The weekly Oskaloosa herald. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Iowa) 1855-1885, 1877-06-21
PENN COLLEGE.
Third Annual Commencement Exercises

Third Annual Commencement Exercises.
Nothing affords us greater pleasure than
to chronicle the growth and continued
prosperity of our educational institutions,
for in them we recognize the corner stone
upon which our American liberty and the
pcrpetuity of our boosted civilization de,
ponds. Within their sacred walls the
moral and intellectual faculties of the
youth of our land are developed. There
the foundation for their individual happi.
ness and success i'm life is laid and the con.
sequent prosperity of the nation assured.
We are living in an age of intelligence,
christianity and progress, and it requires
all our best energies to keep pace there
with. And how much more so is this the
case with those who have not received in
early life the advantages of a college edu-
cation and discipline. Every day of our
life we feel the need Of higher education
and know only too well that the labor in
cumbent upon us as a useful citizen is in
creased ten-fold. Only those who labor
under the innumerable difficulties of self
education, or at best very imperfect COM
mon school education of dozen or more
years ago i'm this State, can fully appreci-
ate or realize the want of sound intel
lectual culture. The young man who will
carelessly neglect the storing of his mind
with wise and practical education, who
will refuse to take upon himself the labor
necessary to acquire a sound collegiate
training, who would rather spend his time
in fishing, hunting, gaming or downright
idleness, is an enemy to himself and to his
race, and it were better hundred times
that he never have been born. Society
has no use for such men; the nation has
no use for such men; neither was it ever
intended in the divine economy OF God
that such men should have an existence in
this world, nor in the world to come.
A few years ago, when the parents of
the writer thought to learn their young
hopeful something else besides fun and mis-
chief, and sent him to the old ''Greencas-
tie" for that purpose, where the best accom-
modations in the way of seats were fence
boards stretched across dry goods boxes.
and the rule and dunce-block were the
principal sources of terror and horror to
the youthful mind, there was some excuse
If strong contempt for books, the acqui-
sition of knowledge, and resistance to au-
thority, should arise in the human soul,
but to-day with education as free as the
dew of heaven, with our handsome public
school buildings, with all the modern ap-
pliances which intelligence and civiliza-
ton has created, to make them comforta-
BILE and attractive, and teachers who pos
sess brains, true conception of the du-
ties of teacher and a love for the work,
there is no eXcuse-there can be none
for boy or girl of sound mind, however
poor, to be without good elementary ed
ucation and in some cases an intimate
knowledge of the classics. And with our
constantly increasing number of univer-
sites, colleges, academies, and seminaries
the prevalence of ignorance is all the more
inexcusable and objectionable. We do
not believe in the sentiment contained in
Gray's Elegy, that:
| Full many flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on tho desert air.
because with all the advantages found in
every department of life, he who really
desires to excel, to make his mark in any
particular calling, the way is open to,
though we admit his efforts may not be
crowned with success without severe and
unremitting toll. To this end we would
encourage our young friends to press on
with greater determination to lay the
foundation to future usefulness and sue
cess, truly and well, and nowhere can this
result be more nearly obtained than in our
various institutions of learning.
Among the many institutions of this
kind in our beautiful State, none has
brighter or more prosperous record than
PENN COLLEGE
of this city. Organized on college basis
in 1873 with John W. Woody as Presi-
dent. its course has been one of uninter-
rupted progress. Three departments of
and Preparatory. In the first it is de-
signed to give the student view of the
different phases of classical literature, and
inspire him with love for those works
which have by long experience proven so
productive of thorough mental discipline.
The second is intended to impart a thor
ough knowledge of the science of teach
ing and of the branches Taught in our gra-
ded and common schools. The third is
designed to secure symmetrical develop
ment Of the intellectual and moral powers
which will enable the student to proceed
successfully with the studies of the col
lege course. The unparalleled success of
this institution, as shown by an increasing
patronage, and usefulness, as manifested
in the wholesome dignity, spirited energy
and christian graces Of the students, are
attributed largely to the republican form
of government, co-education of the sexes,
normal method of instruction, thorough
discipline, and economy in boarding. The
zeal and determination manifested by the
|
stitution, may be taken as satisfactory
evidence that each succeeding term Of
Penn College will continue to be made
more profitable and attracting to the stu
dent and that the college keeping pace
with the growth of general intelligence,
will soon take rank-if indeed it has not
already-with the best institutions of
| learning in the west. .-..-.-
GRADUATION.
On Monday evening the graduating ex-
ercises of the Preparatory Department of
Penn College took place. Notwithstand-
ing the rain storm, large and intelligent
audience assembled in the college chapel
to greet the young performers. The walls
were tastefully decorated with wreaths of
evergreen and beautiful pictures. On the
wall back of the speakers stand was the
plain but significant motto, ''On the Way"
AT prec sely 8 o'clock Pres. Woody took
the stand and read an appropriate passage
of scripture, after which the regular exer-
cises began. We have not room here 10
give personal notice Of each perform
ance as we would like to, but will be con.
tent to give the programme, and add in q
general way, for all, that the exercises
were very good indeed. All gave evidence
of an unusual degree of mental culture,
thus showing that they were well prepared
to take upon themselves the more ardu-
Gus, yet more pleasant duties of the col
legiate course. The following is the pro-
gramme: Motives" Charles E. Cuts,
Oskaloosa; Seeming and Being" Jesse
Harris, Bangor; "Cycles," Julia Kitchin,
Atlantic; Progression" Kelly Lowder-
milk, ASHORE. N. c.; Lord Byron"
Woods Hutchinson, Oskaloosa; "a Life