Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-06-20
Mineral Point High SCHOOL, -
Graduating Exercises.

CluSCu lOr tlle S(lllllllCt NaNdttVtl, Vll
Friday last. The closing exercises
Of the High School were very inter-
esting, and afforded an opportunity
to Judge of the progress made by
the pupils during the year. The
showing is most satisfactory indeed.
The schools, under the charge cfMr,
Terry, are taking front rank among
the High Schools Of the State.
There were but two pupils i'll the
graduating class, owing to sickness
and other causes, and n number Of
other pupils were called upon to
take part i'll the exercises, which
consisted of essays, orations, reel
tations and music. Our space will
only admit of a report of the Prin-
cipals address and 4 short review
Of the productions Of the two grad
yates.
MISS NECoIIINS'S ESSAY.
The subject of Miss Neeollns's
essay was, The Effects Of Emula-
ton. .ttter a critical examination
of the Specification Of the term,
emulation, and Il comparison with
IT,, relative terms, competition and
rivalry, the writer dwelt upon the
proper, and the improper use of
this principle rs 4 motive, con-
demning the selhshness that too
often accompanies it, thus fostering
in those who are actuated by it the
worst Of passions.
Competition often makes enc
mics Of persons who were once
warm friends. For example: two
persons are competing for the same
prize; but one receives it; and the
other, falling Of his object and feel
ing reyengful for what he supposcs
to be n great wrong to himself, be-
comes the sworn enemy of the sue
cessful competitor. 1t is not to be
inferred from the above that this is
always the ease, for any one posses
sing a good share of common sense
would not feel thus if his opponent
deserved the prize. Nature has
bestowed greater abilities on some
of her children than she has on
others. She has given them greater
mental powers, and greater strength
to pursue an object and obtain sue
cess. This is one reason why some
persons have succeeded SO admi-
rably, while others, i'll attempting
to do the same work, have utterly
failed. 1t is well that these powers
are not distributed alike to all per-
sons, otherwise more rivalry would
then exist than now does. Wash
ington and Wellington were great
generals. Nature bestowed upon
them bountitul gifts by which they
were cnobled To WELD their powers
over vast dominions, and thus
achieve much success and APP
plause."
Among the members of the diff
fercnt classes in school the effects
Of this motive are strongly mani
tested; and the instances i'll which
it fails TO secure for the student
valuable results, if not indeed
all indeed that is aimed at, are
attributable 70 attendant lack ot
energy u phlcginatic temperament.
To this principle may be attribu-
ted many of the performances and
exploits Of the greatest characters
Of history. Warriors, scholars and
poets have shown the effects Of its
4 power.
Julius Caesar is said 10 have
been "the foremost man of the
world" y a general he Is said to
have had 40 equal, n i statesman
the highest rank is conceded to
him, as All orator he is compared
to Cicero, and as a writer he sur
passes Xenophon. Napoleon pos
sessed unsurpassed military talent.
Before his defeat at Waterloo,
almost every victory was his. The
old world was kept in a constant
state Of confusion and dread,
simply because he out-generalcd
the other military commanders 81
his time. His greatest aim was to
gain glory and fame for himself