The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1884-05-29
commencement Exer.
cises of Eaton High School.

The thirteenth annual commencement
exercises of the Eaton High School, I'M
der charge of Mr.. G. G. Miller for the past
year, took place in the Opera House on
Thursday evening last. The hall was
filled to even standing room with citizens
and friends of the graduates vino feel in
terested in the success of our schools
The stage was beautifully and handsome
ly decorated with flowers, evergreens
and plants, while the motto, "FABRI
FABRICANDo FIMUs," circled across taste
fully embelmed in flowers, imparting a
cheerful and happy appearance to the oc-
casion. The exercises were opened with
prayer by Rev. s.. A. Brewster, followed
with music by the Eaton Orchestra,
which was very fine and of a character
to correspond with the excellence of the
rest of the entertainment, but would
have been better appreciated had all the
pieces been a little briefer. The follow
ing are the names of the graduates and
their subjects:
SECOND HoNoR-Oration with Saluta-
tory-"The Race is not to the Swift"
Carrie Schlenker.
ORATIoN-'The Responsibility of Pow
err" Laban Dearborn.
ORATIoN-"The Science of Human Du-
ty," Jackson Miller.
ORAr1oN-"Ambition," William Nor
row.
ORAT1oN-''The True, The Beautiful,
The Good" Cornie Nelson.
ORATIoN-"Individuality," Chas. Old
father.
FIRST DEMONSTRATION with Valedic-
tory-"The Mission of Puritanism," Ed
mund Quinn.
All the speakers did nobly andi it would
be unfair to make any distinction. AS
literary efforts the productions were fully
up to those of any of the preceding thir-
teen years, and evinced thought and re-
search complimentary to the teaching
and the training received in our schools.
Each graduate was the recipient of a
profusion of exquisite boquets and
wreaths of flowers, handsome and valu-
able presents, tokens of esteem from low
ing parents and admiring friends.
Thus has another of the Eaton School
years closed and another class ushered
into the busy and eve varying struggles
OF life. The seven members of the grad
uating class began in the Eaton Schools
almost to learn the mysteries Of A B G.
Step by step, year by year, have they
toiled the rough hill of science, till last
Thursday they came forth from the class
room never to return there again in the
roll Of a pupil, and now they have the
pleasant fact to dwell upon that the
course of mental training through which
they have passed has fitted them to be-
come useful men and women in society.
The course of study pursued in u pub
lie schools is sufficient for all the practi-
cal purposes of a business life, and it is
only when one has the means, or has a
professional career in view, that a higher
education really becomes a necessity
Not that we would discourage any one
from pursuing a college course, for it is q
desirable accomplishment in the round.
ing out of ones life, but we do think
that a good mechanic has often been
ruined in the effort to acquire a classical
education. But a few college graduates
are to be found in workshops, and un'
fortunately the same is getting to be the
case with graduates from u public
schools. America needs more men skill
ed in the mechanic arts and fewer in the
professions. Were it not for foreign I'm;
migration the great workshops in oul
large cities would become almost depop
ulated. Take the boys of Eaton, ane
how few Of them are learning trades, o.
have any desire to become an apprentice
to any of the mechanical arts! They
will fire an engine, brake on a freigh
train, or dig on the streets, in the hop
that one day they may become an engi
neer or a conductor or a public official
They will teach school or clerk in a store
but talk to them of learning a trade tina
will fit them for independence in life ant
they scout at the idea. We hope tina
the boys who have graduated this yea
will take a better view of life and pre-
pare themselves for independence. LIE
them make a practical use of the year
of study they have just completed, an
they will be ready to take the places G
those who in course of time must fall GU
from actual business of life. Be men i
every sense of the term,-be sober, b
honest, be truthful and be industrious
and the sacrifices made by the people {
Eaton in furnishing the means of you
education will be amply repaid.