Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-02-03
GRADUATED.
Thirteen Students at the
Normal School.
THE ESSAYS AND ORATIONS.
Addresses by Lieutenant-GOvernOr
Stephen M. White - The
Class Song.

ates" and three promising young mei
into the world of pedagogery from the
California State Normal School, was
the attraction at the Grand Opera
House yesterday at 1880 p. NJ, al
which time the boxes, parquet and
gal cries were comfortably crowded
At 2 p. M, the appointed hour for the
exercises to commence, The thirteen
successful students-unlucky number
filed in from the dressing rooms
and took seats in a semicfrcle on the
stage. The ladies all wore handsome
cream -colored costumes OF tulle, and
Looked az winning and captivat ng as
youth can be found in other climes.
The gentlemen wore the Conventional
black, prince albert, style, and seemed
not little confused in the face Of the
feminine majority. Just back of the
foot lights across the entire stage was
arranged q row of beautiful floral
pieces taken and gifts from parents
and friends to different members of
the class. While Meine's full
orchestra was playing an overture,
the Faculty and Board Of Trustees also
took their places on the stage, the
latter in the center, the former in the
rear Of the graduating class.
President Ira Moore announced the
following excellent programme Essay
=" That Life is Long which Answers
Lies Great End" by Miss Estella
Cowan. Miss Cowan's delivery was
unexceptionally good and her compo-
sition is indicative of a fertile and
we'll stored mind She was deservedly
applauded. The class history by Miss
Lucretia B. Morton was evidently
highly appreciated by the class from
the smiles it provoked from the
members. HELEN SulIivan's original
poem was of decided merit and de-
serves special ment on. Without the
prophesy by the class prophet Miss
Annette Hamilton the exercises would
have been incomplete. Through her
glass da ky" and by the aid Of
her "litlle red book she dreamed
dreams of each member and found
some learned, old and gray in the ped
agOgue field, others in foreign lands
as missionaries, but it was noticeable
that Miss Hamilton was decidedly do
mestic in her tastes as many OF the
ladies were fouud twenty years in eye
future" enjoying the bliss domestici-
ties bring. One especially had found
peace in gothic cottage in quiet
secluded spot and found joy i'll the
world wide, unappreciated good com
pany OF Il festive cot. The gentlemen
were also generously and charitably
disposed Of. Tue last will and tesla
ment oi the class, drawn in due legal
form was read by Miss Clara H.
Houghton
Hon. Stephen M White delivered
the Address to Graduates" which
was in substance as follows:
Honorable Members of the BO0rd Of
Trustees, the Faculty, Ladies' and
Gentlemen:
When | was requested to deliver
this address | hesitated, doubting my
ability to fit'ingly and appropriately
value to you and do justice to this oc-
casion. | assure you I appreciate the
honor conferred, yet do not expect
or hope to do more than introduce you
to the broad, open field Of life labor
now before you. The cause OF educa-
ton and the theme thereof has at all
times and in all ages addressed itself
to the greatest and most profound
minds. AS time has rolled on the
mind has naturally fallen into certain
grooves and channels, and these we'll
beaten paths have led up to TIE era
of philosophy, science, and all
the modern theories and meth
DDS which may all be comprehended
under the broad term of education.
Though we may never hope for per-
fection, yet we have the satisfaction
of knowing that we are tending in
that direction and that We are har-
vesting now the great harvest OF
truths, which are constantly being
discovered by exploration, lnvestiga
ton and analysis. We are constantly
being stimulated to higher fields and
extending the boundaries Of master
minds.
1t is true some have said that the
highest and most perfect status of
intellect is reached without the aid of
books, and we have not few exam
pies of men and women who have
proven themselves too great to be
bound by books, and who, as
by a mighty bound, have
cleared the realms of book
knowledge and stood eternal
monuments, but withal they perpetu-
ated their memories by books, and by
them they were budded into the world
of intellectual investigation, But
sages and philosophers we cannot all
be, and books we must have, but
with them there must be, in order
that knowledge be practical, coupled
action. Practical application, and
that is what the wisdom of the State
found necessary when they estab-
lished the Southern California Normal
School and made it an institution pur-
posely for the training OF teachers.
1t is no easy matter, as many sup
pose, to be good or even an ordinary
school teacher. A spoiled child
pampered in luxury and al
lowed by fond parents to
crafty every capricious desire
is problem in a school room OF more
consequence than any ever set down
in Euclid. Even the boy and girl
anxious, ready and willing to be
taught requires a care and watching,
the importance Of which few parents
com prehend. For this reason | say,
how important is it that tue study OF
human nature be carefully and
thoughtfully pursued. The child at
it's mothers knee, in its fathers
arms, is moulded into character OF
kindness, cruelty and a hundred
phases and characteristics, but in the
schoolroom the man or woman to a
greater or less extent is made. The
future of most men has there been
fixed. A teacher may be a cultured
scholar, yet when she is ushered
into the presence OF innocence there
is q thrill of revolt and every little
heart responds to it. Another, though
not great scholar, yet knows how to
1rox,, no l;ttIa ouas and warm their