Daily Los Angeles herald., 1882-06-30
usefulness of our lives, do credit to her

To our friends who have listened witt
such careful attention to our exercises
to-day, we would, i'll addition to &C
knowledging the courtesy, also express
the hope that all duties which may fall
to our lot to perform, may be executed
not only with credit to ourselves, but
also, with satisfaction to them.
Classmates, we have for a long time
been looking forward with pleasurable
anticipations to this day, which shall
release us from the restraints of school
life and usher us into new scenes. We
are about to assume o new relation to
society and to bear the burden of un-
tried responsibilities. We are hence
forth to be left more than ever to rely
upon our resources and to be guided by
our own judgment. Our education has
but just begun. We have laid in good
foundation on which to build, but we
have been laboring all this time on the
foundation only. We may exhibit our
diplomas as evidence of the fact that we
have conned our school books and are
now at liberty to discard them. But
this would be ruinous mistake. Our
course Of study has but furnished the
key with which we are to unlock the
casket that conceals the jewel of knowl-
edge, and if we, at this early date, cease
our mental labors we are trifling with
the great jewel of intellect.
The mighty hand ofDeath has thrown
gloom over our gayety and gladness of
heart. His hand has snatched from our
midst one of the brightest and most
lovable of our. number. death lies
on him like an untimely frost
upon the sweetest flower of all tho field. !"
And though we deeply regret the loss of
him who held warm corner in each
heart, we can but bow in submission to
the Divine will, knowing that God
ruleth all things we'll"
And now permit me, kind friends and
teachers, schoolmates, to say farewell,
and may we, classmates, in our future
years never regret the liberty we have
desired. Again, FAREWELL
After the valedictory Mr.. j. M.
Quinn, Superintendent of Schools, spoke
as follows to the graduating class;
Young Ladies and Gentleman Of the
Class Of 1882:
The conclusion of these exercises sew
ers your connection with our school.
You have completed our prescribed
course of study; you have been diligent
and faithful students; your department
has been commendable; you have been
found worthy of these testimonials we
give at parting. You go forth from our
school bearing with you token of our
confidence and faith in you. While
with us you have acquired knowledge
and your minds have been disciplined
by its acquisition. You have gained
habits of industry and application that
we trust you will carry with you
through life. And now as you leave us
to take your place in the great busy
world, the most difficult problem that
has yet been presented to you, will come
before you for solution; and that is, what
use can l make Of the knowledge have
gathered through all these years of
scholastic training? 1t is problem
that each of you must solve and upon
the correctness of your solution depends
your usefulness in the future. 1t is
duty incumbent upon every young man
and every young woman graduating
from our seminaries of learning to find
something useful to do and then to set
about doing it with mind and might.
Intellect does not count in this world
unless it is put into work of some kind.
This is emphatically working age
There is no place Of. honor or emolu-
ment open to those who cannot work
and in some way.
In this age utility is the measure of
values, and use is the standard of excel
lence. knowledge must converge into
practical results, and culture must focus
in use. The real test of the value of an
education is in what it enables its pos
SCISSOR to do. Your mental acquisitions
are concrete; their value lies in the ap-
plication you make of them. Knowl-
edge unused corrodes and is gradually
eaten away by the rust of disuse. The
prestige of genius counts for little in the
race of life unless coupled with industry.
Be your intellectual capabilities what
they may remember this All real, sub
stantial, enduring human greatness is
only achievable by useful, earnest la
Dor. The workers are always the win
ner in the race of life.
You have no right to allow the rust Of
disuse to corode your talents. The cost
of your education has been paid by the
community at large, and to that COM
munity you owe a debt that you can
best discharge by using the intellectual
power gained by mental discipline in
bettering the world in which you live.
Young ladies of the class, do not fall
into the two common error of thinking
that the DEGREES of custom and the
usages of society limit your sphere OF
usefulness. Fit yourself for that calling
for which nature has best designed you,
and when you are fully prepared for