The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1881-06-30
GRADUATING EXERCISES.

graduation were held on Friday evening
The assembly room was beautifully dec
| grated with flowers and wreaths of ever
green, and the class motto, 'Self -Reli-
anee and Self-Culture," appeared back
of the rostrum in artistic beauty. The
| audience was large, filling all the avail
able space of the commodiousroom.
The class, the remnant of which gradu-
ated last Friday, was quite a large one
| some years ago. But through various
| causes 1t underwent the usual process of
reduction until it dwindIed to three.
Mr.. Sims during the greater par5 of the
last year, did not attend school but at
| tended examinations and not only main
tanned his standing in the class, but
achieved the honor of being valedictorian.
Miss Mary Nelson took part in the exer-
ciSes. She is the first pupil of the school
who completed the prescribed course,
graduating in 1876. Since which time
she completed the course in the state
university and is now one of the teachers
at the north side.
The essays prepared by the class were
quite creditable, evincing a wide course
of reading and considerable research in
their preparation. The criticism, that
they reflected the knowledge gathered
from course of reading rather than the
original product Of the mind deriving
strength rather than facts from its labor,
might be made with some reason, al
though the fault is mainly attributable to
inexperience and youth, and has the re-
deeming feature of indicating labor and
industry. To correct errors is to merit
praise and it is always wise to point out
defects that improvement may follow.
In diction the essays are deserving of
praise. They were rendered we'll and
created favorable impression upon the
audience.
The salutatory was read by Miss Dele
A. Shove, the subject of her essay being
"Voices." The class appeared in the
school for the last time, with mingled
feelings of pleasure and regret; pleasure
| IN the thought that the course was COM
pleted, regret that pleasant associations
were to be sundered, and that labors
heretofore pursued in fellowship were
now to be performed individually. Ma
ture speaks to mankind in various voices.
The musical cadences OF the rill speak of
quiet and tell no tale of sorrow. The
brook is morelo and when by accessions
it swells into the torrent it has the voice
of trouble. The ocean produces different
emotions dependent upon its calmness or
agitation, or the historic incidents of
which certain parts were the scene. 1t
is constantly giving and receiving and
| its mood is ever changeable. Nature
speaks through the songs of birds and
the fragrance and beauty of flowers. The
world is full of spirit voices which are
| always with us, though those from whom
the sound emanates are invisible. The
human voice expresses character.
Miss Nelson discussed the subject of
Monuments both in descriptive and
metaphorical way. The Egyption mon
arch III the pride of power resolved to
build a monument to his greatness. But
his body rests not in the splendid pile.
The pyramids in all their sublimity are
but monuments of the cruelty of the
sovereigns who reared them. The ODE
lisks which now adorn so many different
cities, are silent proofs of despotic autho-
rlty. The monuments which the Romans
left do not bring with them such unpleas-
ant associations. Many of them COM
memorate feeling of concern for the
common people. Some are monuments
Of aesthetic as we'll as sensuous pleasure.
The Coliseum now in ruins, deched with
clinging vines and flowers, is monument
to the wealth and taste of ancient Rome.
Men Of letters erect monuments through
their literary labors, which commemorate
their powers while benefting humanity.
The philanthropist erects monuments in
the hearts of people Charity rears the
grandest monuments.
Miss Alice Emery took "Sleep" as her
subject and discussed it in its physiolo-
gical and psychological phases. An old
legend was related showing how sleep
became the consort of night. What
sleep is and why it is, it is difficult to
tell. 1t is necessary to life and restores
exhausted energies. Different people
require different amount of sleep depend
ing upon their organization, and employ
ment. There are instances in which
very slight amounts Of sleep seems ample.
The intensity of sleep is also variable in
| persons. Instances were given in which
sleep was SO profound that it was con-
tinued in the midst of the greatest noise.
A number Of poetic definitions of sleep
was given, displaying on the part of the
| essayist wide course Of reading.
John t. Sims was the valedictorian Of
| the class. He took as his subject the
| brilliant, literary vagabond, 'Oliver
Goldsmith. F" Mr.. Sims first addressed
himself to the task of explaining, what is
SO commonly asserted, that Ireland has
no great poet. The leading characteris-
ties of the Irish would lead one to sup
pose that it is a community favorable to
the development of poetic literature.
! The Irish are poetic race, quick -witted
imaginative and subject to the extremes
of citation and dependency. But man
may have latent powers and the hard
| struggle for mere subsistence will cause
| them to remain dormant. Ireland was
at one time the cradle of intelligence.
Wars and oppression have repressed the
| genius of her sons. Notwithstanding all
the unfavorable circumstances, Ireland
hasaliterature of which she may be proud.
| RuA fayv nations CON bCacA &c