The daily gazette., 1877-06-22
FIRST
THn WEsbEYAN uoMMENcEMrNz1I

A PHEASANT EVENING, DESPITE THE
sroBM--rHE ESSAYS AID OTHER Ex-
ExERoIsEG. 80. 'sf-7-T
Ths terrific storm last evening prsvent.
ed q large number Of people from attend.
ing the Wesleyan Female College Com
mencement at the Grand Opera House.
though despite the adverse elements a
goodly audience assembled. 80 :
Onaccount Of the storm and the diff
Guilty experienced by the people in reach
ing the hall, the exercises were not com
menced until $50 o'clock. President
Wilson, OF the Wesleyan, presided, and
the graduates and number of pupils of
the College, occupied seats upon the
The stage scenery representing garden
and woodland, was arranged with Charm
Ing effect as to light and shade, form
ing 2 pleasing background to the array of
white-robed youth and beauty, upon
which the audience gazed with admiring
eyes. il., = - w, 80
The programme of exercises included
ten essays, by members of the gradu-
ating class, interspersed with variety of
vocal and Instrumental musical selec-
tions. The essays were notable for clear
ness Of thought and expression, and
were read In selfpossessed manner,
with perfect intonation and due regard to
the sentiments and ideas which they ex-
pressed. They were as follows:
"Mental Culture" by Miss Elexzeua
>. Hill, Of Smyrna, Del, showing the ne
cessity of a good education, the great irn
portance of laying good, solid founda-
tion for learHing, and the benefits to be
derived in the later years of life from a
well-stored, educated and cultured mind.
Miss Hill also read the Latin salutatory.
which is equal In rank with the valedic-
tory.
,"History and Influence of Music" by
Miss Mary Deshler, of Allentown, Pa.
was short, but interesting. 1t referred
to the grand triumphs Of some of the
leading composers, and spoke of tue re-
filming influences of music when brought
to bear upon the finer feelings of the hu-
man mind. Miss Deshler also delivered
the English salutatory. tL3 f.U
"Westering Sunbeams," by Miss Mary
H. Brisbane, Of Philadelphia, compared
the beautious rays of the descending
western sun with the closing hours OF
life, showing how pleasant must be the
memories OF old age when the deeds of a
we'll spent life mark the days of the past.
"Echoes of the Years." by Miss Addie
Lockwood, OF Baltimore, Md, depicted
the happiness to be derived from the
memories of old age, when the past life
has been Que of usefulness and good
works, and the bitter memories of age
when the life has been wasted in vain
purposes and base pursuits.
'sDefeat one of the Stairs TO Heaven"
by Miss Jennie B. BIggs, of Summit
Bridge, Del, showed that defeat, and op-
position backed by continued persever-
ence, were but stepping stones to success,
and cited, among other examples, Sir
Edward Bulwer Lytton, who, after re-
peated failures, achieved a proud emf
nence as the greatest writer and drama
tist of the age. Gsd has given man the
power to do what IS right, and he should
pause not, but look up, uudeterred by de-
feat, undismayed by opposition, and
climb the mount of learning until the
highest pinnacle of success is achieved.
"The Methuselsh OF the Nineteenth
Century," by Miss Caroleane +. K,
Smith, of Wilkesbarre, Pa, after refe,-
ring pleasantly to the prouracted lie OF
Methu yelah OF old, said that the Methus-
elah of to-day is he who does most fol
his fellow man, and who lowers above
his contemporaries as does the oak above
the sLunted cedar He lives most who
lives best, and he who acts the noblesl
L. To- ha IF nd VfnQ
les of mankind.
"Morning Mysteries" by Miss E. Belle
Purnell. OF Snow Hill, Nd, spoke Of The
clouds of the morning, the mystery ol
their coming and going, and their yarIec
beauty of form and construction. But al
the morning does not always indicate thu
weather for the day, so in life the morn
ing of youth failsto foretell the quicksaudl
and snares that beset the meridian OF ex
istence. In the morning Of youth thu
shadows of life are before us; at noon we
trample them under foot; while at even
| ing we see them extending far behind.SC
| like the clouds stands man, mountain
between two worlds, standing upon on'
and seeing bright glimpses Of the worlt
beyond.
aGlimpses of Art" by Miss Lila f.
Hopkins, of Easson, Md, alluded 20 art
as The representations of nature, and the
productions of the thoughts of great apt
gifted men. 1t referred TO the orlgin ol
painting, when the Grec'an girl painted
The profile of her lover, and alluded v
the powerful influence exerted by the fin'
ats upon human sympathy and society
Who can gaze upon works of art withon
feelings of elevation and refinement Th'
standard of art should ever be that mos
pleasing and agreeable to cultivated
minds, and should embody the highes
light Of the day. >.
"Silent Cities" by Miss Leila G. Whit
aker, of Havre de Grace, Md, referred
to the ruins of antiquity, and how tn
manners, habits and character of tn
people of ancient cities were shown b.
the various exhumations recently an,
now being made. Our boasted superl
ority is disproved by the many evidences
of art and science now being brough
forth from the buried cities OF the past
which also teach us that mind and matte
are alike indestructible.
Previous to the vAledictory the presen
tation of diplomas was made by fresl
4 Il kI.af n n