The Portland daily press., 1888-06-29
HIGH SCHOOL EXHIBITION.
Remarks by Chairman McAIpine and
Mayor Chapman.

1
the Mayor, Chairman McAlpiDe and the
other members of the High School Commit
tee, Superintendent fash, and many of the
teachers. The front of the platform was
bordered with evergreen and field daisies
and draped with yellow and white
bunting, the class colors. From above
festoons of bunting depended. Large vases
filed with flowers were placed on the plat
form. The front of the desk bore horse
shoe of daisies. In the arch of the window.
| just back of the desk, was the inscription.
"'Ss, e. N. w." the initials of the class
motto, white letters made of daisies on an
evergreen ground.
| After the exercises, published in yester-
days PRESS, were concluded, and they re-
Elected great credit on the young ladies and
gentlemen. Chairman S. A. McAlpine adj
dressed the audience as follows:
| MR.. McALPNE's REMARKS.
| Ladies and Gentlemen:
The class of 'SS, of the Portland High
School, has completed its work, as a class.
| we, whom you have chosen to specially
| direct, care for, and nurture the common
schools, deeply conscious of the responsible
| ty you have placed upon, and valuing mighty
| the commence you have reposed in us, take
| just pride in presenting this class, as an
example OF the result secured by well ar
ranged system of popular education. We
| congratulate you, that, with proper effort
and self-denial on the part of parents, a
| good education is within the reach
of every. child in this city. II
may surprise some to know that the
requirements for graduation, in the Classical
department of the Portland High school
equal or exceed those of the best colleges at
thesbeglnning of this century. The English
course is equally thorough and exhaustive.
we congratulate you, also, upon your inter-
est In the cause OF education, shown by your
attendance here.
Nothing Is of greater Importance to us. as
a body polite, and to each of us, as citizens,
than the common school system. Upon ii.
more than upon all else, depends the stabili-
| ty Of our government, the prosperity of our
country, the comfort and safety of each citi-
zen: 1t is often said, that what costs the in
divldual nothing directly is usually under
valued. The continued attendance of six
thousand children in our public schools dis
proves the maxim, In so far as many seek to
apply it here But the maxim is misapplied
The major expense of our schools is paid in
the time of our children, and the labor and
self denial of parents, for the maintenance
while attending school; This. could
sentiment 1t will show a sad decay of
patriotism, of public spirit, and of enlight-
ened self-interest. if the people ever lose
their interest and their faith in the common
scnool system-a priceless heritage from our
fathers, which must by us be transmitted. in
1ull force and vigor, to those who follow,
The youth are the hope of the State. -
Upon them will soon rest the burdens. the
cares and the guidance of the world They
must be prepared to keep step with the Sin
creaslng purpose" of the age.
So nigh is grandeur to our dust
SO near is God to man,
When duty whispers low-thou must
Inc youth replies, can.
How bright is our hopes how radiant is
tnelr promise; how great will be their oppor-
tunlty; how grave is our responsibility.
we are apt to beittle our times an / our
duties. Let us not do so in this case.
What times are better? To the sentinel
mat honr Is regal when he mounts ON guard.n
Well for us if we can so train the mind
ana shape the character of our youth, that,
through them, the world will be better that
we have lived In it.
Turning to the class. the speaker addressed
them as follows, and presented the diplomas:
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Glass of 'ss:
Alter long years OF labor, you have at
tanned an honor Of which you may well be
proud. You are now entitled to diplomas.
certifying to your proficiency in the studies
OF the prescribed course in the Portland
High School.
1t gives me great pleasure to say that Won
and self-respect have won the respect and
commence OF your teachers, and will leave
with us all pleasant memories.
Inc knowledge you have acquired is of
great worth, and the mental training gained
by, your studies will be Invaluable. It viii
AID you to think and judge rightly in the
many questions which will challenge your
decision In the coming years. 1t fits you to
become Intelligent and good citizens, and
this, take it, is the main purpose and end of
the DuDllc schools tn haa0ma III
izens is a laudable purpose, and to attain
that end should be your ambition.
This for most of you, presume, is the
close of public or private school work.
far more exacting school
tna ,i I. any you have. yet attended. Happy
will it be for you. if you have so improved
your minds that you can grasp its lessons
ranked by an unvarying standard, and for
tne most part at your true worth. 'sThere is
no excellence without great labor" How
ever perfect your ideal, and however high
your aspirations, it will only be as You put
your thought in act, that you will receive or
deserve credit.
"The world which credits what is done,
Is deaf to all that might have BEEN"
Slowly with the years, along with the ac-
QUESTION of knowledge you have been build
ing what's Of far more Importance than all
lear learning, and all ese-character-.for, ''con.
character rules the world. Upon this, more
than upon all else, whether of success or
failure, whether of wealth or poverty.
whether OF prominence or obscurity, will de-
pend your future stations and happiness
40 better counsel can be given you, / think,
tnan that, in whatever circumstances you
are placed, you adhere, without compromise.
to what you believe to be right
and preserve, at all hazards, your individual
seli respect. This, kept bright will win
your associates and the world. 1t will de-
termlne your conduct. In prosperity it will
De balance and restraint; in adversely
guide and support In both, a safe counsel
lor. Bear always in your minds, and often
recall Shakespeare's immortal lines, worthy
10 be worn as jewell upon the heart of
every true man and every true woman:
'Ihls above ALTO thine own self be true
; and II must follow, as the night the day,
Ihou caDs't not then be false TO any man.
Congratulating you upon this day. and
wishing you each and all the fullest measure
OF success and happiness, it now becomes
my duty and my pleasure to present you
your diplomas.
The Mayor then awarded the Brown
medals, in the following words:
MAYOR cHAPMAN's REMARKS.
=, Again are we reminded that, in school life.
the climax OF interest is reached in the All.
sorbing hour of graduation. Around this
pIiel lIduSltlon perl0u,-the scene of warm
congratulations as well as of regretful fare
wells.-cluster myriad of thoughts LINKING
vivid experiences of the past to hopeful an,
ticipatiOns of the future.
Into an occasion fraught with such ex-
ceeding interest enters now the sacred offer
ing Of memorial to impart additional signif-
canoe and force.
Its mission to hallow the Joy of festiyity
with sweet remembrance of the departed: To
signallze the trumphs of existing merit with
suitable tributes of esteem. And it does
not fail OF its purpose for, with its coming.
reverence and affection kindle at the thought
OF him In whose memoryI such honors were
established; while no less does its presence
Drlng the inspiration and glory of reward.
Never does the school-heart throb with
quicker and more responsive pulsations than
when, amid enthusiastic applause beloved
schoolmates are accorded public recognition
OF that merit which the bestowal of the
'Brown memorial medals implies.
therefore we honor the noble motive
which instituted such memorial; we recog-
ME the benefits of its service in practical
operation, and extend our heartiest congratu-
latlons to the recipients of its honors, not for
any intrinsic value which the prizes NAV
possess, but for the story which they tell Of
resolute purposes; of patient application, of
worthy achievement; and, because the evil
dence OF well-doing in the past, the certain
prophecy OF greater development and sue
cess in the future.
Inc following were the fortunate recipients