The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-06-15

uiar. He touched upon summers amBl-
ton and determination, the latter evidenc-
ed by his political course previous to the
war He closed his remarks by stating
that Sumner was dead, but his work and
influence still goes on.
/ caste" was the subject of the next es-
/ say, delivered by Miss Vashti A. Hardy.
The influence of caste on ancient customs
and laws was shown, and the regular de-
scent Of the ideas of caste from Egypt and
India, through the middle ages, where it
appeared under the name of feudalism.
| The social laws~pf our present age were
discussed, and the various badges of caste
in our days were given. Brains was given
as the equal of family and education as on
q par with money.
Miss Madge s. Mcconnell delivered an
Grafton ON .'Tragdy and Pathos." In this
the young graduate detailed the influences
| in the human heart that prompts the per
pefration of tragic deeds. And closely al
lied to this idea, pathos received its full
share of attention. The delivery was good,
and the address quite interesting.
Miss Juanita Breckenridge followed
with an essay on the subject of Our Ma
| tons Capital" The capitals of the an
Gent world were named and their magnif-
| icence spoken of. The simplicity of our
1 capital at w was COIlLtCulCu on
as consistent with our Republican form of
| government, and such simplicity is strong
safeguard against Imperialism among us.
Nearing Perfection" was the caption of
Miss Title Hardy's essay. The idea adj
vaDced in this production was that the
present century was the one epoch whose
approximation to future perfection rendered
/ it worthy its name. The essay was quite
brief, but none the less attractive and en-
| tersaining.
Miss Laura Wilson thought that the
END is Not Yet" and proceeded to demon
strate her reasons for so thinking Man is
| dependent on his own actions, and must
| rely on his own endeavors. The various
| Improvements in the arts and sciences are
the result of experience added to expert
ence, and as no branch of any industry
has yet reached its limits, so we have no
reason for supposing it ever will. No mat
ter how far men may go, there is yet fur
ther for him to travel. There is no end to
the path of progress School life is but
begging in the life of man, the end is not
yet the school of experience still awaits
Decision of character" engaged the at
tention of Miss Ella b. Egan, who en-
deavored to impress upon her audience the
fact that each human life was a success or
failure, as the person was decided or lack
ing in this particular Miss Egan gave
number of historical instances of the truth
of her assertion. and delivered the same in
q very pleasing manner.
The closing grafton, with the valed;ctory,
YVES delivered by Miss Nettie B. Hayden:
The Singer Dies, but the Song Goes on, !"
was her subject, and the beautiful poem
of Longfellow, Il Shot an Arrow into the
Air" was the theme of her grafton. The
speaker referred to the life of books, how
the words of men lived after them, and
their ideas through all ages. Forgotten
may be the authors name ond lost to all
mention his fame, but bis ideas were yet
alive, his thoughts incalnate.
The validictory address was most grace
fully given, and a long farewell was bid
den to teachers and superintendent to her
classmates and friends. The closing of
their school life was the signal for the
entrance upon a larger and wider field of
action, and while the parting was sad it
was necessary. Let us hope to meet in
other contests where our place may be al
ways be battling for the right and now
farewell
At the conclusion of the set programme,
Superintendent Everett stepped forward
and after bestowing the diplomas upon the
different graduates delivered the following
FAREWELL ADDRESS
to the graduates, board of education and
the public generally:
1t gives ne great pleasure tonight as tie rerre-
sentative of the Board OF Education, present. to
you, Burnetta B. Hayden, Ella J. Kendall, Nellie f
Burneston and Madge Mcconnell these diplomas of
graduation indicating that you have finished the
Preparatory and Classical course in High School
And with equal qualification do l present you,
Wesley j, Philip, Allan D. Wech, Fred j. Hass jr.,
Laura Wilson, Nina Bowen, Juanita Breckenridge,
Matilda Hardy. Vashti Hardy. Birdie Egan, Ella
E2an. Rhoda Cowden and Sara Coyne, these diplomas
showing that you have completed the English and
Scientific course or an equivalent therefore IN q
have spent the labor you have bestowed. the lessons
you have learned in order to procure these eertih
cates will not be lost in the future of your lives.
We hope that each OF You will be credit to your
Alma Mater. Not that we expect you will fill high /
places OF honor trust for this be impossible
but we do hope that all OK you will i've virtuods and
respected citizens, for this is possible. You will en-
counter in life, problems more difficult than those
you have met In Algebra o. Geometry-you VIII meet |
questions TO unrave more knotty tran the pthy sem
fences of Cicero or Virgil and more obscure than the
complications Of Philosophy o. Astronomy-more
clouded than the dim constructions of your
Rhetoric.
Your study the past has more to prepare I
to meet and master these problems of life than
render your minds store-houses of knowledge.
The discipline of mind, the uprightness of char
actr the perseverance under amenities the intense
application of thinking faculties, the truthful
ness SELF respect, honor honesty have cultivat
cd in the school room and in your early home life
will be of far benefit TO you in the future than
the facts and Information you have acquired. Many
leaves the school that his education COM
pste-comnit not this fatal error-yours has just
great problems of your lives are
yet to be soved-apply yourselves to these with dill
gence ami activity. Make up your minds to do some
thing and to do it well. 1t matters not how humble
your calling honor it and man will honor you.
Do whatever you find to do the very best, and you
will be sought for. 1t is only the careless and
shiftess man or woman as rule that is out of en-
poyment. Your future will be scanned with critical
care by those who hope to find your education fal
ure They will look upon you examples of success
or failure OF our great free school system-envious
should you succeed, rejoicing should you fell Many
there are, and those of ability too, throughout our
land, rs Orchard Grant White} who believe that the
education and elevation of the through
the free schools u miserable farce
These, although few, exist in every city and VIII
age. They will watch you with the green eye of |
jealousy, ready all times to magnify your faults
aud your failures not slow to deride your success
most envious.
leads up to the highest and noblest civilization A
school which is the only hope OF Free Republican
Government, You graduate tonight from the
peoples school, which received you without price
and with open arms, and has guarded you carefully
through the different grades with mothers care and
diligence and with fathers loving reproved
and checked your INSTRUMENTATION Tonight our
relation teacher and pupil ends, but love and
anxiety for your future continues. Disappoint us
not in our fondest hopes BE credit, an honor to
the Rock Island High school. Remain through life
of fraa |