The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-06-23

GrGduSffnv Ersrcfsss Of fhs Clsss
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thursday evening goodly number OF ouI
citizens turned out to hear the final exercises
Of the graduating class. The hall was Hastily
decorated with flowers and evergrssns, and the
class-motto, a. Be What You Seem" Was worked
in green letters Just above the stage.
The usual formula Of music and prayer being
gone through with, Miss Lucy G. Cookbook, in
the following brief but excellent address, well
coined the friends and patrons OF the school I:
RESPECTED FRIENps:
In behalf OF my teachers and class mates,
| extend to you all a hearty greeting. The
occasion which has brought us here tonight
may seem light and trihing to you, but to US
it is one OF no ordinary interest. 1t is that for
which we have toiled through our whole school
life; il is the bright goal to which we have
ever looked forward, with anxious hearts and
eager eyes, even from the lowest round Of the
ladder up which we have toiled. But we
trust, kind friends, that none Of you will i'm
agine we have invited you here this evening
thinking to charm you with our eoquence, but
rather that we esteem it favor for you to en-
courage, with your presence, the humble efforts
OF those who in wisdom and expe rience are as
yet but children. We ask you to overlook our
many imperfections and to be charitable in
your criticisms, and we in return for this kind
ness will endeavor with thankful hearts to
merit, at least in some degree, your approval
and appreciation.
The subject OF her essay was - Footprints,
and the manner OF her handling it left little TO
be desired.
Harry s. Richards spoke upon william The
Silent"-the hero OF the Netherlands. After
referring to the propriety OF this people study
ing the lives and acts OF the heroes of other
nations and comparing them with our own.
Mr.. r, gave q short but interesting account Of
the career OF that renowned man and Of his
efforts in behalf Of his suffering countrymen.
Cynthia NJ. Burdick's essay on ~ Our Three
Hoods" was next in order. Miss Burdick's ef-
fort showed that she had given no little thought
to her subject. She appreciated the cares and
troubles Of childhood, the hopes and aspirs-
tons Of girlhood, and the realities of woman
hood upon which she and the ladies Of her
class are about to enter.
Mobility" was Ernest j. Browns theme
After showing the different standards by which
nations, past and present, have judged their
cotemporaries, Mr.. B. discarded all Of them
that did not take cognizance OF man in himself.
Neither the Spartans, Athenisns. Romans,
Israelites nor Indians judged man Alright. The
accident of birth can not for moment give
the man title to consideration.
Herrick L. Sutton spoke upon - Money Max
ers." His arguments we're clear and concise,
showing clearly that money and money makers
are very essential to civilization; that the rich
are necessary to the poor and the poor to the
rich, and that state where property is COM
mon to all is impossible. He threw great en-
phasis upon the difference between those who
make and those who get money. Mr.. Suttons
effort was highly creditabe to him.
Miss II. Llewella Munger's essay upon
4" Customs" was one Of the best Of the even
ing. She dwelt upon the customs Of the an
clients and the modern improvements upon
them, giving sharp and deserving cuts to some
Of our senseless innovations. Several old and
amusing customs we're also alluded to.
Z" Our Centennial Year was excellently
handled by Bangs F. Warner. Mr., Warner
said we should put ourselves in the places Of
the actors in great historic events and look at
the world through their eyes. The pioneering
and fighting of one hundred years ago was
doubly hard Our forefathers knew perfectly
what they were fighting for-not for any par
ticular form Of government nor any man or set
Of men, but for the foundations OF Anglo
Saxon government. Napoleon made the world
grow pale, but his BATTLES and victories were
followed by no great benignant results and
hence rank far below our revolutionary cam
paigns. The safety of constitutional liberty
depends upon the virtue OF this generation.
The valedictory address was also delivered
by Mr.. Warner, and a mere tasty, appropriate,
and deep one, 1t has rarely, il ever. been our
pleasure to hear. II was as follows:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PATRONS OF OUR
SHooL, TEACHER, AND FELLOW STUDENTS:
1t is with mingled feelings Of pleasure,
gratitude and regret that / address myself to
you upon this, to me and to those whom !
repr esent. very important and significant event
IN our experience.
1t 10 a pleasure to feel that after years Of
daily association, my classmates have 80 deli
cately, and yet emphaticaly, expressed their
affection for and confidence IN me, by confer
ring upon me the honor OF representing them
in the closing up and balancing OF their school
day ledger. And il possible, greater pleasure
still to express 30 far as mere words can, the
deep sense OF affection and appreciation which
we feel for our teachers, whose untiring patience
and faithful, persistent labors have brought to
us our present mental and moral proficiency
Doubtless we shall fail OF realizing all that
their most ardent desire and Jealous effort has
anticipated for us but fortunately our lessons
do not end with our school days. We grad
uate out OF these into other methods OF
discipline, but must be always learners. And
We trust the sterner experiences upon which
we are about to enter will serve to ripen and
perfect the characters Of which they have 90
solidly laid the foundations. Since it 10 rarely
allotted to any Of humanitys benefactors to see
the fruition OF their labors, we can only pledge
them our best endeavors to improve upon the
lessons which they have so kindly given. and
pray that their perfect recompense may come
| m tina fullnesa of time