Wichita eagle., 1888-05-26

lips. She has passed through many open
.sOpen Doors'' of knowledge and has ROW
entered the great arena Of life, there to
shine with as bright ulster as have the
most talented of Americas gifted daugh-
tiers.
And now we hear of far away cottage.
Beautiful groves, walks and drives sur
round it. and here may even be heard the
music Of little brook as it goes singing
on its way. Flowers, shrubery in pro-
fusion adorn the grounds. and as the
passerby is greeted with the deIicately
perfumed breeze, he wonders who can be
the soul of this home where nothing
seems neglected that would add to Its
beauty or comfort. AS he stops for a
moment to eniov the cool shade, the sweet
tones of piano break upon his ears and
he kearkens entranced by the beautiful
strains. Here the listener OF the class of
'SS, he would at once recognize the mas
terly execution, and would know that she
who so sweetly graced our school lie, has
equally graced this home, made happy by
her presence. Here indeed has the ''sea"
of life been made better by the inffowing
of this .'river'' OF Christian purity. But
passing from these earthly scenes, / fain
would penetrate the dark portals OF death
and view our entrance into lie eternal. l
would see an unbroken circle in that
heavenly home and hear that most blessed
OF rewards, well done, good and faithful
servant"
The Rev. E. J. Brown, president of the
school board, in very credltable manner
addressed the graduating class on learn
ing and life; he said:
Do YOU not perceive, my young friends.
that your learning is vastly less than life?
| turn TO the photographers Tor definl-
Uion of life. | find that W orcester gives
4 nr he word
He has doubtless endeavored to composs
and comprehend it in all It's range and
aspects. Yet after all how little he has
told us about it: how inadequately has he
made US understand what life is. Life
has more meaning than all the dlction-
aries unfold The writers OF all our
Iiteratures have been unfolding life IN al
the ages OF eur race, ana never more nor;
unanimously than now, and yet their
talk is by no means finished. In
deed it seems scracely well
begun. This being true, young friends,
life has not all been compTehended In your
little learning, life is greater than your at
tainmepts. You do not know it all. A
mistake is often made right here. From
The commencement platform OF the hlgh,
but also from the college and university
as well. the student often goes forth under
the delusion that he has gained the heights
The heights are above you. Lille IN Its
breadth and volume lies out before you
At the most you have gotten some of the
KEYS that will unlock treasure houses.
iearning-the learning of the schools
enriches and enables life. 1t brings into
life elements of mental wealth which en-
rich. adorn and beautify. 1t develops
and enobles life above Vegetation and mere
existence 1t was my fortune once &c
spend a summer among rude and litter
ate people. How poor their lives seemed
to be-pOor not only IL elements OF mate
rial wealth, but also i'll that which Ell
riches mind and heart Life seemed to be
bounded by the walls of their native
mountains and hemmed within the narrow
valleys in which they lived. An occasional
wretched log school house, with the most
primitive furniture, harmonized well
with the wretched attempts at
teaching which were made therein
for a few months III the year. IIfe sank
down to the lowest intellectual 1--we anc
all there was to enrich it was the GOSSIP
and tattle of the neighbOrhood and The
rude pleasures of vacant minds.
But even here, on our stirring streets
and amid the ferment of modern society
and the agitatiOns of the political arena
life NAV be poor and shallow. 1t may lack
those elements which make 1t full, mature
rich and noble One is not necessarily l1y
ing on a high plane and worthily. though
dispatches pour into the papers. a bal
and a party every week is by no means {
guarantee against shalloWnesS and emptl
ness of head and of heart. l charge you t
consider that whirl and rush and excite
ment are not the conditions of profound
and noble life. The shadows murmur
while the deeps are dumb
At the gate of learning life opens ou
into broader avenues and nObler delights
4 IL toll h.tI ~
even the more common duties of life Will
a gentler grace. a higher purpose and {
firmer hand. If the mind be enriched by
the treasures of learning the hands
should be given to more graceful deeds
and the life go on to nobler ends.
I trust that this beginning of your learn
inc has set YOUR faces in the right direc
ton and made you love the good and true
If the influence of your teachers and The
order of the schools have not strengthened
the good and helped it TO the control Of
your lives, then have they strengthened
the bad. and our work Is worse than fail
ure. whatever benign power may save you
careers from ruin.
But | am sure your teachers have
higher idea of their calling than that they
are machines or mere agents for meaSur
ing off knowledge. Learning without
learning to be right would not satisfy thei
ambition for you. They nave opened tht
gates Of learning TO you, but doubtless
their parting word would be let virtue b
your guide.
The performances of the evening wer
pronounced far above the average on sucl
occasions. The class Of 'SS made quite {
creditable showing, and the teachers o
the high school, and city superintendent
seemed proud of them.
The Rev. S. i. Hamilton will address tn
literary societies of the high school at tn,
First Baptist church tonight. 1t was in
tended to announce it at the commence
ment but was neglected.
The teachers of the city will hold thei
annual picnic next Tuesday, which will be
a most pleasant event. After this man!
of those living east will soon be Off OF
their summers vacation.