The daily gazette., 1881-06-24
WESLEYAN COMMENCEMENT.

1
WEgLEYAM COMMENCEMENT.
Seven ''sweet Girl Graduates" Sent
Out from ssho0l-An Unusually
Mne Programme.
Wesleyan Female College Com.
mencement exercises were held in
Grand Opera House, last evening,
and drew an an audience that occupi
ed all available spacs down stairs,
and all the choice seats in the gallery.
President Williams, of Wesleyan,
presided, assisted by Rev. J. l.. Cald.
well, and the graduates occupied
seats at the front OF the stage, near
the lower prOscenium boxes while
on the other side were seated the
glee class and other pupils of
Of the college.
= At the rear of the stage were
seated number OF invited guests,
among them beng Hon. T.. F.
Bayard, Hon. L. Y. Wales. Mayor
Almond, Revs. w. J. Frost, G. r.
sheppard, p. H. Rawlins, T. L.
Tompkinson, NJ. A. Richards and G.
w. Miller, Geo. w. Sparks, G. P.
johnson, George II. Bates, Esq,
VIM. Fields, and others. 1t was hop
ed the venerable Bishop Scott would
be present, and preside, hut his IN
frmities would not permit of his at
tel dance.
The programme opened with an
instrumental duet, "Grand Etude
Galop," excellen ly rendered BY Miss
Belt aud Miss Mag, Q, followed b,
prayer offered by Rev. Dr. Caldwell.
rhe College glee class then sang q
chorus, Peacefully Slumber," with
piano accompaniment by Miss
Pearne.
| The first essayist and also sa-
lntatorian, was Miss Susie Powell
Fisher, of Hillsboro Md, whose sub
ject was "Who Are Bravep" Her
essay showed, by historical research
and comparison, that those who
dared to do right for rights sake aud
truth were truly brave. Martin
Luther was cited as the noblest In
stance of brave heart fighting
agaist the power of popes and poten.
tates, with the sole Of object oil lead
ing q benighted and bigoted people
, into the light Of freedom and
intellect. She also spoke Of the
bray cry Of women In the trying or
deals with which the pages Of his
tory TEEN aid are still the occur
rences of everyday life. Miss Fishers
salutatory comprised pleasant wei
come and greeting to the audience.
Her delivery was pleasing, her ar
! guments logical. and her entire effort
such as to gain for her the warm ap.
plause OF the audience.
Miss Emily #. Yo0er gave as q piar o
solo Leyoack's "rhird Nocturne,n after
,, which Miss Ella Wakeman Mccullough,
Of Rowlandville, Nd, read an essay on
: devotion to Purpose" She opened with
the proposition that all, when fairly
starting upon the sea OF Iii embark upon
some ship Of purpose that may bear us
!, in widely different directions, and bring
us At last TO fortune aud prosperity or TO
: disappointment and disaster. The great
requisite TO success, she held, was de-
yotion to some fixed purpose, anu the
persistent following Of . course that will
, ultimately lead to the desired gaol. Most
. important, iD this respect, Is the paying
, Of strict attention to minor details as
) well as to important points. The essay
, also cited the achievements of Florence
| Nightingale and other women of historic
!, baRie, to show what women may accom-
4 plish by firm devotion 10 purpose.
: The essay was warmly applauded, ant
4 amoLg the many floral tributes showere(
upon the writer was one of unusua
beauty and exquisite design. 1t consis
ted Of q magnificent floral ladder, abou
three feet in length, surmounted by
: large crown Of white immortelles, OIL
the front Of which was the name of thu
|, recipient, "Ella," In purple violets.
+ Miss Margaret Emma Durham, O
= Yorklyn, Del, read an essay, on tn,
= "Influence of the Press" which, though
n holding TO the crude and primitive no
! lion that all news of q sensational char
. acter should be excluded from the col
\ umDs Of Q newspaper, or At least shori
. of It's specially sensational features, wa,
nevertheless pleasantly written AMI
teemed with pertinent suggestions. Tn,
great influence of the Press In the dis
semination of general knowledge wa,
alluded to, and Its superiority over th'
!, forces of orstory acknowledged. Sh,
held, however, that Its columns shout,
never be permitted to become the yehi
4 Gle of personal invective and abuse, an,
: that its great influence should ever b,
= directed to the Improvement of the pob
= lie mind. Liberal applause greeted th,
: sentiments contained In this essay.
Miss Emily Frabces Yoder, OF Ma
!. hanoy City, Pa.,read pleasant and wit
!. " essay on "Circumstances alter Cases. ,
}, She showed how surrounding crcum
J, Stances alter The course of human lives
J, even where the original conditions ar,
!, equal. Joseph Cook. she said, had
!. not been for the circumstances OF his re
Q liglous training, might have been q pirat,
Q or = pick-pocket while the pirstical gen
y tleman, had bis early training been dif
fsrent, might have bee ,me an enineu,
divine. Miss Yoder ako spoke Of thu
ksfyct Of ply ysical circumstances on hu
y man nature, and made plea for thos,
o who were querulous and petulant b,
}. reason Of bodily intirmities.
b "For II 10 said" she remarked, "that 1
!. Is easier for camel to go through tb,
!. eye OF needle than for . dyspeptic maj
/. to be sind, gentle and long-suGering.
The essay was read In excellent style
and was warmly appiauded.
n An excellent piano solo by Miss Bray
followed, after which Miss Harriet PEN
"A newill Belt, Of Wilmington, Del, read
y al essay on "Pilgrims Of Thoughi-land :
l Il -. IL.