Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-06-29
COMMENCEMENT.
Annual Graduating Exercises OF the Sacra
meuto High School.

The annual commencement eAeieises y, ''ie
Sacramento High School took place last
evening at the Metropolitan Theater. Ihere
was present an exceedingly large audience.
the theatre being filled from the Furthermore
walls of the gallery to the very rail OF the
orchestra by brilliant and profoundly IN
terested assemblage. The stage-front and
the boxes bore wealth of floral decorations,
and above on the proscenium curtain, worked
ont in eyersreens, were the words of the class
motto. "Certum Pete Finem." On one SIDE
of the stage sat the Board of Education, on
the other the Faculty of the High School,
\ while the body of the platform was occupied
II by the graduates, twenty-five III numDer.
Il During the exercises floral presents were
sent up to the graduates by admir-
ing friends with layishness never
edualled at any commencement exercises neid
III here. The flowers were not only exceedingly
numerous but exceedingly rich. fropapiy
no other city Ia the State could have made
finer floral exhibit than was put on cne stage
of the Metropolitan last night 1t hIied the
space allotted 10 front of the graduates seats;
J it flowed over into the wings; 1t spread cut
toward the footlights, and got tangled IN the
feet of the members of the Board OF Edu-
cation; it surged over beneath the
| b-ogans of the reporters; it blocked the pas
sage to the front of the stage 1t lowered u p
ward here and there until it nearly hid some
of the young ladies it filled the air with its
delicious aroma it was to be seen in baskets,
in bouquets, in harps, in horseshoes, IN fans,
in standing baskets, in arches, in hearts and
Ia score OF other beautiful designs. 1t in
Guided all the flowers known to our gardens,
from the modest violet to the overpoweiing
royalty of the magnolia, and all the delicate
leaves, from the maiden.hair fern and the
sensitive plant to the waxy olive leaf protect
} inc the delicate bud. It reveled in intoxicat-
ing odors, and in the brilliancy OF its beauty
and the glory of its color made the dingy, dirty
and broken walls and upholstery, and the
furnished and dilapidated scenery Of the old
METROPOLITAN blush for its owners sake
Without exaggeration, such large, rich and
varied collection of garden and dollhouse
plants has not been seen before in years in
Sacramento-a collection that engaged the
constant attention of three ushers and two
lively boys in Knickerbockers to deliver on
the stage, and ever SO many hacks and ex-
press wagons TO cart away. All the young
ladies and young gentlemen read with great
clearness, and in voices strong and steady.
1t was the best reading of any class
yet sent cut by the High
School. For orce everybody in the
| theater heard every word uttered from the
Principal, presided, and Mrs. Charles E.
Pinkham was accompanist and director in the
musical exercises.
The exercises opened at P NJ, with prayer
| by Rev. 1. E. DWinell. Then came an open
ing chorus by the class, Give Me My Own
! Native Isle," followed by Latin salutatory
pronounced by Eugene A. Avery, in which
and the Board of Education, and dwelt upon
/ the benefits of the scheme Of free popular
education.
/ Miss Katie w. Bellmer then read an essay
on "The Wealth of Experience" in which
/ she sketched the value the wise find in expo.
rience, and how the experienced worker
| takes the lead 10 all things. What is true of
individuals is true in this respect of nations.
and IS an instance of the improvement based
| on experience, and the result of its neglect,
she compared the conditions existing in this
with those of our neighboring Republic. She
sketched the growth of manufactures, agri-
culture and commerce, and how the chief
steps of these arts have been made through
| experience. So, too, in literature and the
sciences, which accomplish results by avail
| ing of natural lessons otherwi unattainable.
Mics Matte Hunt played a piano solo,
sValee Styrienne," by Wollenhaupt.
| Miss Dora A. Davis read an essay on
Character" She believed that neither
1 wealth, talent nor genius viii maintain in
/ place he who lacks the best elements of char
I acter. He may be buoyed up for time, but
as water finds its level, so will people finally
/ reach the plane their character fits them for.
/ Strong characters resist the storm and over
/ come circumstances. The lack of the true
qualities Of q strong character may be con-
cealed for a time, but eventually will be dis
! closed Character is nodded, not made
I Education is the potter into whose hands
1 Nature gives the plastic material. 1t begins
with the influence of the mother, it ends only
with life. We follow and initiate, but are
/ also fashioners affecting the characters about
us. The person of action impels others to ac-
/ tion, and so doubly important is character,
( for as we influence the character of others, to
that extent 10 their future depend upon us.
The next essay was IN French, the subject,
"The Imagination" It was written by Miss
| Minnie G. Clark. but she being unwell. it
was read by Miss J. Green. Misses Green,
/ Davis, Hunt, Richardson, Goldman, Larue
1 and Bidwell then sang duet ia chorus
"When Mornings Light is Beaming," Kuck-
en. Alice X. Grover read an aliegory, in
which the children of earth were pictured as
originally in pitiful and unaspiring condi-
tion, awakening the sympathy OF the ceies-
tial beings, Genius and Application, who
entered upon the task OF rousing the lower
beings to better things Their labors kindled
men to effort on the one hand and to labor on
the other, but something was lacking, and
they applied at the shrine of Wisdom as how
best 10 give them an idea OF originality.
Wisdom told them the failure lay in
each seeking to work alone that they
must act together, the one rousing,
the other giving perseverance and industry,
and the result was that men conquered the
Willis. rose to lofty eminence, developed
the wonders Of science, delved in the mys.
te1ies of nature, and brought into play the
full powers of the intellect.
VIM. Gwynn, Jr, then pronounced an
grafton on "The Classics" He argued that
invention and wit, not beautifully bestowed
by nature, are invariably quickened and
strengthened by intercourse with the
classics. Literature and eloquence are
the growth, in their highest develop
ments, Of the culture resulting from
study of the classics. Our literature
is but branch grated upon the ancient tree.
! He pointed out the close relationship between
the classical languages and the modern, and
the necessity for some knowledge of the for
mer to correct and thorough understanding
Of the latter. The contributions of the Latin
and the Greek to the Anglo-Ssxor he pointed
out and showed how they had cultured and
Illuminated it. To the student of political
events and theories the history and knowledge
Of the classics he held to be of tie highest i'm
portance AS all Americans are, or should
Tue btnb lJOtiIlSdl
and aims, Americas schools should keep open
the door to the study OF the classics.
Miss Lon Bidwell then read an essay in
German, ''Nur Funf Minuten" (only five
minutes), in which she dwelt on the wonder
.ul inventions Of the age, and pointed cut
how by their agency and the medium of the
press one can well nigh take in the greatest
|, daily events in the short space CT FIVE min
utes.
Miss Lille Wilcox then gave as piano
, solo selections from Faust" by Leybach.
George 7. Hesser then delivered an Grafton
on Education, which he believed to be the
lever with which the old philosopher might
} have overturned the world. Nature gives
the powers to the mind, education cultivates,
enlarges and streng thens them. There are
but few callings where advanced scholarship
is needed, hut honesty, virtue and correct
} habit of mind are needed in all things.
We want not illiterate labor, but edu-
Gated labor, for that labor is best and
! accomplishes most, and popular educa-
ton is the greatest safeguard against
, idleness, unskilled effort, and misery. The
advancement Of the nations in modern times,
e and the accomplishment of all great reforms,
he believed are due to the general intellectual
' vigor which is the result of popular educs-
: ton.
/ Mice VIRGINIA arne then read an essay on