Smyrna times., 1885-07-01
Public School Commencement.

The commencement exercises at the |
close Of the public school term on Fri
day evening at the Town Hall was an
exceedingly interesting occasion. 1t
was the first, but will not be the last
by a long ways; rather, we think, it
will become an annual occasion looked
forward to with each recurring period,
especially by those passing through the
years Of training, with an especial
interest. 1t will doubtless prove an in
centive with the most of the pupils
running through the whole course of
study, and the ambition to graduate
with honor will infuse life and deter
mination among the pupils, while it
will lift a corresponding load from the
Overtaxed teacher. The Hall presented
very attractive appearance. There
was rich simplicity characterizing
the adOrnments, in excellent harmony
with the occasion. The wall in the
rear of the stage was attraCtively ar
ranged with oil paintings, placques, a
shield handsomely embroidered with
evergreen and flowers containing in
the centre the figures 1885. On one
corner of the stage was large and eX-
quisite pyramid of lilies, Il companion
pyramid on the opposite side being
composed of roses. The chandelier
and brackets also came in for liberal
dressing.
There was some tardiness in getting
under way, but finally, the graduates,
speakers, Board of Directors and Town
Commissioners were comfortably seat
ed on the stage and at IA quarter after
eight o'clock Rev J. B. Quigg was an
nOunced to open the exercises with
prayer. This was followed with very
beautiful piece of music, 20, Thou God
| of My Salvation" l.. NJ. Price leading
off with the tenor, followed by SINH
lar solo by W. 0. Hoffecker, basso, the
other members of the quartctte being
Miss Elva Carrow, soprano, and Miss
Lizzie Mcdowell, alto, Mrs. i. NJ.
Price presiding ut the piano. This was
followed by the giving of diplomas tC
| the graduating class. The principal
L. Irving Handy stepped forward and
in that impressive manner that became
the occasion delivered a very neat anC
appropriate address. In presenting
the diplomas he remarked with shoN
of feeling, that they were decrees o.
parting between teacher and clas.
and also among various members
of the class. Those who had been helC
together by the ties of school life
would hereafter be held only by the af
fection engendered in former associa
tiOns. He said that he parted with hi
pupils feeling warmer and deeper in
terest in each one than when they
had first entered the school. The!
now represented his finished work anC
he felt pride in them, at the same tim
remembering with regret whateve
mistakes he may have made in thei
instruction and training. He remind
ed them that they were leaving tn
little world of school and passing int
the great, wide world. Hereafter the
must take up the responsibilities c
trne men and women. They have vii
tues and abilities, which, if prOperl
cultivated, would make them distin
guished for good among their fellows
| They have faults to correct as well a
, | virtues to encourage. War to tn
knife should be waged without intcl
mission upon such defects of characteI
{ In school life they had persevere
while others had dropped behind. Sin
, liar steadfastness of purpose should b
| ! held in all the concerns of life. 0
, finishing his address he took from
centre table at his side the diploma
, and presented them in the fOllOwin
, order: Mary Bewley Hall, Mar
Emma Reed, Beulah Clark Jefferson
+ Laura Maree FAIRIES, Fred. Hanso
Smith, Edward Forbes Gordon an
? | lnll 1,,., .
I then gave their hand in parting. I'll
r body of the diplomas are IL lithOgrap
plate 12x14 inches, executed on parcl
( ment paper, in II pretty design, pi
/ ture of the school building fOrmh
2 the centre piece They bear the sign
ture of the officers and the seal of I'll
+ Board of School Directors. This wa
e followed by lively piece of music
: Joys of Spring"
At this point John II. HOaecke
, who was master of ceremonies, steppt
:, forward and in few neat remarks
reference to the occasion, cOmplime
n tary to the school and especially Il
graduating class, introduced Rev. WI
# S. Robinson, of Milford, who for OIL
Is hour and quarter held the close
attention Of the large audience as
n unfOlded his theme -" The Inhuen,
is of the Common Schools on our Natio
p al Life"
THE ADDRESS OF MR.. ROBINSON.
5, 1t is difficult to do justice in a bri
). synopsis to a discourse of the bread
II and comprehensiveness Of thought Ell
70 braced in this Grafton. After a shO
Of review of the general subject, the liv
of nations, the influences that sta
IS them into being and the qualities tn
Y. keep them in perpetuity, he dated on
l., with the Pilgrim Fathers who fl
from the tyrranies of home to find
III place in the wilderness of Ameri
s. where they could be freemen-haviI
the freedom of conscience as we'll
le the freedom of their lives. 1t was
Plymouth Rock that were planted {
< seed that have grown up into IA gre
to free, prosperous, mighty nation.
was to these men rather than to Was
10 ingtOn, Jefferson, Franklin, &c, th
10 we owe those inherent principles
n, liberty which had been fOstered in t
rigid virtues that have been sometim
vt held up as u VeprOaeh, They prepar
he the ship which the ReVOlntiOna
re fathers launched into deep waters.
IN The American experiment in Cover
b, ment has established four points Tia
We're formerly considered impossible
the statesmen Of Europe. First-It h
IS established the fact that there NAV
Of law and order without vast standi