The daily gazette., 1877-06-28
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should he improved. We should so
strlve to measure the fleeting moments
mat the opening of each day will find us
dlillgently at work, and at its close bring
10 us the pleasing consciousness that ev-
cry Meeting moment has been dutifully
employed.
Essay, Life is what We Make It." bv
kebecca j. Davis.
The essayist held that single act Oft
Times determines the destiny of life, aud
that each person is the arbter of his or
her iortuLe. For success in life, it is
he cessary to spend the hours of youth in
careful preparation. Some credit the sue
cess OF Others to mere caprice or stroke
OF fortune, but it is easy TO see that sue
cess is the result of work and persever-
ance, and in this respect it is within the
reach of all.
Song, "Happy and Light" by the class
was rendered with good effect.
George III. Bates, Esq, was next in
troduced for the purpose Of presenting the
adams Prize for excellence in English
Grammar" to the successful competitor.
he Adams prize consits of handsome
gold medal, valued at $40, bearing the
name of The recipient, and enclosed in
convenient case. Two are presented
each year, Zone in the boys department
aud one i'll the girls) 10 the pupil dis
playing the greatest proficiency in Eng
llsh Grammar. The liberal donor is
John ii. Adams, Esq, a well l-known cit
zen of this city.
In his opening remarks Mr.. Bates re-
ferred at length to the position woman
was assuming in society, and to the erat
flying fact that as all the avenues of ed
ucation are being opened to her. she is
being afforded wider sphere for her on
portunities and capabilities, and is en-
aoled more thoroughly to do h-r duty IN
the varied walks of life.
Referring to the event of which he was
called upon especially to speak, he said
the successful competitor for the Adams
prize was one out of class of fifty, and
offered words of encouragement TO those
who mad earnestly strived, but failed to
win.
He then presented the prize to Miss
Florence L. Hollingsworth, and hoped
that size would make this first triumph
but the stepping-stone to those which lie
beyond
The speech and the presentation were
received with great applause.
Essay, ga Graduate-WhatT Them" by
] Miss Kate E. Evans.
This essay was filled with earnest re-
Elections upon the position of the gradu-
ates, with good and useful suggestions as
TO their future in life. 1t urged them TO
press on to higher aims, to be more than
mere ornaments to society, to live earnest
| ly, and bear the sacred burden of life,
'onward and upward, until the goal we
win"
Song, "The Danube River" by the
class, was aspirited selection, sung with
pleasing effect.
DR.. Buck announced the next essay
upon the programme, ''Some Days must
be Dark and Dreary,'. and said it would
how be read as a tribute to the memory
Of the talented author, (Miss Mary Barr)
who would be here but for her untiInely
death. The essay was read by Miss
Mary j. Wheeler.
1t commenced with the opening lines
of Longtellow's beautiful and touching
poem, "A Rainy Day.
"The day is dark and cold and dreary
1t rains and the wind is never weary"
and proceeded to show that while no life
Is without its shadows, the life is dreary
indeed where the shadows are not blend
ed with sunshine.
But when the trials of life do come,
we realize that they but serve as showers
to rescue from decay the noble roots of
mental powers which otherwise would
be destroyed, and then We can submit to
Gods will in a calmer and more rational
manner.
Great men and women in the past have
experienced the clouds and sorrows, the
''raiDy days" of life. Blind and forsaken
Milton, imprisoned and prosecuted Bun
yan, and many other minds of genius
have struggled on to fame through lives
: o'ershadowed by clouds Of poverty and
care.
There is one great shadow of life
calumny-which is sent by the hands OF
malice, and which causes many dark days
that may only be frightened by the love
Of true and honest friends.
Death is the great dark cloud which
bears on its bosom the grief that makes
bereaved hearts ache, but at the same
time brings joy to the loved one it bears
to the realms of bliss. Though dark and
lowering is this cloud of death, the silver
lining will still break through the mist.
and as the spirit OF the dead seeks rest
and peace iu Heaven, the grief of bereav-
ed friends is softened and assuaged by
time.
= Following the reading of the essay was
song especially prepared for the occa-
sion, ''Gone with the Roses" which was
sung by the graduating class.
: Recitation, ''Only Brakeman" by
Miss Lizzie Wollaston, was splendid
piece Of defamation, and the enthusias-
1 tic applause which greeted its conclusion
2 was continued vigorously until the fail
= declaimer returned to the stage and
7 bowed her acknowledgements.
The address to the graduating class
was then delivered by Rev. F. b. Du Val
1t was filled with congratulations to all
I interested upon the honor and distinction
e attained by our public schools, and was
n freighted with much instruction and ear
I nest advice to the young ladies who ha1
o SO successfully closed their labors a
school and were about to enter upon the
!. more real and earnest duties Of life.
Duett, "When the Stars are Shining,
was avcellently rendered by Misses Eva