Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-12-24
NORMAL SCHOOL.
Christmas Graduating Elk
ercises of '86.
SEVERAL EXCELLENT ESSAYS.
Fair Students Views on SubJects
of Wide Divergence
and Scope.

to bottom with people. The stage was
occupied by the students of the school.
the graduates being seated in the front
rank.
After all the students had sang the
chorus of Bellinis' "Mighty Jehovah"
in very fine manner, the Rev. DIR. A.
J. Wells offered a tervid invocation.
Then came the exercises.
A. M. Guidinger's grafton on the
mobility of Toll was the first essay.
The speakers theme was that in toll
there is nought that is vile, but all that
is noble. He elaborated on this maxim
in well chosen sentences in a logical
manner and his Grafton created favor.
able impression.
Miss Mamie III. Perry read paper on
"The Teachers Enthusiasm" in which
she discussed quite skillf-lly the respon-
sibiities and duties devolving upon the
instructor and defined thoroughly what
was necessary to acquire that skill and
The esssyi.t in repeating the quotation
of the greatest of Greek orators, that
the secret of success is not action alone,
but the power OF moving others, init
mated that as enthusiasm on the part OF
the teacher is the most certain way OF
gaining that power, it was worthy or cul-
tivation.
Miss Lucy M. Grants essay on "Class
History" was brilliant resume of the
pleasant years spent by the happy band
of grsduates--twenty seven girls and
one boy-who are now ready to leave
their studies to enter upon the earnest
duties of life. The story of the years
passed at school is brightly told and
contains very happy touches of humor
The essay of Miss Mary M. Baker was
entitled: mature in American Poetry"
1t is panegyric of mother nature as il
lustrated by our American poets. The
essayst was very fortunate in the selec.
tion of her quotations and her paper was
we'll written.
80, Happy the Maideni" chorus by a
number of the young lady students, ac
very well rendered, the fine soprano
VOICE OI MISS 0flRut DtlDR CSpcCldlIy
appreciated by the audience.
"Christmas Festivities" Miss Dora
Vickrey's essay, is a well.told description
of what the ii ie imports. The essayist
painted vivid picture of a happy fam.
lily seated around the wide fire in which
burn large logs of wood. She also called
attention to the poor who should not be
neglected at this season of the year when
man rejoices in the good things God has
given him.
James L. Walker delivered an essay
entitled "Class Prophecy" The essay.
ist foreshadows q revolution of pacific
though startling nature i'll the United
States fifteen years hence. Mans super
iority over woman will then have ceased
and there will be lady president OF the
United States, gracing the blue room of
the Executive Mansion, elected by the
Prohibition ticket. He has shaped out
for his young lady classmates and gradu.
ates important positions upon which he
descants humorously. The essayist con-
cluded by declaring it his intention to
become missionary in China, and kind
ly extended invitations to the audience
to visit him at his pagoda in the year
1900.
s.Romauce and Reality" is the title of
Miss Margaret H. Bryan's essay. This
young lady takes the departure that life
is so varied with its lights and shadows
that we seem to dwell in two worlds
Ip one romance softens everything that
is unpleasant and casts glorious halo
around commonplace life. In the other
reality robs every object of the aatter.
ing colors in which fancy loves to paint
it and discloses its imperfections. On
this theme the fair essayist has built
very interesting paper, full of philoso-
ply. The comparisons drawn between
these two worlds leads her to ask the
question, "What is a life spent in day
dreaming in comparison with one passed
on the battlefield of life, fighting brave
ly for the welfare of ones fellowmen!"
And her answer is that dreams fade
away but that reality is as enduring as
the everlasting hills.
"The Spirit of Rome," poem by Miss
Venia A. Kercheval, read by her, was
received with marked appreciation. 1t
describes in verse the splendors and
downfall of Rome. One scene is thus
depicted:
The rays OF the morning light, tender.
Flashed backward from armor and mail,
Before that swi vision OF splendor
The lights of the Orient pale.
And this is the reverse of the medal:
The sword at Rome's summons extended,
Long since was consumed by the rust.
Her tale Is q carnival ended
Patrician, plebeian are dust.
"The Song of the Triton" chorus,
was very much relished.
Mary F. KING read an essay on "Com
petition" The essayist takes the ground
that in all occupations of life, in all
pleasures, wherever man is, he is found
struggling for superiority. Competition
is inherent with the schOolboy, the soci'
ETY. belle, the business man, etc. Every
one wishes to be prosperous, and the crl.
terion of success is not the excellence OF
the achievement, but the degree to
which the work will advance the maker
above those around him. To surpass
and excel others is the main and chiefest
struggle in which mankind expends its
energies. The essayist then goes on to
show the good effects that this spirit OF
emulation has produced in the manufac-
tory, commercial and social world. Un.
der the fire of opposition mans powers
are brought out to their best advan-
tage.
"Expression VS.. Repression" was the
essay read by Elizabeth C. Henderson.
The fair essayist takes for her theme the
difference which exists between two
types of mankind: the talkative man or
the quiet man. She deduces from OBJ
seryation that the different occu pations
in life with their various demands upon
those who follow them have much to do
with the habit OF speech. The world is
apt to estimate the strength and intens.
inv of affections and emotions by outward
expressions and assurances.
The presentation of diplomas then
took place. The following are the
names of the graduates and the titles oi
their ESSAYS:
Lillian NJ, Baird .:......::;.;.,..,.,.