The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1885-06-02
LESS SHOW AND MORE COM
MON SENSE.


tone of the sufferers" sends a COM
munication to this paper, which con-
tains not only good sense but clear
perception ola matter which certainly
is not in good taste.
There is no doubt but that simple
offering of flowers, may be given,
and yet hold the elements of appropri-
ateness as well as good taste, but where
a pretty custom degenerates into an
endeavor to outrank other competitors
in the number and size of the bou-
quets presented and also provides for
a feast of "banana's" or other fruits
it becomes, to say the least, vulgarity
which should be at once condemned.
In the custom of flower giving also,
there is much to regret for elaborate
designs are the most eagerly sought
after and that which might have
been simple as well as a beautiful
token of appreciation becomes only a
gIaring evidence of not allowing
'other peoples children to get ahead. I"
Our correspondent says truly that
there is humiliation in store for the
children of poor parents, who although
perhaps much more talented, yet see
their inferior rival, because of the
wealth of his parents, presented pub
licly with offerings which TO them is
an impossibilty. On the other hand,
also, there are poor parents who al
ready have struggled along at great
personal sacrifice to educate their chill
dren and who resolve that at 10 mat
ter at what cost their children who
take part, in the commencement exer-
cises especially, shall have as good a
showing in the way of costumes and
floral tributes as the children of their
rich neighbsr and the consequences
cannot fail to be disastrous all round.
Their may be pride in this, but it is
not of the right kind, and the child
upon whom so many hopes are found
ed and whose education has cost so
many hours of labor, nurtured in
such an unwholesome atmosphere, Is
pretty apt to be a disappointment in
stead of blessing.
While on the subject also, what
need can there be for the ''display
commencement at all ? Every one who
has attended these exhibits knows that
the peculiarly lofty ideas of the aver
age commencement essay and the rec
itations selected at random, is no evil
dence of superior mental achieve.
ments and when the "class histories"
are largely made up of twaddle con-
corning matrimonial prospects, and
personal hits and "calf" firtations, it
neither reflects credit on the pupils
or the teacher. There is very ridic-
ulous ring in hearing young and un,
tried youths and maids speaking in
high flown language of the 'long past
years with their weight of cares" and
good practical horse sense would sug-
gest while such youths and maidens
are by no means to be debarred from
either evolving ideas, or presenting
them as may be suggested by an &C
tive mind, yet their elders might at
least exercise in these matters
wholesome supervision. All in all the
commencement" has very much the
need of reform and the educators of
the country as well as the parents of
those receiving instruction from such
educators should take the matter
firmly in hand. Less show and more
common sense is good foundation for
the youth of our land to build upon.
The chronic alarmist who has been
prophecying that the west and south
N IL Al