The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-06-30
THE HIGH SCHOOL.
SECOND ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT.
The Successful Graduation Of the Glass OFF,.

tional church on Thursday evening last, in ;ht
presence of an audience which filled the churci
to o,crfow iu.. The auditorium had been mana
somrly decorated for the occasion by the young
ladies, with flowers and evergreens. The decor
atoms of the pulpit were especially pretty. Ov
er the reading place was an arch bearing the
motto in green. "Acti LabOres Jucundi,' the arch
being supported by pillars Of evergreen and
white flowers, the pillars surmounted by pair
of lovely crosses of various colored geraniums.
pinks, pansies and white lilies. In the rear was
a large pyramid of flowers, resting on the stand.
The railing of the organ loft and the chancel
rail were both heavily and handsomely decorat-
cd
Shortly alters o'clock the class OF twelve
young ladies accompanied by their instructors
appeared The class with one exception, wore
white carleton, Miss Strawn wearing black silk
and natural flowers.
Prof. Schreeb occupied the chair and opened
the exercises by calling on Rev. Strowbridge for
a prayer, to which he responded by making an
eloquent and fitting petition TO the Source of all
learning and knowledge; after which Miss Far.
ME BEEN and Miss Annie Lynch played the
beautiful "Flick at Flock"
Miss Alice NJ. Patchen was the first of the
class called upon. Her essay was nicely written
and delivered in generally satisfactory man.
ner, and she was rewarded at the close by liberal
applause ami many bouquets Of flowers This
was the
sLLUTAToRY.
A ship is ready for departure. Note the reluc-
lance VI the traveller to bid farewell to friends
OF the land of his birth, and to seek shelter and
lcompanonship among strangers In foreign
land; this dread of storm although the ocean is
now calm. Yet he il cheered by the thought
that his friends remember and love him, absent
as well as present. Such is the picture Of the
group before you, IN whose name bid you wei
come-yea, thrice welcome-here tonight. To-
day we twelve commence our journey of life,
sailing has thus far been quiet and the waters
calm. The stream now opens into wide chan.
mel, where as God wills We shall drift into sunny
calm or be tempest tossed until We reach that
harbor where all rest,
A parting traveller speaks il last wttd TO each
friend. So let our minds dweis on thoughts
tectors of the school, we Present ourselves as
the second of It long line, Teachers who have
guided us from the FOOT Of the hill to the sum.
nit, pointing out The easiest aud safest path,
must return to perform a similar task for those
who follow. BY the laws Of nature, the young bud
advancing through the several states of existence
must push from the stem and the old leaf, which
yields IFS place to the younger and more vigorous
usurpcr. So the birth Of junior announces the
death of senior. The struggle OF life may bear US
onward from each others sight, tut memory will
often bring to mind the loved asylum of our
youth. In JOY or sorrow, in danger or doubt
this present scene will be q happy recollection
of our lives. Again We hid you welcome here
tonight
Miss Della P. FinAerty followed with an inter.
esting and well written parallel entitled the
Two GENoESE.
Genoa is noted for its picturesGueness and lis
palaces, and, OF the latter, especially the NUM-
cipsl, containing the autograph letters and por.
trait of Columbus and the violin OF Paganini
The Italians are remarkable for skill in music
and navigation, and OF these two tendencies Pa.
sanini and Columbus are the representatives.
Miss T. then made rapid sketch Of Paganini's
life and wonderful genius and success and sad
death; followed by sketch of Columbus life
his Studies his ambitions, his successes, and his
misfTtunes. And which is the greater? Paga.
mini contributed to the pleasure of the rich and
the cultivated, and received his reward in honor
and wealth, which never left him. Columbus
worked for the good of the race by planning new
discoveries, never giving up though rarely meet.
ing with encouragement. Paganin, selfish to
i hn n,Nl oft fba world nothing ('nlurnhI
made discovery which through all ages snail
be the great fact of history.
Miss F., though little nervous, read slowly
and nicely and received her portion of The praise
and tributes Of the evening.
She was followed by Miss Elme Roberts IN a
finely written essay entitled
THE MARBLE wAITETH.
| A block of marble, rough, unshapely, before
the sculptor lies, awaiting his touch to become
thing Of beauty to last forever But before
beginning his work, preparation is needed
after the years Of preparation is the sculptor.
| Even then his work is slow.
Little 10y little, with toll and pain,
He works his way thrO' the sightless grain
That held and yet Lid the thing he sought
Till the work stood up growing thought"
We are the scuptors Of life, though perhaps
working with different materials. Few may be
great or think themselves so, but as now and
then glorious relic of earlier artists comes to
flight, so may our own deeds, though lost now,
apparently, shine forth anew at some future
time TO bless mankind. III beginning, choose the
right material, and remember, the statue is fin
ished only by the polish Of 4 ripe and good old
age.
Miss Lurs Nash then executed on the piano
an exquisite morsel entitled "Eclair Nocturne,"
after which Miss Maggie Thompson read
BEACON LIGHTS.
About six miles off the southwestern coast Of
England stands the Eddystonc Lighthouse, with
its massive stonewOrk, many lights and brilliant
refectors-the guideboard Of the sea Along all
coasts are these lighthouses 20 guide the marin
er safely to his haven. As these Beacon Lights