the trouble of deciding difficult problems. They are often well meaning, amiable people, but if all the people in the world belonged to this class no progress would be possible and things would soon come to a standstill.
The people in the third class believe they are in the world not so much for what they can get out of it as for what they can put into it. They are unwilling to give up their lives to the selfish pursuit of pleasure. They believe in work and are willing and anxious to do their share of it. They do not shirk the great problems of life but meet and solve them. It is to these that the world is indebted for all the progress that has been made in the past, and to them it must look for all hope of progress in the future. The people who belong to this class are very busy, too busy to think very much of themselves, but they are really the happiest people in the world.
Now, if you want to belong to one of the first two classes, this school is not the place for you. We have no time to waste in training boys to be selfish or lazy. But if you find that it is your wish to belong to the third class, to live not for yourself alone, but to serve your God, your country and your fellow man, with all your heart and mind and strength, why then, my boy, this will be a good place for you and we will welcome you here with all our hearts…”
For more info. visit: http://ransomeverglades.org/