The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-02-10
THE HIGH SCHOOL.

Rfml-Annu5lt hv-"ASe
On an outside page are given the proceedings
AT the Semi-anuual Commencement of the Gem
trail High School, held to-day. Below we give
I'm ful the Valedietory Address, delivered on
thie occasion by Robert E. Pattison, who spoke
as folows:-
,.l,uen Of the Board of ControL-The members
of the bbth class would fail IN discharge OF hslr
duty II they separated from an Institution to wlIh
they owe so much, without returning you their sim
oere thanks for the interest which you have taken
the prosperity OF the Central High School, and OF
every other department Of public instruction in this
city. 1t is owing chiefly TO the enlightened and
judicious supervision which you and your predeces-
sors have exercised that the public schools OF Phila
dephia occupy the high position which they have
faithful corps OF teachers who are daily nbung the
youthful mind with the principles OF knowledge and
virtue much also is due to the care with which they
have been selected, and to the well-devised plans
and the constant oversight which have rendered
aid, the experience and knowledge which the four
teen hundred teachers in the public schools OF shis
pensed without system in poory-furnished and un-
suitable school-rooms No buildings for educauona t
attract youth to their studies by their beauty
and their comfort. How different the assoelations
o1T educaton from the prson-llke structures which
haunt the memory Of our predecessors! lmproyeo
have also been added to the other means which are
employed to assist youth in storing their minds with
S snSTsSge SsS ahe Ssh duties which viii devOve
upon them American citizens. We this day go
the advantages Of liberal education, and we feel
that those advantages are greater and that educa-
me zeal and the wisdom OF those who have devised,
directed and sustained the admirable system OF In
struction now pursued In our public schools. May
that system OF instruction always diffuse its ele-
waiting and purifying influence. May our public
schools INCREASINGLY continue to be what they now
are~the pride and glory OF our beautiful city. Long
may they assist the coming generations OF youth TO
and long may the present Board OF Controllers be
cheered by the reflection that they aided to erect
one OF the strongest buwarks which has ever psen
reared for the defense OF liberty, ORDER and right
Esteemed ProfessorS:-The interesting relation Of
during the last four years. is now about to be dis
solved and we will shortly go forth to practise the
inparted. t To us the present is an important mo-
ment-a moment joyous with anticipations Of the
parting with those with whom we have been so long
connected. We are about to take our stand on the
stage OF active fe bnt we feel in taking that stand
we lose the friendly guidance of those on whom we
have 80 long relied for assistance in every difficulty
ihe school-room must be exchanged for the always
exciting pursuits OF mechanical, commercial, or
empioyments which await us we will often look
back TO the hours which have Deen pleasantly and
prontaby spent under your direction yet those hours
and those opportunities will never return.
We part from you and scholastic retirement,
fulness that we have profed by the lessons OF wis
dom which you have Impaired. We yield our places
which have fallen to our lot, and prepare themselves
TO uphold and sustain the honor and reputation OF
bhelr Anna Mater WIFI JHe zeal anu dULty WhlCu
our predecessors have exhibited. They have real
ized to some extent the advantages derived from
the knowledge which you are daily imparting, and
feel that gratitude you and duty to others require
them to foster an institution which Is dinusing the
benefits OF liberal learning among the masses OF this
great city. But time would fail me in enumera-
ton OF the advantages which have been, and is to
Central High School, and can only, gentlemen Of
the faculty, tender you the thanks OF the ffyhfth
terested zeal for our future welfare.
BeloUed Friends and Classmates-The duty which
to those who had the supervision Of studies, and
TO those who impaired the instruction OF which we
M Hfye the High gs School, has BEEN performed and
there only remains the painful task OF bidding adleu
to the endeared associates whom now meet as
pupils Of that Institution for the last time But how
few remain OF those who four years ago hasteneo
countenance and rapid step, to announce to
teachers and parents that they had been admitted
= business e have have withdrawn many, iii health
has caused the absence of others, and the
So long that they have failed to deserve the honor
and rewards Of to-day. And such will be the expe
rience OF all our subsequent life. Those who have
shared our joys and our SORROWS and whom We
fondly hoped would go with us to the end OF oul
sCend into the vale Of years accompanied by few O
those whom we wished to share the wealth we m q,
gained. Change, constant change is marked OF
everything which awaits US in that world OF acuyit,
ist t them that we Cling to those intellectual acquire
ments and moral principles yi6n. which are 1 IN
affected by the unceaslng Varlauons OF mate
rial things! Wealth is Meeting, fame the ech
Of to-day, white power not unfrequent.
escapes the grasp OF the possessor, but integrity ant
the productions Of the mind outve him who ha
enjoyed the inestimable advantages which the
snS nat IS
around us, but the outgrowth OF uprghtness OF pur
pose united with industry and high mental endow
ments The benefactors OF the world are those who
when living, were bright exemplars OF the truth
which they taught and whose mental powers ena
bled them to enlarge the domain OF mind We ar
about to take our stand on the stage O
active life at time when the deman
for cultivated intellect is greater than at any forme
economy, and morals, more intricate and more pre-
found than ever presented before, are awaltin
a solution. AS science and art are uniting mankin
and making the great family OF man one, CORES
ponding changes and extensions must be made 4
order to harmontze, direct, and elevate that grea
community. The statesman OF to-day who legis
well must hold In his mental grasp the interest
and influences OF countries far removed from hi
own, and the inventor or discoverer must sustai
himself amid all his tolls and prlvatons by tn
cheering reflection that the benefits OF his labor
will be cO-eXtensiVe with the earth and lastin
as the race The political economist must neve
lose sight OF the great fundamental truth that abo
mental or physical is the source OF all wealth, an
that the community is most prosperous where all
producers and none consumers merely. Such are
few OF the questions which must be answered by I'll
educated intellect OF the age. Are we prepared
take part in these interesting inquiries? Shall we, wi
have enjoyed opportunities for mental cult
walton which are denied to many, not a
sat in ss the march tSR. 0r Of T5 human impr9Sy
band who weakening the power OF tyrants e
larQing the boundaries OF science and gathering
whitening flowers in the field or literature, al
whose broWs shaded by laurels gained in su
cessful battle for the downtrodden and degrade
or shall we take q place among those who ha'
ALWAYS stood barrier to the advancement OF q