Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-08-04
THE GAZETTE.
WEDNESDAY MORNING, AUGUST A, 1855.
4 BEAUTIFUL SPEECh.-IHE FCbLlC
SCHOOLS OF BOSTON.

BEAUTIFUL SPEECH.-lhh FUbLlC
SCHOOLS OF BOSTON.
They have been holding grand festival
for the public SCHOOL children in Boston
The Courier of Wednesday says:
1.-The Music Hall was opened al O'Clock,
the children having been previously admit
ted and disposed. and was speedily filled with
yisiters. How can we attempt TO describe the
exquisite beauty of that sceIe. Pr'Jechng
nearly to the centre of the ball an immense
platform had been erected, on which semi
circular rows Of seats were arranged, rising
at the rear to level with the upper baic"-
MES, all filled with young children, mostly
girls, simply and sweetIy dressed IN gayes'
colors, and all animated with the llVeiies' H.
terest in the proceedings ~
The artificial decorations OF the hai.--
names of schools and former Mayors oia,
zoned ON shining shields, and many colored
fags-were rich and tasteful, but were for,
gotten in the presence of that vast array Oh
living decoration-that mass OF twelve hun
dred innocents Our city fathers might, ilKe
the Roman matron, have pointed proudly 10
them and said, "tbese are ar Jewels WIN
double reason. To say exactly what that
bonk Of roses and lilies looked like won d DC
hard indeed. but of all things IN Nature, al
Ter Iiv;ng flowers, it was Ike q si'ery Cas-
code dashipg down hillside, illumined by
tho .un With various hues, AID s!istening vita
SPARKLING spray--ior so the rapid twlnkiipg
of thousand fans made it appear.
Hon. Robert G. Winthrop was present and
delivered very impressive speecn, which Is
a model Of its kind. We make the follow
ing extract:
Seriously, my friends, among the hume
rous reforms which have been witnessed IN
our community of late years, know OF none
more signal or felicitOus-none with Tbicn
any one might well be mere justly proud to
associate his name-thau that OF which this
occasion is the brilliant and beautiful lnau'
guration. | would not disparage or dcpre-
oate the annual school festivals Of the olden
time. l have not forgotten-l can never for
get-the delight With which, more years ago
than / might care to specify IN precisely TINS
presence, | myself obtained medal boys
ticket TO the old Faoeul Hall dinner; nor how
proudly / filed of with my cherished com
peers behind the chairs Of the Fathers OF the
City-after the cloth was removed--to re-
ceive their recognition and benediction, be-
fore they proceeded to their speeches and
sentiments, and to the discussion OF their
nuts and wine.
| rejoice TO remember, in passing. that the
Mayor Of that day--though to my boyish eye
he was even then a venerable person--stiii
lives to adorn the community over which he
so worthily presided--still walks erect among
us to receive the daily homage Of our respect
aud affection. You have all Anticipated me
ha nj elder
cy But how poor were even the most stump
tuous viands of those occasions, shorn, as
they were Of the best grace OF every modern
festive board--deprived altogether Of the par
ticipaton or the presence OF the mothers and
daughters OF our city, and prepared only
for the satisfaction of the mere animal ap-
petites. What funeral baked meats they
were at the best when contrasted with the ex-
quiste entertainmentfor eye. ear mind, heart,
soul, which we are this day enjoying. |
have only to regret that the amiable and &C.
complisbed Minister from Great Britain,
whom We had all hoped to welcome on this
occasion, should have been prevented by CO.
gagements at Washington, from lending to
the occasion, as i am sure be most gladly
would have done, his genial presence and
eloquent words.
And now, let US hope, my friends, that the
inspiration of this hour and this scene will
not be lost on the young hearts which are
throbbing and swelling around US. We are
too much accustomed to speak of the future
as quite beyond any human control or fore
sight. Aud it is too true that no consnlta-
ton Of oracles, DO casting Of horoscopes, no
invocations of spirits, will unveil to us the
mysteries which lie beyond this sublunary
R,t inrr Z hat q i'm m
diate future of our community is before us
visibly, audibly, bodily before US, 10 the per-
sons of these young children Of the schools.
These boys, need not say, are the men OF the
future, and, under God, the masters OF the
future. The ever moving procession OF bu-
man life will pass on few steps, and they
will be on the platform, and we shall be be-
meath the sod. But to-day We are not mere
ly their examples and models, but their mas
ters and mentors: and these schools are the
studios, IN which, by Gods help, they may
be formed, and fashioned, and shaped as VIC
will. Yes, my friends, not by any idle raj
pings on senseless tables, but BY simply
knocking at our own honest School room
doors, and asking how many boys and girls
there are within, and what is their mental
and physical and moral and spiritual condi.
ton and cuture--we may fnd revelation
O. the future, hardly less sure or. less exact
than if it were written in letters Of light by
the pen of inspiration.
| have somewhere seen it recorded OF Eng
lands great hero, the late Duke Of Weling-
ton, that on some visit to Eton School, IN his
old age, while gazing upon those we'll re-
membered scenes of his bUyhco1, and when
allusion had been made by some of his cOm'
panions to the great exploits of his manhood,
he exclaimed--"Yes,y yes, it was at Eton that
Waterloo was won." And not few of you,
my young friends, will one day or other be
heard confessing that the best victories of your
mature life have been virtually won or lost
at school.
There was, indeed, deep significance in
the arrangement of that old choral trio, which
has come down to us in the history If the
ancient Lacedemonians, for even the stern
ness Of Sparta did not disdain the employ
ment of music in their festive celebrations.
They are said to have had three choirs cor
responding to the three periods Of human lite.
The old man began
"Once in battle bold we shone;'
The middle-aged replied
Try us; our vigor is not gone
Dnttb a hoys coprluIaI--