Mexico weekly ledger., 1884-06-19
HARDIN COLLEGE.
closing Exercises-The End Of Scboo,
n the Beginning of Life,
ES.GaY. L. IL. Hardin's Address IN tha
Graduates.
III LeTee the Social Event OF tbe
Season-Awarding of Prizes.

II LeTee the Social Event OF the
season-Awarding Of Prizes.
HE LEDGER of last week contain
ed a full account of the closing ex-
erclses of Hardin College except the
Levee and Commencement exercises.
Thursday night the chapel was
crowded To Overlooking and hundreds
OF people had to leave for want of
standing room. Hardin College needs
but one thing to make it complete.
That is a much larger chapel. The
young ladies who graduated were
Misses Olivia Hord, Carrie Canter-
berry, Lizzie Thornton. Adah West
and Eta Ross. The young ladies ali
did we'll and surprised the expecta-
tons of their most ardent admirers.
Miss May Wilson, in a neat address,
delivered the Bibles-presents to the
class from the president, Mrs. H. T.
Baird. Miss Annie Crawford made
q beautiful little speech in her fare
well to seniors from the juniors. Ex-
Gov. G.. Ii. Hardin conferred the de-
grees in the following characteristic
and most excellent address:
YOUNG LADIEs-GRADUATES On
the recommendation of the President
and Faculty, the Board of Directors
of this institution have conferred
upon you, Miss Edmondston, the de-
gree A. NJ, and upon you, Misses
Ross, Hord, West, Canterbury and
Thornton, the degree Baccalaureate,
and L have come on behalf of the
Board, to present each of you 4 di-
ploma as evidence of its action. In
effect these diplomas pledge the faith
of the college that at this day your
department has been most excellent
and your scholarship for the course
most satisfactory and commendatory.
We trust that you have a lively con-
seriousness of having been fully re-
warded for the years spent here.
May it be your pleasure on crossing
the outer threshold, to leave your
peace behind, and further may it
ever be happy recollections to you
that you are graduates of this insti-
tuition. The friends of the college
accept the general belief that the
scholarship and decorum Of the grad
yates should fix the reputation of the
institution. Poor graduates indicate
weak and sickly instruction and man.
agement. Bright and thorough ones
elevate the fame and merit of the
school. The friends of the college
have every reason to be proud of
those who have heretofore graduated
and they have like good reason to
believe that this class will fail in no
particular to add to its reputation for
tho :ough work and good manage
ment. We note the fact that the en-.
tire school life of two of this elias:
has been spent within these walls
that all they have learned from the
books has been under the guidance Of
instruction here given. This would
seem to be a are circumstance in the
history of any institution. There
I fore it is we. openly admit that tht
merits of the instruction here giver
. rest On these two graduates to o lar.
ger extent than their numerical quots
of such responsibility.
This hour closes with you gradu.
ates, the tolls and struggles of college
life. But may We enjoin upon you
to continue your studies all the day.
of your life. The world is rapidly
progressive, and you should be OF
the alert and keep up. Besides intel
~lectual pleasures are far more valua
BILE and considerate than the transfer
ones Of human experience. To wha
branches or what authors you SHOULD
daily devote your time 1 will not ven
ture to suggest. Your own taste
must determine this. 1 may say
f however, that whatever you woult
study, ought to be of that charac
ter that will tend to establish, con
: firm and complete the education o
your academic course, to strengthen
your faculties, ennoble your hops
and aspirations and enlarge the gram
f horizon of truth and beauty that lie
3 before you now entering upon tn
worrying stage of active thought ant
energy. If agreeable I will, however
tparticularize two things. One is tina
you ought to utterly ignore what i
c known as light literature. There i
no substance, truth or virtue in it. ]
furnishes no satisfactory food for tn
i, mind and in no ems would it i'm
+ prove your moral, religious or inteI
lectual aspirations or character. o
tie contrary / would commend t
you, in most emphatic terms, dali
+ readings in the Bible. 1t is the boo
= above all books. God is the author
and just so far as he IS above US tbs
far is this book above all books.
reveals to US Gods character as we
as our own, and the relations Of th
one to the other, and sooner or latel
the earlier it is done, the wiser, 70
= will have to study them. Do so
once, and continuously, If such hi
It not been your habit. Man hs
fought against divine truth ever sine
It it was made known, yet hundreds
generations have gone, and the fiat
of God still stand. All civilization
N the laws, customs and traditions {
enlightened nations have sprung sole
in from the truths and principles s.
forth in this book. To them, to-
does woman owe her refinement, h.
ut elevation and the all powerful inf
ences which have so effectively CO..
solidated, purified and strengthens
d society and the domestic sphere
which she mainly finds her pleasu
a and happiness. AS akin to this SUI
ject, let me most emphatically enjo
on you to avoid as you would polst
the false and wicked cause of infids
ity. There is much of it abroad
the land and it is said to be alarr