The daily gazette., 1880-07-01
Vicar of Wakefield, and R.ul and vir-


"Moonlight Might" a spirited song,
was pleasantly rendered by the Glee
class.
Miss Mary l.. Downing delivered an
essay on "Coming in with the Tide" in
which she showed that popularity is a
river with mighty current where man.
kind constantly takes advantage OF the
ebb and flow. She showed how many
men cast themselves upon the Hood tide
in the hope Of winning popular favor.
but are cast back by the receding flow.
Mr.. WIN. ii. Heald followed with all
Grafton on "Tbe Ballot Box" In which
he showed how this "pAladium of pub
lie liberty was perverted and affected
by uDscrupulOus politicians, and showed
how necessary 1t was for men TO secure
a proper enforcement Of the laws for the
protection OF The ballot. The remedy
for this political evil, he said, was in the
hands Of The people.
"Aft,r the Similitude of a Palace
was the subject of All essay read by Miss
Mary j. Balance. She showed BY his
torical referred to famous women Of the
past, how possible IL was to become "a
perfect woman, nobly planned" aud
without stepping beyond the bounds OF
the proper sphere, to be like Cornelia,
the mother Of the Gracchi, "a brave,
wholesouled, true woman"
The presentation of the John III.
Adams medal to the boy and girl show
ing the greatest proficiency in English
Grammar, was next on the programme,
and as Hon. Thomas F. Bayard, who
had been requested to make the presen-
tstion, arose TO perform this pleasant
duty, he was greeted with storm of ap-
plause that lasted several minutes.
When II subsi 1ed he spoke as follows:
The Superintendent and teachers uf
the public schools, and the donor OF the
Adams medals, have requested me to
present the two medals TO the Two schol-
ars who have passed the best examina-
ton Sin English Grammar" feel this
to be all honorable and important duty,
and am happy to find myself in such as.
ISOLATION. My work for many years has
been in the considera ion of public ques-
tions, and their operation and effect
upon the Government of our country.
| The more l know of our government,
the more its sources of weakness aud of
strength are disclosed to me, the more
sure am that the permanence of free
institutions depends mainly upon the
home-bred virtues of the people, and the
prevalence OF accurate knowledge and
sound education.
| There is not nobler or more useful
| profession than that of 0finstructing young
minds, and educating their faculties.
should be glad to see higher encourage
ment and recognition given these men
| and women in our midst who devote
themselves to tins lofty calling. We're
IL in my power should make the name
TO schoOlmaster aud schoolmistress
FERNS OF public as well as private honor
and would affix such just AMI proper
tionats compression to their services as
would make their positions not oDly
those of honor In society, but profit, so
that every inducement should be offered
to embark in their profession of instruc-
tion of tie young.
The exercises of these pupils of the
public schools of Wilmington, of which
call for Acknowledgements and grateful
thanks to those whose labors so unosten-
tatiously and faithfully bestowed, have
produced such proof OF substantial and
gratifying success. But | am not here
to make an address but to present re-
wards to intelligence, persistent industry
and diligent study.
There is said to be no royal road to
neutrality-suspicious. IS there a republican
road to learning. In monarchies or in
republics, the Latin saying is equally
t. ue. "Palma non sins pulvere." And
he who W, ars the victor's crown must
| first undergo the toll and be covered with
the dust of the arena.
Mr.. Harlan, our worthy superintend-
ent, tells me that of the 14l girls in
School No. /, 81 competed fIr the medals
which have been given annually, and so
generously by Mr.. Adams since 1873, for
the best examination in English gram
mar.
There we're l20 boys in School No. l,
| "a of whom competed for the "Adams'"
medal. 1t is evident, therefore, that 1t
was, in racing phrase, no "walk over" to
the winners of tho prizes. 1t has been
no holiday pastime which these br ght
and active-minded young people have
been engaged in for the past year, but q
steady, strenuous, and, hope, generous
emulation, unembittered by jealous riv-
airy.
Patiently and justly the teachers
have made their awards among the
many contestants, and with great
pleasure proclaim them
First, of course, to the girls, and
leading all her fifty-one competitors,
Miss Regina A. Garel will please come
forward and receive the gold medal
awarded her for the best examination
in English grammar, which l now, in
the name of Mr.. Adams and by direc-
ton of her teachers, present to her.
Among the competitors of Miss Ga
rel was one who stood so close to her
in the score of excellence that it re-
auired more than one examination to
decide between them. The teachers
have, therefore, while awarding the
gold medal to Miss Garel, allowed me
the pleasure ofpresenting to Miss Mat
tie A. Harris testimonial in recogni-
tion of her excellent schola rship, and l
will ask her to come forward and ac-
cept this volume of American poetry at
my hands.
And, now, for the Wellington
b. Lee and Harlan G.. Scott were
worthy rivals, who outstripped their
sixty-two ompetitors-and it required
careful balancing to adjust their re-
spectiye merits-not once, nor twice,
but three times were they weighed in
the balance, and though never found
wanting, yet the scale of Wellington
b. Lee was finally discovered to be a
little the heavier laden with English