Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-06-23

Market Hall Packed to its Utmost Capacity
With Friends Of the PupiIs-An Interest
ing Series of Essays on "a Variety of
TOpics-Presentation of the Prizes by
President Oppenheim, of the Board of
Education.
The commencement exercises of the st.
Paul High school were held in Market hall
last evening. AS usual. the hall was filed
to overlooking with an intelligent and
fashionable audience. The stage and hall
were handsomely decorated with ever
greens and flowers, and many compliments
were expressed on the attractive display.
The full board of education occupied seats
on the right of the platform; in the center
were the graduating class, and on the left
the principal of the High school, Prof. G.
S. Campbell, and his assistants.
The exercises commenced promptly at
clock with an overture by the orchestra.
Prof. Campbell then announced the pro-
gramme, the first being the salu-
tatory, by Miss Bessie A. Ferris, of
which brief synopsis only can be
given. All the eight papers read were
delivered from memory, without a notice
able error. Their contents evinced much
culture and careful research, and were
very creditable efforts indeed. The pupils
to whom had been assigned these parts
have been under the careful training of
Miss Laura Austin, teacher of elocutien in
st. Paul, and their first appearance in pub
lie, their fine bearing, delivery, and distinct
enunciation fully demonstrated how thor
oughly she had doe her work. Mis- Ferris
salutatory was received with much inter
est, but only few passages can be given.
She heartily welcomed the friends and pa
irons of the high school. Their presence
indicates an interest in the school and its
work. We thank you for the four years
privileges we have enjoyed. Give US kindly
criticism, for we are but boys and girls.
and we have but just begun to test the
truth of our glorious motto. The years
which Americas children spend in school
determine the character of the future
nation. Its school children of to-day, are,
in IA few years to become its rulers. Our
nation though young in years absorbs not
a little of the attention of the world at
large, who prophesy veal or woe to US.
been as marked as its material advance
ment and much of its success and strength
is due to the common schools.
This was followed by an Grafton on
Journalism, by Fred n. Van Duzee, as
follows:
JOURNALISM.
Down to the present century the great
and dominant forces of our civilization
were the family, the church and the state.
A fourth has risen-journalism- has
| taken its place on equal footing with the
other three. 1t has no traditions, no res
ervoirs, no treasures; yet, already it has
attained marvellous growth, and there is
no question as to its future development.
No issue is raised with journalism as 4 vo-
cation. 1t is conceded to be both honor
able and beneficial. Its failures and
abuses alone are in question. The fur
nishing of news has become yf immense
social and moral, as we'll as commercial
and political Importance. 1t is the prov
ince Of journalism to dispense this
through the daily press. The news is
known only through the papers, and is
very much what they make it. Though
comments are omitted, they are able
simply by their mode of stating it, to COM
pletely mold public opinion. Their re-
sponsibility is great. They color the light
through which their readers see the world
about them. There is deep and growing
conviction that there are fundamental fail
ures in journalism. There are some loud
walls over the growth of sensational, scandal
mongering, malignant, Matchmaking jour
nalism. The rapidity with which news is
transmitted has so stimulated public curl
osity that the providing of all kinds, good,
| bad and Indifferent, has become one of the
most lucrative of professions.
The press has become the organ of party,
and party organs grid the party tune.
voice that has price in politics can
not be depended upon as guide for the
people.
The press sets itself up for a Judge in
ali questions of moment, constantly ex-
presses positive opinions on even inaccu-
rate information, and in order
to appear consistent perseveres
in conscious error. Can this
| be remedied? We recognize the diff
Guilty of enforcing ga inst the press the
unwritten law of public opinion. It's the
public that supports the press, and the
public that determines what the press shall
be. People can have it as good as they
wish, and it will never be any better than
| they demand.
Emerson has Hkened a collection of
| books to friends, who are laboring under
strange enchantment, anxious to make
themselves known to US, but cannot do so.
1t is left for US to discover and release
them. This comparison is excellent. The
great want felt in reading is not the sup
ply Of reading matter, but want of power
of discrimination. Books enter into the
every day affairs of life; they exert an I'M
conscious but potent influence. Ideas,
sympathy and feeling are largely
formed by reading, and through the infiu-
ence of books we live in the thoughts
of others. Literature may be di-
vided into three classes, poetry,
history and fiction. Poetry is es-
sentially the expression of the thoughts of
man, either while in comparative low
state of civilization or during times of
great excitement. Chaucer lived and
wrote during the exciting epoch of the
one hundred years war; Shakespeare and
Spencer at the time when all Europe was
in state of turmoil. When Napoleon was in
his glory, and all England in state of
great excitement, then came a great out
burst of DOetrV The art of the Doat lies