The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-07-01
OUR SCHOOLS.
FIRST ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT OF THE
HIGH SCHOOL.
The BEGINNING of n New Era In our PUBIC
schools.

Tho neeipning of n New Era in our fubii'
schools.
Ills n suggestive coincidence that the Firs
knnual Commencement Of the Ottawa Higl
School should be held this year; that this be
ginning of the second century Of our national
life should be also the beginning OF the end heio
in view by the founders Of our city school sys-
TEN, 1. e., an efficient High School. Our national
life is founded on intelligence, and depends on
our schools for the training of the nations sons LOT
Misrepresentation. The High School is,perhaps'the
most useful department Of all, as being the place
where our youth are prepared for college, and
where the thousands denied the advantage OF a
collegiate education can freely obtain good
practical education, and lay sure foundations for
future self.culture. Such our High School was
intended to be, and such it is.
For four years the present course has been IN
active operation, and on Friday evening, June
23d, the first class who have completed II gradu-
ated. The exercises were held in the Congrega-
tional church, which was filed by fashionable
and intelligent audience. For many days pre-
vious the young ladies of the school ana 'he
teachers had busted themselves in preparing the
room, and succeeded IN decorating the large
auditorium very handsomely. Heavy evergreen
wreaths extended across the church, looped In
the center and fastened to the side gas jets, over
the center of which was beautiful bouquet OF
flowers; the organ gallery front was decorated
with the national colors, gracefully hung sur
mounted by q wreath, and aanked by circular
wreaths of evergreens and flowers. Within the
pulpit rail was an arch bearing the class motto
"Poa Prelia P,yen,a" in green lettering on white
ground, supported by lovely floral pillars; while
the stands and piano were covered with pro-
fusion of flowers, en- pyramide, in vases, &c
After prayer by Rev. Mr., Valentine, and instru-
mental music, Miss s. Z. Bangs, 7th ward, was
announced Miss Bangs wore white grenadine
with satin. trimmings; natural flowers at her
throat and in her hair. She gracefully appeared
before the audience, and in an easy manner, and
very distinct voice told us of "Our Times" be-
ginning with the famous 20 Tempord, o Uores" Of
Cicero:
ooh the times oh the customs" is the lament
OF every grumbler in Christendom; uttered with
groans as though there were something terrible
about them. Everywhere Is there corruption,
everywhere is deceit; nowhere is there good
ness, nothing is true. II may be the story of the
sehool.boy and the colored glass, for the times
are what we make them; SO are the customs.
The power to mould them for good or evil is in
our hands. II they are evil, ours the fault; and
let ours be the work to change them, There
have been very progressive spirits In all periods
Of the worlds histcry-somc who have lived a
century or so before their time. Calling the
grumblers such, we have multitude.
Time is a tower built like that ancient tower to
reach to the heavens. Each generation brings
forth more skillful w)rkmen, and finally it will
reach the realms OF truth. The foundation was
laid in the early ages, the Hebrews giving an in
tcrest in religion; the Romans, Of the highest
form Of government, and the Greeks love Of the
fine arts, Each successive nation has done its
part in this structure Of the ages-one giving it's
strength, another symmetry, and still another
grace, each age leaving its characteristics. Now
come the American workmen, gathered from all
quarters Of the globe into land OF every re-
source, all bound by the love of liberty and free
were: Doubt religious and literary; Change;
want--"women Glamour for more rights and want
more money; boys and girls want more common
sense and time in which to grow. We are all
sure Of just one thing, and that is, we're sure OF
nothing" In beginning their part of the work
she urges that they look high-"up there it is
not nearly SO crowded" Then they may hope to
be brought nearer perfection OF life and char.
acter .-
Miss Bangs read very nicely; her essay was
rapturously received, and herself made the reelpi
eut Of a number Of lovely floral offerings.
She was followed by Miss Kate Eldredge, who
wore white organdie, lace trimmings and scar
lat geraniums at her throat. She had chosen fol
her subject English Ballads
"Poet.y is the language OF feeling. rs pur
pose Is to read the emotions, and he who would
be a successful poet must ever keep in view thi:
grand object Of his work. Feeling is nature it.
self, and allows nothing forced nothing arti
fetal. 1t must be nature or 1t loses its identity
This fact seems to have been lost sight Of In the
sixteenth century, The successors OF Chaucer and
Spenser, under the influence Of the Renaissance
Europe, stroye TO model their productions after
those Of the Grecian and Roman masters. For
getting that theirs was n new language whose
laws must be the result OF its own growth, they
endeavored to bind it under the shackles O,
another tongue. BY the weight Of its own art
fclality it made way for revolution which re
suited In the substitution Of the romantic for tho
so-callcd classical literature
In the lLteenth century England was very ricl
in q peculiar calss ofliterature which aided much
in reyolutionizing the Augustan aye, namely
the old English Ballads These songs, often
composed by illiterate poets, unwritten, were
preserved only by tradition. They we're the ex
pressions Of rude but warm-hearted people,
and under their vitallzing influence the set rig
or Of the poetry gradually gave way.
Miss Eldredge then gave careful analysis o
the many classes Of ballads and dwelt at length
upon those embodying the exploits of the fam
nous Robin Hood.
Tie range ofhuman experience covered by lh
ballads is very great. They possess the quallt
rhicb the Carmans COLL many sidedDpss Thei