The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1871-07-20

President.
''ScuIPtors OF Life Are We.-
How mysterious. how inexplicahla and ve,
how universal Is life. Mans own existence
does not alone attest IL. but teemInr nature
show II everywhere. The little flower be-
meath our feet, the hamming insect, the
ieathery songster; the any fish OF the bub-
ohhS stream. no less than the LOFTY tree. the
roaring ton.the proud eagle and the gigantic
monster of the billowy sea aud TEN pestuous
ocean proclaims this mighty invisible power
while even the bosom OF the earth proves its
existence ere man was mace. Yet none can
soHs TINS wonderful enigma. Mans giant
mind cannot grasp IT, though his reseaTches
have been constant and Luxurious
IL appears, In the dimness before him, as
tne mist OF the morning. needing only the
light OF the sun 90 clear away iIs vaIors /;
but the sunlight Of knowledge will not Dis
close 10 mortal eyes many hidden and mVs-
ferrous things, known only To the Great
Creator.
lt Is not necessary for us 10 solve such
mysteries Il Is enough for US TO know that
ne III us highest type has been given TO
man, and that it Is his preroQative 10 sDeud
IL Is he wills; but as he wills IL now. so
shali ~ ever be, ''as he sows In time, so shall
he reap "A eternity Each sthp he takes
out ADDS 10 the past but hurries him on 10
the uncertain future the deeds OF the pres
swapping anu forming the connecting
links OF these mighty epochs.
Memory fingers IA the past. sweetenin0
ana hallowtng It's scenes of sorrow, and
making more bright its sportive, Joyous
hours while hope and fancy illumlne the
future, so that
With delight, we lInger t. survey
Inc promised joys of life's unmcasured
way
But these weird charms should not 80 fas-
citrate as 10 make the present real life
vague dream. Let it form the future. then
may hope and fancy revel with material,
ana not grasp delusive shadow; then man
may welcome the uncertain future, which
must so remain until he shall .'shake of this
mortal col, when hope will no longer al
lure, nor lark uncertainty any more hover
around. Our future will then he determin.
ed, and viii either be depicted la hues of
golden beauty, or In inky masses.
q! how solemn this thought 10 all; but
impressively solemn does IL become TO US,
when we begin 20 realize that our schooi
days are being closed, and we are soon to
enter upon the broad arena OF life, where
all must carve out their own fate
We are seized with fear and trembling
when we realize that 'Sculptors Of life are
We, Yes, trembllngly will we begin 20
fashion from the firm marble, statues that
viii be but our own Impress.
Our past life has been spent. a. u were. In
collecting the material with which 20 begin
our work. Many sources have lent their
alh, inviting Us 10 Gull abundanty. All ma
lure mas called on Us To gather while the OPP
portunity was presented; not only upon
her surface, where beauties upon beauties
are unfOlded 10 our admiring gaze, not only
IN her boundless waters, but she has also
invited US To dive into her very bosom, 20
obtain the rich treasures there alone secur-
ed frotn the primevai world. Our earth. but
small speck among the my riads Of worlds.
Increasingly Invites US TO possess Ourselves
OF its wealth, accumulated around aud be-
meath US; while above. the vast aud meas
ureless expanse of space, where, planets
around planets revolYe In such Macy revo-
buttons, yet Ia such order aud harmony
entices Us TO explore its unknown regions,
ana In our swift Journey around It's center
10 beguile our weary hours. Ia grasping af.
ter iSs stars OF wealth. While all these
sources have lent their and, they have point
ed To God as their author; their glory aud
beauty being only rays of the Divine Light
80 benihcently dispensed by the Divine
Hand.
Thankful are we that such pure sources
have been presented Ia us, and IL we can
not boast OF having collected the most cost
ly materials, though the famous Parian
marble be not ours, yet we have not had 20
search for wax aud wood, which last only
for time. Thankful are we that Superstf-
ton aud Ignorance do not pail our land
with Egyptian darLnes-sthankf ul that the
heavens teach something more than divina-
ton. Thus blessed, we are required 10
make recompense In proportion, and the
greater will be our sin II our statues be
found wanting; but To attain perfection
would require every effort to be lent 70 the
task.
"For never, save to toll untiring. spoke
The unwilling Truth from her mysteri-
Gus we'll
The statue only to the chisel's strske
Wakes from il marble cell"
If we wish it to awake in beauty aud
power, purity and sublimity, we must fol-
low the example OF the ancient sculptor,
who often completed but one statue i1his
lifetime, but that was his whole history.
Each day he perfected it more, adding each
new Impression, thus Transferring % the
eyes all the sentiment ofhis soul. We need
not hope 70 attain the grandeur of a Michael
Angelo, ore Phidias, nor the grace and beau
ty OF Proxiteles and Scopas; nor would we
wish that these powers alone be developed
Though our statue should display the ma
jesty Of Jupiter, causing an Olympus 10
tremble, and all earth 70 shake 70 its center:
though IL should show the wisdom depicted
on Minervas brow, causing all 10 do
homage before its shrine; though IL should
have the beauty and grace ola Venus de
Medici, fascinating every beholder, yea
though it should equal In its gigantic pro-
portions the famed Colossus, yet would the
wanting.
Nor does the material world In all It's ex-
amples OF snblimity, wisdom, aud beauty
present the one for which we should most
seek. Man, fettered by this mortal existence,
cannot hope TO attain IL until he scars alofr
into the ideal, not checking his flight until
heaven itself be reached aud there from the
Eternal Throne seize the life power. the
Divine Life TO infuse into his vet paIIid
marble: Then, and not I'LL then, should he
deem bis statue In any respect perfect. IT'S
for each OF US TO decide how our lives are 10
be sculptured; but to night we would faln
finger over the happy scenes of the past did
not times swift wheels bear us onward
humidity reminding US Of our speedy sepa-
ton.
To You, our audience. let us express our
gratitude for the announcements your
presence affords. exhibiting the interest Won
feel for the intellectual advancement of the
daughters Of your land.
Most honored Trustees, to YOU are we
thankful for the many advantages we have
here enjoyed, obtained by your helping
hand, and considering as under your care.
for having come 20 hallow these parting
moments with your presence.
kinu Teachers, TO you do we feel deeply
Indebted for your useful instruction your
jealous and untiring efforts 70 present the
truths ofsciehce, your encouragement when
dfheulties arose, yet your conscientious
ness In impresslns us with the vastness aud
Importance Of the work before US. NAV IN.
marble, you have enabled as 70 collect. be
lasting enough for life statues, and the
principles you have presented, stand out
thereon, In bold relief. And you, especially.
who have not only favored as with invalid
able instruction, bat tenderly watched over
as with a mothers care, during our coli
lege life, we will ever cherish in our
hearts.
BELOVED PRKsIDgxT, never will we for
get your fostering care aud paternal afFsc-
tion tor ne, your daily soIicitude for our
fufore welfare, your pneoepts % guide us
through coming life. Yes. the pure RELIC
lous principles we have so often heard from
yODr lips. no less than your Christian eT-
ample, will ever be the most hallowed re-
colieetions OF school life, and as we bid Won
ndien a prayer ascends 20 Heaven. that YOUR