The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1840-09-19
Miscellaneous.
From the Southern Ladies Book.
ADDRESS.

BY the President of the Georgia Female College, to
thesGraduating Class, Deliuered on the 18th Ju-
ly, 1910. Published by request Of the Board OF
Trustees.
YoUNG LADIES -
l rise to perform the last duty connec-
ted with my official relation to you. We
have all looked to this hour with anxiety
and hope. The workof instruction is done;
its cares, its toll, its longings, are with the
past. To-day our connection is dissolved
the fellowship of mind is over, and the
feelings which have commipgled aboutthe,
affairs of learning must now be gathered
up and girt with fortitude for the parting
scene, and life's after changes.
You, perhaps, have been wont to con-
template this period in your history with
gaiety of spirits, and thought to feel high
breathed Joy in the freedom Of your future
days. The time to come, radient with
blessing, robed in the beautiful imaginings
of your inexperienced minds, stretches be-
fore you a land of dreams, whose rosy
hours dance to the hearts merry bound,
but leave no blight nor trace of their HARM
less revel. No ghostly herald of coming
disaster dims with his sepulchral shadow
the sunlit path on which your thoughts
have travelled. No dolorous voice breaks
on fancy's ear-quelling your bosom's tu-
multous delight with its melancholy tones:
No cloud, not even as "man's hand"
gathers within the range of your eager
vision, menacing storm and flood. Hope,
the souls winged bard, gay of plumage,
and sweet of song, as Eden's garden bird,
pours forth its subduing melody and lulls
every fear to rest. The sweet illusions of
imagination gid theprospect, and the heart
leaps up and bounds onward to reap the
Joys that seem already white unto the har-
vest. LIES morning all CHEEKY with sen.
timent and song-redolent of beauty and
blessing, dawns brightly, giving promise
ola glorious day. You hail the signs, and
feel and hope and long to explore the mys-
teries that lie hid in the distance, unreveal-
ed and mute.
l would not dissipate your cherished VI
sions with cynic's breath, nor rudely
checkthe pulse ofexpectation in its blith-
some play; but it is well to renslnd you
that life is not all poetry, nor earth a gala
scene where every eye beams welcome,
and every tongue speaks praise. The
hearts unsheltered delicacy will meet ma
ny buffet and the lavished sensibilities
repulsed and chilled, will oft seek the shell
ter of then homeland weary and sad,
will lay them down to weep. The defec-
ton of friends, loves unrequited tender
ness, and the artificial, heartless pretensions
that win your confidence, and pierce you
at last with thousand sorrows, must all
be looked for, met, endured and overcome.
You are expecting happiness where it can
not be found, if you seek it in Folly's halls
mid the pageantry and circumstance of
pleasure, with her tabret, feast and dance
or in the qualifications of taste-the pur-
suits of fashion---devotion to the world---
servitude to its ceremonies or in aught that
wades, or scars, or shines beneath the
stars.
The removal of scholastic restraints
may grant you redemption from irksone
duties and an introduction to the liberties
Of social life, but at the same time they give
place to sterner demands and more oner-
GUS duties. Society has claims upon you,
nor can you disregard them without in
fraction Of moral right, and guilty direlic.
ton of the best interests of yourselves and
friends. The solitude ofparents, the train
ing of the Academy, the literature of the
College have all looked to higher ends than
the glitter of name, or the empty repu-
tation of beaury and accomplishments.
The principles whichhave been inculcated
were not lessons designed merely to task
your mental powers for successive days,
but for wisdom in action guides in prac-
:ice-symmetry of character--means of
usefulness. High and holy ought TO be
he objects Of your ambition enlarged
and vigorous your convictions of duty and
moral requirement. -indefatigable and ear /
nest your efforts for good-good, diffusive
as your acquaintance, and lofty as your
iestiny.
In my humble opinion, grievous error
has been Incorporated into the organiza-
ion of society, and is recognized as truth,
and supported upon system. The e!e- f.;
u 1,rl kx,lf