The daily gazette., 1877-06-29
FIRST EDITION!
THE BOYS OF NO. I.

hItS, MI.
Another large audience assembled al
the Grand Opera House, last evening. the
occasion being the commencement exer-
clses OF the boys department of School
NO. l. Every seat was occupied, and all
the available standing-room was eagerly
secured.
Tie stage, as on the previous evening,
was arranged with charming effect. the
scenery representing a beautiful forest
Two elegant Hover stands occupied the
upper and lower ends, and in front of the
lower proscenium box was wire bou-
quet stand, which, later in the evening,
when covered with the brilliant floral Of
ferings, presented scene of magnificent
beauty. a centre-table, bearing hand
some flower basket, and a neat reading
desk, adorned with vase of lovely water
lilies and hung with beautiful greens.
completed the floral decorations.
When the curtain rose, shortly after s
O'Clock, the following persons advanced
upon the stage and took seats Rev. w.
j. Stevenson, }. Harry Hoffecker, ESQ.,.
John Ii. Adams, Esq, President Buck,
DR.. Shortledge and Isaac e. Pyle, of the
Board of Education, Prof. Wiley of No.
/, and the graduates. Prof. Wiley pre-
sided over The exercises.
Ritcbie's full orchestra, of ten pieces,
was present, and as an overture excel
lently rendered "Poet and Peasant" from
Suppe.
The exercises were then opened with
prayer by Rev. w. j. Stevenson, of Grace
M. E. Church.
The first Grafton was 'Ridicule,o by
George Elliott Crippen.
1t was an able exposition of the truths
and virtues of the Christian religion, and
, all the attendant attributes of mind and
character, and referred in clear terms to
the storm of Iidicue which ever assails
those who walk in the paths of religion
| and truth. 1t closed with an earnest ap-
peal TO all to withstand the cruel shafts
OF ridicule and ever walk uprightly in
the love of God, with the assurance of a
, lasting reward in the life which is to
come.
Mr.. Crippen also delivered the saluta-
tory address, in which he briefly welcom-
ed the audience to the commencement
exercises.
"Moral Civilization" by John Edwin
Greiner, alluded to the en.ightening eff
fects of moral civilization, and ably re-
viewed its bearing upon the advancement
and progress of the whole world, particu-
iarly as related to the morals, religion
and law-abiding character of the people
of the present generation.
"The Mystic Past" by James Joseph
Keenan,, alluded to the greatness and de-
Dl Of ha oF 81,
1t held that each nation had three stages
infancy, maturity and decline. Their
former geatness had long since departed,
and they are but monuments of past glo-
ry. This Grafton displayed deep histor-
ical and classical research, and was deliv-
cred in an excellent manner.
A brief intermission followed, which
the orchestra enlivened by the perform
ance of "Gratile-Girafila, a waltz by
Strauss.
The next Grafton, "More Sleep" by
Charles Alfred Rudolph, held that in
these days of rapid transit, active motion,
telegraph and telephone, it was necessary
for mankind to properly estimate the true
value of rest. In all mechanical opera
tions the principal Of rest in motion was
ever acknowledged, and the same princi-
pie should be applied to the human ma
chine. Sleep is the great requisite of
this age and this people. 1t is simply
waiting for wisdom, and is ever attended
with the greatest benefit to mankind.
acknowledge and Religion" by Howard
| Willett Pyle, was an excellent Grafton.
1t alluded to the great Importance OF
these subje IT'S, and the necessity Tor dill
gently cultivating them in youth, when
the mind is best fitted to receive instruc-
ton. knowledge and religion go togeth-
er. Youth is the state of preparation,
and if we then allow vice to obtain pos
session of our faculties, it will cause us to
lead corrupt lives, when otherwise we
might some day be instruments of which
our country will be proud.
Inconsistency" the subject of the
next Grafton, by William Beggs Carswel
was described as passion so strong that
when once it obtains possession of the
mind it is almost impossible to obliter-
ate it. 1t deprives man of the noblel
+ thoughts of wisdom and virtue, and
makes him a slave to whim and action
IL had its origin when Satan entered
Eden IN disguise. 1t tends to destroy
the mental faculties and leads to immor
ality. The Grafton closed with an earn
est appeal for the eradication of this evil
Another intermission was here supplied
by an aria from Rossini's BARBER Of Sc
ville," by the orches IA.
'Intemperance," was the subject select
ed by John Alphonsus Rogers for his ora
ton. 1t was classed as the greatest o
all evils-the voluntary extinction O
reason. 1t drives men to insanity and i:
the cause of more and greater calamitie:
than any other evil. 1t causes man tC
destroy the love OF husband and father
in the brutality ola drunken beast. Its
wiles extend to every age and branch O
life, and take the young as well as those
of mature years in their fatal grasp. The
illiterate and the refined and educated
are alike the victims OF rum. Our effort;
should be directed to the abolishment o.
the sale of liquors, as the reduction o
the amount sold will undoubtedly pro
duce a corresponding reduction ill the
amount drank. 1t is our duty to use al
our influence in banishing this curse o.
mankind from our midst.
"Contemplation," by Benjamin Frank
lin Cooling was a thOuphtful utterance