The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1886-06-24
The Schools and Graduation Exercises.

The Belfast city schools closed last week and
the long vacation has begun. The closing exercises
of the graduating class of the High school were
held at the Belfast Opera House Friday evening.
Our schools were never in better condition than at
the present time. The committee report marked
Improvement over last year. Mr.. Hines, principal
of the Upper Grammar, has proved an excellent
teacher, while the work exhibited by the gradu-
ates from the High school demonstrate the worth
of Mr. Rich, the principal. Miss French, assistant
in the High school for year. resigned last term.
She was an excellent teacher and her place has
been well filed by Miss Pond. Our citizens are
liberal in their support of the public schools and it
is gratifying that the returns are large.
The graduates from the High school were Theresa
Annie Davis, Susie Durham Black, Grace Agnes
Lord, Evelyn Antonctte Cottrell, Ralph Holbrook
Wight, Edward Havener Kelley, Herbert Tobey
Field and George Robert Poor. The hall was well
filled with friends of the schools and graduates,
and had been handsomely decorated for the occa-
sion At each wing of the stage pyramid of
flowers while several clusters ornamented the
tables. Depending from the arch over the stage
white lace curtain gracefully looped up.
Across the centre in semi-circular form was the
class motto, ">tcp by Step while below, wrought
in flowers a ladder. The orchestra was com
posed of Mr. Percy \. Sanborn, violin, Robert p
Chase, cornet, and Miss Mary Eaunce, piano. The
music was of course, excellent. On the stage
were seated the experimenting school committee
and the teachers of the High school. The Young
ladies OF the graduating class dressed i'll white
with pink hows,-thc class color = and all look
Ell lovely. The young men wore black suits, with
the class bows Rev. J. A. Ross acted as master
OF ceremonies. The programme opened with music
and then the Rev G.. W jenkins offered prayer.
It is not our purpose to give an extended report of
the essays OF to critcise them Suffice it to say
that all did well and reflected much credit on
themselves and teachers
The >alutary on the evils of Ignorant
Voting" by Ralph Hobrook Wight. The essay
displayed much thought and reading. He first
thanked the audience for their attendance and
addressed few remarks to the teachers and
pupils. He said there were two classes Of ignor.
ant voters-one class ignorant generally,
and the other class is too much occupied in acquir
ing wealth To attend to politics lie cited the
proposition submitted last spring to authorize the
county commissioners of Waldo county to hire mon
ey, and stated that only tenth of the
ciscd the franchise on that question. 1t was just
evil is the buying and selling of votes. 4 man
who sells his vote sells his manhood his character
and Is not to he trusted. One who buys vote is
as bad as the one who sells. One fifteenth of the
voters in this country cannot read their ballots.
Foreign immigration is one evil to this country. He
would have Il law compelling every voter to he
able to read his ballot. The remedy is general
diffusion of knowledge. He made an excellent
plea for better education in the south, and con
cluled b! quoting Edward Everett that knowledge
is better safeguard to the country than stand
ing army. He was presented with IA bouquet.
Theresa Annie Davis essay was "Attention to
tritics Trines have an influence upon character,
and We should guard against daily tribes Great
achievements are the result of tribes. Gr;yitation
was discovered by the falling of an apple A
spiders web suggested the suspension bridge
Attention to details ensures the success of the
business man. \ kind word is trte, but potent
for good. She quoted Michael Angelo. "Trihes
make perfection and perfection is no trihe."
Conservatism a Check to Progress" was the
title of the ESSAY 10y Edward Hayener Kelley. The
speaker demonstrated that all new ideas are OPP
posed by conservatism. 1t hindered progress. 1t
is the same with religion; Luther was imprisoned.
Patriots are oppressed and inventions retarded.
Morse was called mailman by Congress when he
wanted an Appropriation to perfect his telegraph
enterprise. Conservatism acts as a check TODAY. |
We are too conservative on the temperance ques-
ton, and are willing to let rum flow when by cNer-
ton its sale can be suppressed.
Miss ida Mace, one of Bclfast's Young singers, |
delighted the audience with a solo which was cN-
cellenlly rendered she has Il sweet musical |
voice.
susie Durham Black dscourscd on "Impres-
sons.' She comparedi impressions with words writ
ten the sand and on the rock. Some are fleet
ing and some lasting. Impressions received at |
school are lasting. The impressions of the moth
cr's character are potent upon the future lives of
children. 1t is what that leaves the i'm
preston upon others. The lives of great men |
have left lasting impressions upon generations.
Use of Pictures" was the subject of an excel |
Icm essay by Grace Agnes Lord. She drew |
vivid picture of moon light Another |
homc-like picture portrayed was the family group |
about the open fire 1t is grand thing to hear an
Old man portray and live over his life. In olden |
times people got their ideas from pictures scenes |
in the Bible.
Herbert Tobey Field gave the Past and Future |
Of the elias, of lSs6. He said that in 1852 twenty
even entered the lllgh school All had dropped |
out but the present eight graduates. For the flu |
ure Of the class he portrayed Miss Davis as sue
re>ssul teacher, George Poor as an inventor, |
Miss C"ttrcll as an actress, Kelley as the proprie-
tor "i Il manufacturing establishment, Miss Lord |
Is Il novelist, Miss Black as the happy wife of |
successful business man, and Wight as a scientist |
George Robert Poor's essay on the ''Rcsuts |
If the Present Land system He said il appear
Ad to he the policy of the government to ret its
public lands ont of its hands as soon rs possible |
After the revolutionary war government sold pub !
lie lands 10 raise money to pay its debt. He de
p"rcd the system which puts our lands into the
lands of Il few men. lie said we are approaching
he condition of ireland, More land.orlism is |
shown i'll this country than in all Europe.
"Ruin of Time and Naledictory' by Evelyn An
onette Cottrc. Her tribute to the class and
earhers was very touching. Those to follow in
he footsteps of the class of 1856 She urged to press
IN and reach the goal Her essay was Il good one
md we'll delivered.
Rev. Mr.. Ross then awarded the diplomas.
The class ode, written by Miss Black, and en-
titled ''Stcp by Step" was sung by the audience.
The exercises closed with benedicton by Rev.
ico. Z. Tufts.