The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1872-05-23
THE GRADUATION ExERClsEy.

packed full, while many people could not
gain even admittance to tho building.
Immediately after tho arrival Of tho grad
yates, the exercises were opened with An
invocation by Rev. Riggin. A chorus,
"Fountain of WISDOM" was sung in good
style. Then followed the reading of the
essays:
! l. My Boat is Launched, but where's
the Shore-Minnie MoIntire.
The ocean is pictured as st emblem
of life-calm ami boisterous by turns.
From my standpoint of ine1perienoe l
lsok out upon its broad expanse with min
gled hopes and Tears. While many who
have launched their boats as NO now do
ours, ride in safety, how many wrecks lie
stranded on islands and rocky shores J.!
Why this difference? Two mariners start
cut upon the ocean-one accustomed to q
sea-faring life, the other ignorant Of its
hardships. Is it strange that the one sue
ceeds and the other fails? Our ability to
reach the longed-for shore depends upon
well-directed, educated, persistent efert.
Rocks lie amid the destinations Of social
life, which are now opened to VI who are
just loosed from the restraints OF school.
My boat is launched-whither shall
I steer ? If we could but lift the veil of the
future, We might see what are to be the re-
suits Of our course Of study, and whittier
We should direct our barks.
2 While We Live, let US Live-N. W.
Scott.
In the battle of life truth and worth are
sure Of ultimate triumph. The one great
end OF mental cultivation is to show that
| the senses are not final. Our life is often
a failure because its aims are false. The
people perish for lack Of visiou-a blind
ness coming from mlseducation. Natures
voices are music only to the soul rightly
attuned. We covet wealth and station,
and would wall ourselves in with sensual
| goods. Human completeness lies in the
| proportional development Of all our facul-
ties. We rightly live when individual
culture. founded upon right principles, de-
| velcp to the same extent our mental, moral
and physical natures.
8. InAuenoe-Laurs A, Freeman.
Descartes said, II think, therefore ex-
| ist." This thinking power of man borders
so closely on the infinite that itself cannot
! comprehend itself. Mind has in vain at
tempted to fathom mind. How it exists
We do not know yet it is acted upon by
matter. 1t is susceptible to impressions
made either by that which is material or
that which is not. The deepest impressions
are those made by mind upon mind, and
the power is in proportion to the superior
ity. This is in accordance with Infinite
Wisdom, which thus leads us forward to q
higher life. The wish of our hearts il to
attain to the strong minds in advance of
US, anu the wish becomes resolve. This
magic power, called Influence, is universal.
The greater wave never browns the small
er-each is separately felt. The import
ance Of right influence is especially ab-
solute on the part Of the teacher, in whose
presence there is constant tendency to
imitation. Nothing that will aid US can be
considered trifle.
4. There's always Room Up Higher
Evelyn NJ. Wilcox.
Infancy is the undeveloped state of life,
but in the embryo Is the budding fruit
In climbing the ladder of fame, morality
is too seldom Characterization which
there can be no true advancement. What
we are, not what we are called, is the true
consideration. Keeping self pure, remem-
Der there is room up higher; and if the
place be gained it will be honored by the
occupant and the occupant by the place.
A we'll cultivated mind will elevate It's pos
SCISSOR beyond the vexatlous which those
feel who are without it. Confidence is q
prime ess entail to success. We should 60
up, up, continually, never fearing to find
another in the place We should have, for
| there's always room up higher.
s. What to read-Minnie c. Tolman.
Man is being of a two-fold natrre-the
physical and the mental. As the former
naturally predominetes, great care should
be taken to cultivate and ennoble the i'm
mortal. The most permanent good comes
from an acquaintance with the thoughts Of
others, as preserved to us in books. These
should be wisely chosen. They should be
such as will draw out the faculties, broad
en- thought, strengthen principles, awaken
the sympathies, warm the heart and fill the
soul with awe of the Infinite. The gath
ering in of noble, pure thoughts, ap-
Piled by man to himself, make strong his
faculties, and bring him to feel his kinship
to the great brotherhood Of man. Read good
books and read with q definite purpose.
6. Progress Of the Age-,Jennie Owen.
| We live at period VIXEN the world seems
to have commenced a new era. New forces
are constantly being put in motion to car
ry the people forward to greater liberty,
refinement and education.
Our free institutions, freedom Of thought
and speech, and the press are sending
forth tho light that illumines the age
Other ages had churches, libraries and leo
lures; with these We have the common
school system bringing education within the
reach Of all. In the mechanic arts We
find the steamer, the iron horse, and the
telegraph that brings the whole world al
most within sound Of our voice. The
work Of this age calls for true, honest men,
with strong minds and firm wills. W.
hold the accumulated capital Of all th<
ages, and We are under solemn Obligation
to 10 use this that tho generation foll8winl
may begin with the same advantage Owe,
US that We had over our fathers.
Prof. Moore then intr oduced Rev. DR.
McMasters, Of St. Paul, President Of tn
State Normal Board, who briefly addressed
tho class. He congratulated them on tn
point they had reached on a life Of use
fulness. Sacrifice and effort will be re
quired by your duties. He reviewed tn
Normal School system, which trains ou
older children to teach our younger
Some people sneer at these schools becaus
they do not teach Latin and Greek. Il
was glad they did not. Education shoul
begin at the beginning. Build strongl