The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-08-17

restless tide of life pours ssoyer the thresn-
old, into the apartments where the lofty
dome echoes to music's v0luptuous swell
and revelry, and dance, and frantic song
ring on the breeze. O, SIM thou laidst the
foundation of the false and empty edince
in whose gardens joys grow on mortal
boughs, on trees whose tops reach NOT the
bright beyond
Let us look now, at the object of imposing
beauty and glory. which rises IN majesty on
the other hand, the Castle OF WISDOM, with
its foundations laid upon the everlasting
ssRock of Ages Its summit glitters IN
the sunlight Of Heaven It's pillars o. 0o e.r
lines and eOntentment are wreathed with
the flowers Of holiness, innocence and beau
tv. Truth immutable, God-like truth,
guards the portals to this glorious temple.
and virtue with smiling face welcomes ali
who seek earnestly to cross its thresholds.
In its halls and corridors we shall find no
labyrinth that we cannot trace. The dread
of death will be drowned in joy, and with
glorious, filled with immortality, the pilgrim
Of life will pass sover the threshold" OF hui
man existence, into fullness of joy and
pleasures forever more.
Where do we stand to-day One of US
ia ready to step "over the Threshold of our
Alma Mater, to wander in the winding
paths of futurity, to us gilded with the sun
light of hope, and begirt with the fresh
eyergreens of affection. Soon. we shall all
have drifted down the golden stream OF the
hours, and shall step 'oYer the threshold of
Joyous maidenhood into the troublous years
of womanhood, and then we shall find
though in life there is much OF joy, there Is
plenty of room for grief and tears.
While the years are bearing US on, and all
the thresholds of our natural lives are pass
ing in rapid succession, are we seeking earn
estly to cross the beautiful portals of Wis
dom's Castle, or as votaries of Pleasures
Temple are we fluttering around the blazing
lights of folly, which will SINCE our pinioas
and chain us TO earthly idols:
Let us view for one moment the piano.
rama of a well-spent life. The virtuous
soul, self-sustained, accepts as the arolters
of its destiny, the high aspirations that
spring forth into noble thoughts and deeds.
sOver the threshold- of childhood, to youth
and maturity watch its devious course
Bright as the spring time, beautlful and fra
grant as summer blossoms, the lingering
flowers of youth give grace and beauty to
its thoughts, while AROUND its pathway the
Iaurels of distinction ehed their glory and
add to its hopes their splendid bloom. On
ward still in the pathway OF being, fierce
tempests rage athWart It's course, adversely
and sorrow dash upon it. Its nature is con-
yulsed to the very center in struggling
against the fury Of the tempest; but the
brave soul takes heart and nobly stems the
tide of misfortune. until soon 1t beholds the
sun of joy and prosperity beam forth, and
the rainbow OF glad anticipation glitter
across the retiring clouds, and the whole
existence smile in freshened beauty.
Let us then, dear school-mates strive to
drink deeply of the generous thoughts and
the noble aspirations, that diiate the soul
and fill it with unutterablc l0ngings for
higher things. May we always remember
that even amid the cares and tolls of life,
around the wise and virtuOuS soul, there
beams pure, sweet moonlight of felicity, a
reflection from the brightness of that glo
rious realm, where all care and sorrow shall
be swept away, when the freed soul passes
''over the Threshold of existence to stand
within the shining portals of "a glorious
eternity.
VALEDIcTORY ADDRESSES.
Gentlemen Of The Board Of Trustees:
With deep emotions of gratitude address
you as the guardians of our Institute,
can but family express the feelings that fill
not only mine, but the hearts of all who
have been the recipients of the favors and
benefits secured by your noble resolves, so
nobly executed. The glorious Well OF
knowledge, opened long years ago, still
gurshes in sparkling beauty, and all who
drink of its thought-giying waters, remem-
| Der gratefully the honOred founders.
Years have passed on and left traces oil
care and deeper thought on your brows, but
do your hearts not thrill with youthful joy
as you think of the troops of bright and
/ happy girls, who have been enabled through
your watchful care and untiring energy tC
\ take honorable places in the theatre of human
action? Sweet flowers, whose beauty anC
| rich perfume were cultured in the conser-
vatory of our Institution, and now scattered
throughout our sunny land. Not vainly OF
prayerlessly was the cornerstone of thu
Central Female Institute laid, for
The blessing of Him who in secret yoI
| sought,
Has owned the noble work which you, sirs
| have wrought.
Long live the good school = giving out yea
by year,
Recruits to true womanhood, priceless anC
dear.
In and out let the young lives as steadily
| flow.
AS in great Mississippi the tides come anc
May its daughters e'er feel in gratitude
bound.
To remember its honor and guard its re
/ nown.
And now as the sad time has arrived fol
me to leave its sheltering halls, would tina
| | could express to you the gratitude tina
| thrills my heart, at the thought of wha
your efforts have done for me. 1t is owing
to you, gentlemen, that have been enabled
| to prosecute my studies to close, and tt
obtain what is the sweet guide of youth, the
| strongest stay of womanhOOd, and the pu-
rest consolation of old age. With heartfelt
| thanks for the ineStimablc benefits received
at your hands, l must bid you, hOnored sirs
a respectful adieui
BELOVED PRESIDENT:
There are moments in life when the heart
| is far too full for words, and thought is far
too deep for tears. Thus do l feel as | turn
to sever the golden chain, which for long
and happy years has bound me to you as
President of the Central Female Institute.
| If these honored gentlemen have won ouI
| lifetime gratitude for the grand thought
which resulted in the establishment of our
beloved Institution, how shall express the
/ foaliDog which swell nv heart "a I turT1 r.
| him who has presided so earnestly at her
l.altars? '1Over the Thresholds your hand
fhHs led my childish feet and opened to my
wondering eyes the secret treasures con-
tanned in the jewelled cesketS Of science
As year by year dropped into the tomb oil
the past, patiently, ufftiringly you threw
| open the lofty halls and winding corridors
of the stately Temple of knowledge, and led
me to revel in new beauties, new wonders
and new attractions. You taught me the
| eHjoyments connected with the pursuits OF
knowledge and made known to me the
possession of faculties which admit of more
varied and sublime pleasures than those
| which the senses alone can produce. Your
| hand has removed for me the shrouds OF
ignorance which would have enveloped my
mind aud revealed as by magic lamp views
and feelings to which / should have been q
| stranger.
Although have not grasped each golden
moment as / should have done, aud [ feel
that to-day l am standing only "On the
/ Threshold" of the mighty 'Arcana OF
| knowledge" l would not exchange for q
kings ransom the precious gift / have re-
ceived from you. You have unveiled tor
me the beauties and SublimitieS of nature
the grandeur with which the Heavens and
the earth are adorned. and the high moral
principles which should govern a true life.
| In addition to my gratitude for all these
benefits, would offer my heartfelt thanks
for the mild discipline which has softened
l Sfuhhnrn nd n ind