Daily Republican., 1883-06-26
Our Graduates.


Tomorrow evening the High school
opening exercises take place, when SIX
teen girls and thirteen boys are to grad
.+s and star. as il were anew in some
other avocations of life. So far as IN
free schools of Wilmington are coh-
cerned their education is completed
be it perfect or imperfect, be it good or
bad, A number of the graduates Will
no doubt enter other institutions OF
learning and not stop short until theF
have graduated from some one OF the
leading colleges Of our country WIN
Others their education or rather the
ground work of long life education Is
completed and they will pass on to ell
gage in other spheres of action. Some
of the boys will become merchants ana
some manufacturers, and too rev Oh
them practical mechanics and agrlcuI-
.urists. Too many OF them Will De
come clerks and never rise higher, ana
uuite too many will we fear degenerate
into the crafty wire pulling politician.
The girls, what hall We say Of them ?
There are but few avenues in the business
of life open to iris. Teaching seems to
be the most popular and the most profit
able. Happily for them, this avenue
isa wide one and one i'll winch girls
Droperlv educated can travel with sig
nal success. The efficiency OF the pub
lie schools of Wilmin gton is an atlesta-
ton of the fitness OF women AS educa-
tors Into this channel no doubt many
of the girls who will graduate to-mor-
row evening will drift. 1t is different
with girls when compared with boy
graduates. The girl, will soon no doubt
settle down to the solid realities of life
as an important factor in family.
When this occurs all other pursuits in
business cease Woman's sphere, after
all, is in her home. A few may press
ON through the colleges of learning that
permit it and graduate with distinction
and honor, but some kc W the farther she
treads the paths of learning and science
the narrower they become to her. We
occasionally lear OF them as doctors
and lawyers, but if ever they are to be-
come popular as such those who now
attain those distinctions are but the
pioneers breaking the way to make it
easy for others to travel.
Home is peculiarly woman's sphere,
and wife and mother, in the true con-
ception of the terms, the highest dis
tinction to which they can attain. But
even in these relations the education
they have received in ourpublic schools
and may yet receive in other schools,
will assert its sway exactly where it is
needed and where is most practicable.
The home school, after all, is the one that
more than all others shape our destnies
for life. The lesson is learned ut home !;
the mother is the teacher the schOO!
room is but the place for recital. We
would not then. look lightly upon the
importance of a graduation from our
public high school. The number of
graduates is larger than for any prece-
ding year and we wish the number was
doubled But in any case, applied to
either sex, the finishing of an education
in the public schools by an honorable
graduation is bu the beginning Of ii
more thorough education to follow. l.
is but the foundation of tie beautiful
structure which should be raised upon
it. The more imposing edihce is yet to
be erected, aud after that will come the
finishing touches the painting and the
gliding. 1t will be for these graduates
to say what kind of building will be
constructed upon this ioundaton,
Whether it will be one that will add TO
the beauty and usefulness Of long
after life, or whether it will be one thai
shall mar and diStigure that life. It
will be for them to say whether it shall
the sOmbre hues Of melancholy. The
world is before them. Fame makes IA
bid for their services. Wealth alurcs
them By promises of ease and ndui-
gence. Pleasure holds out a gilt ering
hauble. These champions for favor
hide the more solid at ailments from
sight. These are seen, heard and cit.
In the blare Of fame may be seen the
germ ut wisdom. Pressed beneath the
pO1d"ruUS weight of wealth is content.
ment, and amongst the da,hing allure
mrnts Ot pleasure is virtue Which
will oar graduates follow" This will bp
for them TO decide. Let them ponder
well and make "A wise choice Every
one of them may he useful in thril
lives in lifting up the world to higher
plane of moral life In whatever pur
suits they may engage they should re-
member that they are part Of III" WorlG
and that il is heir duty, wi. the edu.
cation 'u"p have received, to make the
world better.
our Moody and SaUkey.
We have been presented Wtha MOUly
and Sankey hymn book by Councilman