The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-07-03
Closing Exercises of the Centre
Squars Select school

Square Select school.
Saturday evening, 10th inst, witnessed
the closing exercises Of tho Centre Square
| (Mahoning Valley Select School, under the
guidance OF Prof Rauch. More people were
present than the school room could contain,
and, therefore, many were obliged to remain
outside and gain what information they
could by looking in through the doors and
windows This is a sure sign that the peo-
pie are becoming more interested in the gem
eral Advancement Of mental culture. The
heat was most oppressive, and hence made
the performance less enjoyable than had it
been otherwise.
The exercises were opened by the singing
of "A Welcome to All" Rev. Mr.. Strauss
then offered fervent and appropriate prayer,
after which followed the DuxOluCy, by the
school and audience.
Mr. F D. Klingeman then took the stand
and made the following speech of welcome,
in clear and distinct voice, giving evil
denco that lie had good command of his
subject, and that he was well-fitte for the
duty assigned him:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN-It has become
my pleasant duty this evening, in behalf Of
the school, TO bid you all hearty welcome.
Your presence here treasures us that you
have cannon interest with Us in bur work
The students work is one of endless toll !;
he stands at the foot of the bill of science
and step after step he climbs to the summit.
How often docs the student sit and burn
the midnight oil until his eyes grow dim
and his face pale as ulptured marble. How
often he is respondent, discouraged and in
despair; but some kind words again give
HIM courage, when he puts forth his best
effort, and at last succeeds. Ah no man
works harder than the true student, and
no one needs more encouragement or is more
worthy of praise. 1t is the true student that
places education on a higher standard, ele
Yates humanity, and thus confers a lasting
benefit on the world in general. 1t is com
monty reported, among men of little educa-
ton, that those young men and ladies who
attend school are generally too lazy to work.
But this report is untrue, for there is no work
half so difficult as that of the student. The
study Of mathematics and the languages is
harder, much harder, than the work on your
farms. We have been working here during
the past session in pleasant harmony. We
are now at the end Of the term, and ask you
to criticize our efforts kindly. In conclu-
sion, we bid you all hearty welcome.
EARTH s UNFoRTUNATEs.
This was an essay, by Miss X. J. Arner,
and a most excellent production. She read
it in tone of voice we'll in accordance with
the spirit of the piece Life is a voyage, full
of unseen dangers This voyage of life is
full Of trials Enticing sirens sit and sing
their sweet, but henious, songs. Those who
are denominated "Earth's Unforunates" are
those who, having contended with adverse
winds, butleted the furious breakers and at
last, having arrived at the evening of lile's
) voyage, then retrospective contemplation
dictates these, of all words, the most sad
.,.l,t I.,V
be for those who, at the end of a long life,
must acknowledge that they have lived in
vain that the world is none the better for
their having lived in it; and as a merlted
recompense that they must drink the bitter
cup of perpetual unrcst-are not such earth's
2 unIortunates in the fullest sense of the term
But where is the remedy? Simply in the
fact that man, endowed with an infinite
mind, owes it as a sacred duty to himself
and posterity TO develop that mind, and only
IN so far as he succeeds in the accomplish.
e ment of this end, so far is he carrying out
: the original design Of his existence. How
despicable must be the nature of our minds
, if we do not, even unconsciously, cultivate q
7 desire for knowledge. Every one has a Ger.
tain portion of work 10 do on the great Gtag,
of life, and unless accomplished bS the ou,
> whose work it is, it will remain forever Un
a failure and one oil earth's most deplorablC
unfortunates.
THE DARK AGES
Was an oration by f. W. Smith. Through
out the delivery, this gentleman manifested
much self-possession and a steady voice =
l The history of the world presents to us th,
= dark and brilliant periods of the human fam
lily. By "The Dark Ages" we comprehend
that period which Immediately succeeded
e the destruction of the western Roman En-
y pire, and extended to the appearance of
K brighter era. The accuracy of duration o
this period is questioned by different authors
There seems to be good evidence to main
tain this distinction. The Middle Ages EN-
brace one thousand years, / C., they extenC
!. from about the close of the fifth century t,
t the close of the fifteenth. In many respect
l. this period seemed a relapse into barbarism
:, and the interval from the fifth century t,
n the eleventh is sometimes called particularly
the Dark Ages. In a comprehensive view
however, they lasted through the circuit o
. one thousand years. 1t is strange ar,
J. melancholy spectacle to see civilization, aite
!, attaining so considerable an elevation in th
y Roman Empire, descend into savageness
n The Romans, in their prosperity, ftood com
/. parable with any nation under heaven il
!. intellectual culture and mental achievement
yet they fell back into utter dependency
never 10 regain their former position. Thei
own moral corruption and adherence to so
phistry were the striking characteristics lead
h ing them on the way of degeneration AM
II illlteracy. 1t is an acknowledged fact tina
y the final settlement of the uncultured Teu
tonic nations in Gaul, Spain and Italy com
pleted the ruin Of literature. They despise
learning, which, if properly applied, give
liobt kn a Frha col A.. 4 4,
were confined to cathedrals and monaster
:. les, designed solely to teach their religion
c doctrine, which was at a very low cbb. Th
n learning that existed ~as entirely under th
e supervision of the clergy. The scarcity q
l. books was the chief cause of general ignu
y. rance. The people fancied that all terres
. trial and transltory existence would be hand
! ed over TO the final consummation. BY tn
h renewal Ofchristianity civilization was life
up from its quiescent condition TO enlighte
l. the world again, after long winter OF ignC
u rance,
10 POETRY AND MUSIC.
{. This essay was a very able production, b
9 Miss Emma l., Seidle, who seems to be gill
!. ed in the way Of composition: Music an
Poetry rank high among the arts. The in
r. telligence of nations is measured by thei
taste for music and poetry. Music whe
ID rightly considered, Is linguistic in natur,
{, and closely related to poetry. The resen
h. blanCe between them is that the words use
in vocal music, as in reading, are require
to be correctly pronounced and properly az
preciated, both in respect to thought an
t, feeling. Music and poetry give pleasar
employment during leisure hours, Temple
re tion comes to the young during hours n,
employed. It is then that the duh iamIl
hresldes are deserted for the enioyments
q, the tavern room or other places of indu
gence not likely to produce moral thought
Nothing is better calculated to make honl
attractive than music and poetry. The 81
40 cial party is comparatively duh uuless er
KS livened by music. The most Joyous of Joy
II is music; by it our thoughts are turue
n heavenwad. All true education has for i
he object the cultivation of taste for the beaut
k. tul, in all its forms. The earliest musicia
n. we read of was Jubal, who was the faith,
or Of all who used the harp and organ. Tho,
40 who do not enjoy poetry and music ca