The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-06-28
HOME MATTERS.
HIGH SCHOOL.
Annual CONNIE ncement EXERCISE,

|
Opera House on yesterday morning at 0 O'Clock.
The heat of the day was intense, but nevertheless
a large audience was present. both parts of the
house being almost completely filed. Some ef
fort was mad at decorating the stage; in the
center on white ground in green letters being
the class motto "Work VIII VIM" and "Class
of '1g' directly underneath, while just back of
the circle of chairs whereon the class sat were an
abundance Of blooming plants and cut flowers in
| vases.
The class, composed Of Thos. f. Dwyer Ed
ward j. Graham, Norman ID. Hinsdale James d.
Long, Cora l.. Childs, Cornth Dewey, Lottie F..
Eldredge, Marian II. Hoadley and Belle D. Mar.
rner, took their seats during music by the orches
ira, after which Rev. Mr.. Ellis followed with
prayer.
THos. F. DIVER was the first speaker his sub
iect being, "The Free Public High School" and
Salutatory. He greeted all who were so much
interested in the class as to attend, saluted re-
spectfully the teachers, trustees, and Others to
whose efforts they were indebted The salutatory
contained neat and glowing tribute and plea
for the High School to whom he owed so much.
No institution, he said, is more important; the
common schools are at best only elementary, and
the instruction given in them can be satisfactory
and enough only for him who contemplates nev-
er ending manuel labor; but high school edu-
cation is absolutely necessary to the merchant or
professional man. The idea that the high school
is school for the rich only Is u great mistake;
for is it not the only means offered the children
of the poor to procure high school education
and become good and useful cicizens? 1t is useful
also in this that it is a perpetual producer Of
high class of teachers for this county--already
the common schools of the county are better for
this high school. 1t is also the connecting link
between our colleges and common schools, and
the harbinger Of higher education in our land.
he read distinctly and loudly, and sat down amid
applause.
Miss MARIAN II. HoADLEY followed, her cs.
says title being "Plus Ultra" The motto of the
Roman was "Nc plus ultiu" nothing beyond"
but Charles wrote at the Pillars of Hercules
"Plus Ultra" and the motto changed. There is
and has been the belief in something beyond. In
this belief is the origin Of the arctic VOYAGES, the
travels of Livinston and Stanley-that voyage of
Columbus beyond the Pillars of Hercules ont in
to the unknown where the Roman said ave plus
ultra, giving us the home of liberty and plen-
ty. To this belief we owe the valuable inven-
tions of all time, and especially of cur own days
as well as progress in science and art. Looking
into the future has caused many supersttions
yet it is wise and necessary. If we knew all that
is to come, hope would be unknown and life IN
bearable But the future comes we cannot
stand still. The web of life is weaving for us
each moment; let us look to it that the texture
is rich and beautiful Let us not be discouraged
by aught; and above all do not let us be diverted
from our course in the present by dreams of what
is afar of. Yet let us keep before us the motto,
Plus Ultra, and as we are the inheritors of the
work of the past let us too transmit some bless
ing to our successors. Miss Hoadley too, read
carefully and was greeted at the close by the u.s.
ual applause and numerous floral tributes.
The orchestra having given a selection, Cor
NTH DEWEY, enioncd upon us to "Be True TO
the Dreams of thy Youth" Dreams are an i'm.
portant part of our daily lives. The youth
dreams of manhood and womanhood; manhood
dreams Of the futurs,-the merchant of riches.
the poet of fame, the politician Of power; and
even old age has dreams of the realization of his
dreams in the life to come. Youth is like deep
we'll, FROM which at mid day the stars of heaven
are SEEN Like the stars, youths dreams are
bright and glorious His book gives him dreams
of men and places he desires to emulate and to
see. Youths dreams are always pure and hero
ic: but alas, rs age comes on the dreams one by
one come to nought Knowing this, and also the
purity of Youthful dreams, Richter tells us, "Be
true to the dreams of thy youth"-the base ana
origin of our ambition. All lives are made better
by noble dreams though they come to nought.
Miss Mariner read beautifully and received aD-
undant applause and flowers
Norman d. Hnsdale then gave rapid but
granbic sketch of the Dutch reformation, dwell
ing particularly on the bulldog tenacity and en-
DURANGO of that wonderful people in that wonder
ful struggle for liberty. 1t was this point OF
Dmtcb character-thls determination never to
rive us: this power of wonderful things where
nothing seemed possible, that gave rise 10 the
expression "This Beats the Dutch" 1.-THE essays
title and now when any marvellous ieat OF en-
durance is seen, its full significance is only eS-
pressed by This Beats the Dutch" knowing
this meaning of the phrase what bettcrmotto LOT
life can we adopt Mr.. Hinsdae read well ana
received the usual manifestations OF approval.
Miss Lizzie Shuler being unable to sing the
duet announced for her and Miss Jordan was
omitted and selection given by the orchestra, al
Ter which Miss Cora CHILDs talked about Lit
ties, Saying, they as old as national lite' some
originating in an impossible legend, others IL
some noble act or feat of proves, and the older
the story the higher the title of the possessing
family Yet 1t is sad to think SO few originate IN
intellectual strength for tits intellect that makes
the true king. Caesar and Pompey shook the
earth with their armies, but Virgil and Cicero are
greater than they, as the pen is mightier thah
the sword. The titled nobility OF the middle ages
left learning to the scribes and monks as beneath
recognition; and left also the untitled to slavery
and oppression, until ground down by the nee'
~ wrong. the untitled arose and gave US Tree
ENGLAND free North America and the French
resolution when in France the masses lifted their
h.od. from the dust. The untitled Franklins,
Eu,tons. Morses, &c, will live ever, and il we
: Iaroilder for