Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-07-06
AT THE THRESHOLD
Eleventh ANIMAL Commencement OF
tho Perrysburg High School.
Interesting Program of the CTnss OF
'SJ-Floiai Offerings aud
Floral Beauty.

an efficient corps oil instfuctOrS w chhrge
of the several departments. The week
Ind been senio,isly devoted to review
and examination oI the pupils.
The Town Hall was never more thorough
ly crowded than upon this occa'ion and
fully two hundred were compelled to re-
turn home, unable TO gain admission.
The program was long one, too long
in fact, hut the packed audience kept up
patient decorum Tor four long hours
under temperature that wns almost sui
locating.
The Eleventh Annual Commencement
was attended with many features that
were calculated to rivet 1t to the pleasant
memories of school life. Tho excellence
Of the essays and music, the bower OF
beauty and fragrance presented by the
Juniors in their artistic decorations OF
tho stnge, and the apparent heartfeltsym-
pathy that was ielt In the utlcring OF
the one word, farewell were well cal
culated to produce Impressions that lin
ger in the memory for many years 10
come.
The Juniors, in arranging The stage,
placed an arch doorway near the middle
Of the stage, through which the Glass
aud those taking part had TO pass in
coming before tho audience. Upon the
arch was placed in neat gilt letters the
Glass motto, "At the Threshold" From
each side of the doorway WIS arranged
in a graceful curve a row of blooming
plants and evergreens extending to the
corner Of the stage. In the back q ound
wns represented two windows with heavy
lambreguins, handsome curtains and
creeping and trailing vines. Everything
was arranged with neatness and precision
that il seldom equaled in floral decora-
tions. With the members of the Board
of Education, teachers, and several in
vited guests who occupied reats upon the
stage, the picture was complete.
But space fortids any extended remarks
or descriptions. We prefer 10 devote oil
available space to the gems OF thought
produced by the graduating Carss, and
with this view have put in type the ex-
cellent synopsis of The essays prepared by
Mr. Oblinger for tho Toledo Bee.
THE EXERCISES OF THE EVENING
were opened by an overture, "Chimes o.
Normandy" with Miss Mary Il. Dodg,
at the piano; Mr.. Al. FROST, OF Toledo
and Mr.. Fred Dodge, vlolins Mr.. Gre
ther, OF Toledo, clarionet, and Mr.. vii
Chanpney, of Detroit, corne..
Rev. G. A. Adams followed with an
invocation OF the divine blessing.
Miss Ada Fleming then opened tht
literary exercises Of the graduates will
the following:
sALurAroRy
Gentl,mcn Of he Board Of Education, Teacher
| Fricnds
We meet tonight for parting. But fe
wears since, we, the members Of the Glass
'S3. then nought but crude hulls, were place
in the hands of our teachers Ia be fitted f.
sailing. During the inter vening Years, viii
their aid, we have been patiently adding, OF
v... %s. ER'"ss' e n"w "ss''sss ssdg,
launch them, but lately finished, upon the 3,
of life, as yet unknown 10 any Of US. The ed,
cation we have obtained isto be for us helr
rudder, compass. sa'ls and wheel.
Gladly we welcome you all 10 witness thes
nur closing exercises before we set sail and a
2 carried out upon the now seemingly smOa
waters. We do mol expect always To glide aloi
upon a calm sea, but we hope when the stor
comes, to rely upon our Helmsman-upon Iii
who Ia mightier than all.
/, The future looks bright ny we commence o
j. journey with the pleasant remembrance Of o
8 past lives.
And now, as in the launching Of the man-t
war Susqueha ma. the bottle Of wine wns br
0 ken over her bow aud she received her nan
:, we christcn our vessels with the good wish
Of our friends and associates, hoping ever
continue worthy ri them.
In the name Of the Class allow mo again
l IN m Al
A fine bass solo followed, entitled "Sunset
A which was admirably rendered by Mr.. Geor
Hirth.
"THE MYSTIC HAND"
Q by Miss Bertha Trowbridge, proved to be Ii
erary gem giving evidence of historical 7
search, studious application, skillful constru
!. iion oflanguage, and a conpaat condensati i
. of thought seldom attained in far more expt
y fenced rlet,riciaps. Her essay WIS ms follsv
u The book Of Nature is the book Of God. NJ
n Is the sixth part In this wonderful volun
History, whether written or unwritten, is
II work Of man. 'Tis but part Of natures boz
n written by a free-thiDking and free -acti
agent. The whole forms one complete a
perfect volume, bearing on everv page
), imprint OF divine authority. Do the pages
history substanliate this statement? Let
open and read.
The sun sinks low 10 the western sky
i his lords in the royal palace. The city sleeI
r M 'ear of foes have princes or populace.
mysteri us hand appears, and, by a few myst
l. characters traced upon the palace wall.chang,
the sound Of revelry 10 that Of fear. Crcep
cautiously along the dry bed of the river, I
Medes find an entrance under the wall into 4
, city. A sleeping populace, terrified king a
' princes can offer no resistance. Mighty Baby
u On is laid law the king slain, aud the kin
q dom divided and given 10 the Medes a
Persians.
i History. by her magic art, not only b
{. pictured this event, but impels us TO search {
a cause. We see the effect, and we imagi
j. we see cause. Are the drunk on revel, the d
= river channel and the slumbering city explain
=. tion enough for the terrible fate of BabylO
What means the terror oi well-tred soldiers
n the 3ight of-not an army but little writ
upon the wall? What means The coming Of I
enemy at the only time an entrance could
gained, when no resistance could be ohere
But that is Sacred History, some will say, a
we kDnw and believe that its author was divir
Grant il, but what does Secular History show
Opening the book at random we read how 4
"a pillow share FIRST marked the borders Of Rom
" Of her struggles for existence; OF the viotori
aud conquests OF her cnsarsi Of her pow
and Rlory when crowned "Misiress OF I
World" wher "to be Roman was great
II than king" Bu, II ends not here. VIII
R"me sleeps the sleep Of corruption, the Ell
- my entered and took her crown. Asleep vii
o taken! How like the fate of Babylon I!
pt what use were the armies of Caesar or
Augustus? Wit and wisdom. power and ricl
" alike, we're ~ no avail. Can we not sa
'Behold here is the same power as seen
Bah, Ion 2"
Had Rome been conquered In her young
days we had not wondered. Bur twas vii
Rome had learned the secret OF power and stO
on the pinnacle Of glory tba the mystic fne,
wrote her dnom on her palace walls. The Sc,
'e Of death were internal, but in answer to
j divine mandate the glory departed from Ron
Il, Turn, . leaves OF history. turn is a scene
'" conflict. England and France are the conle
W ants. Victnry after yctnry has crowned
IL efforts OF the English. Defeat after defeat
:" 81 weakened and discouraged France that .
b. r,ndsr only is left 10 her. AZ this crisis
il .fairs simple peasant maid is seen wend
!, her way to the feel Of battle. She rallies
u army. Dscouragement gives place to enthu
he asm; defeat to victory. Strange that pc
4. ant woman with mere wreck Of an arr
W Accompiishes what a well organized ar
a could not. Why was II. we ask why
France WAS victory denied for one hund
years? Does tie appearance of Joan of
IN al al. AL