Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-07-27

memories. For years they have been
striving, toiling, looking toward TO and
eagerly expecting this dsy 10 come and
crown their efforts with success, and now
it is here, and viii any of US deny tba: it
is to them an all important, all-absorbing
and all-iuspiripg day? From this day be-
gins with them a new era in their lives.
Il is milestone in theroad they are travel
ing.
AT the extreme southern point of Africa
is located the small city of Capetown. In
from the ocean; and looming up gradually
behind is the famous table mountain, from
the summit of which travellers tell US a
view can be had grand beyond the powers
OF pen to describe. At the foot nestles the
quaint and interesting town; beyond
stretches the limitless ocean, over which
the eye can travel for many, many miles in
the clear atmosphere, while turning back
ward the vision is entranced with view
of many mountain ranges, one behind an
other, rising higher and higher, until
finally the eye can go no further, when
mountain is reached that is higher than the
point from which the view is taken.
We are standing on mountain top to-
day with these young ladies and gentlemen,
aud in measure can enjoy the view with
them. 1t is a view just as plain to the
mental eye as that from Table Mountain is
to the natural eye. Here in the BACKGROUND
we behold the troubled sea over which our
young friends have sailed, sometimes with
fear and trembling, sometimes with hope
and courage; always with the haven of
safety in view, with strong desire to reach
it, and which they have reached to-day.
From the high ground occupied now they
look forward over many intervening eleva-
tons, until sight can go no further and
that which lies beyond is undiscovered
country. May those of US who have ad-
| vanced further in lifes journey and know
what IS to come assist as we can the young
explorers in their search for truth and
knowledge.
Graduates 1t was my good luck to be
one of the first scholars your good Princi-
| pal had the misfortune 10 teach. She did
her part well and | have never forgotten
| her efforts in my behalf You will never
| forget what she has done to assist you in
the years she has spent with you. Possibly
| some of you have tried her patience as
much as my class did, hope not-but if
| you have l am sure she has excused you
as hope she has me before this time
There cannot be the slightest doubt that
she enjoys with you, to the utmost. the
! triumph which is yours ! congratulate
! you both, teacher and scholar. May you
each and all receive this day inspirations
| that will last you through life and be ever
a source of profound satisfaction.
There is social side to the occasion we
celebrate to-day. During the years that
have passed while you have been together
/ daily at your desks you have formed strong
| ie4dships-ties that may not be easily
broken, and which viii in many cases last
while you live. They should not be
broken, but you may be separated and
| pursue divergent paths. The friends of
our school days are very often lasting ones
| The speaker looks back, with great salts
faction, to the attachments formed during
his school days. One sehoolmate is now
editor of thriving paper; another is a
lawyer; one lies in an early grave that will
/ be green in his memory while life, or
thought, or being lasts" fourth is the
| honored Mayor of our beautiful CITY; a fifth
was so fortunate as to become his wife,
and goodness knows what has become of
| the rest but it was famous class and am
| glad joined it. l cannot predict that you
| will all be as fortunate in the selection of
| your friends, but | hope you may.
There is also a practical, businesslike
view to be taken to-day. In the hurrying
! bustling, rushing life that distinguishes
American citizens from the older and
| slower moving communities of the Old
| World, there is not always time for the &C.
| quirements Of hi,her education by orr
young people, and great many 90 no
| further in our schools than you have now
| progressed.
1t is fair 10 suppose that many of you are
| spending your last day in school, and you
| will go out of these doors to-day 10 enter
upon the active duties Of life; let me say to
| such that you have no reason to fail. You
are now equipped and ready for the battle,
and with firm purpose and a steady de-
| termination you will conquer. 1t is desir-
able that yon go further in your studies,
and whether you place your names on the
| High School roll or pursue your course at
| home under less favorable conditions, do
not for moment forget that there is still
| plenty to learn and thar it is very important
TO you that you learn all You can.
| There is nothing so easy to give and so
hard to take as advice, and | was fully de-
termined when l began not to iufiict any
upon you, and what / just said l would
| wish considered as simply an expression of
what know is in your thoughts and part of
your determination and as an Endorsement
of your own views.
! feel disposed to say God speed to those
of you who finish your studies to-day. You
may graduate from and leave the Gram
mar School, but you enter the school of
practical life and your education will go on
just as fast and just as sure, and what q
| iilu anu tuuGdAlOn II Is tIdI We Te-
eeive IN our Intercourse with the world at
large-hard, severe, practical, enduring
II shapes our destiuies and overturns our
cherished plans. Fortunate is he who can
hx his aim on some desired end and stead
lastly pursue his course, never falteriug,
never swerving, till the goal is reached.
Some go through life apparently the crea-
lures of circumstances, swayed and moved
by every conflicting influence. Nobler aud
better is It to govern circumSanees than to
be controlled by them.
If we look down into the hearts and
minds of these young people assembled
| here, what ambitious hopes and aims we
should find. How many different and va
ried plans we should see, how many lofty
and grand expectations?
This young lady expects to continue her
studies through all the higher branches OF
learning that viii be needed to fit her to
shine in literature. Her name shall go
down as one of Americas brightest au thors.
Another will reach fame in the musical
world, third will become an educator her
self, and many shall receive instruction at
her hands. Others will lead in the social
circle, andin woman's potent way will help
| shape the destipies of the nation
Among the young men here We shall
find even larger variety of expectations
some of them crude, some well defined,
| out all quite real and decided. This one
has professional head. He will be a
lawyer, and even now he reads with pleas
ure from the treatise of Blackstone.
Through this only occasionally when the
spell is strongest.) His ideal of manly
greatness is found when be reads Webster's
mastery reply to Hayne, and coutemplates
the character of that great man. BY the
way, this is the proper place il the address
to ssy something about the future Presi-
dent and the probability of his being
among these scholars now, but at the spe-
cial request of well-meaning friends for
bear, though it hardly seems right to de-
part so far from accepted customs
Here is another graduate who will win
his wav fO fame as a poTsiriar. he Mill he