Los Angeles herald., 1890-06-27
Closing Scenes at the Sisters School
Oh Macy Street.
Graduating Exercises at the University.
Presentation of Diplomas-Con-
ferring of Degrees.

80 of the State Normal School finished
their school life yesterday afternoon, at
the Grand opera house, where
the graduating exercises took place.
The doors were opened at
O'Clock, and long before 2 O'Clock every
seat in the building was taken, and
people were standing up in the aisles at
the back of the auditorium. 1t seemed
as if all the flower gardens in the city
had been devastated for the occasion, for
nearly every one brought a bouquet or a
floral piece. These were given to the
ushers, who carried them to the front
and placed them on the stage just be-
hind the footlights. By the time
the curtain was rung up the
flowers extended back clear to it's
borders. Afterwards more flowers were
added to the collection, until it seemed
as if there was a likelihood of standing
room being at premium even on the
stage.
Promptly at 2 O'Clock the curtain was
rung up, disclosing the members of the
class seated in a semi-circle, facing the
audience, the young ladies all attired in
white and at the left several
young men in black. The programme
had been arranged with single idea in
view. There were no valedictories,
orations or class speeches. but every
graduate read short essay on literary
topic. They were all well written, and
many of them displayed a considerable
knowledge of books and authors. The
programme was headed ga Birdseye
View of Our Literary Inheritance" and
the essays were short reviews and criti
cisms Of various works and lines of liter
ature. There were altogether twenty
eight essays, each short, bright and full
of thought.
Miss Mary A. Lang opened the exer-
cises by inviting the audience to 60 with
her and her classmates to the shrine of
learning. Her essay was entitled ga
Pilgrimage in Good Company" and was
indicative of what was to follow.
Miss EllaG. Wood gave short history
of English ballad writing, including
both it's rise and fall. She thought that
among the English ballads are to be
found some of the sweetest things in the
language.
Miss Grace McNoah took the "English
Drama" for her subject, holding that it oc
cupies place by itself in literature. 1t
reached it's heights in the Elizabethan
age, but it's glory has departed probably
forever.
Literature in the Service of State
craft" was the subject of w. S. Good
rich's essay. He gave the names OF
several authors, including John Milton,
Dryden and Addison, who did much to
uphold particular cause in their times.
He concluded that their work in this
line had benefited their country.
Miss M. Helen Stores spoke of the con-
trast between Bunyan and Butler, both
as to their character and their writings.
of Bunyan with the "Hudibras' of But
Ter, to the disparagement of the latter,
which she said had become more quoted
than read now adays.
The books descriptive of out door life
were discanted upon by Miss Emma Nc
Lain, who thought that even if picnic
could not be enjoyed in reality it could
in imagination. Such books, she said,
must live for ever, for the scenes de-
picted therein can never die.
Miss Minnie O. Brownsill spoke OF the
depletion Of manners and customs by
various writers, and held that such
writer's were valuable in that they gave
glimpses OF things as they really were
at the time they were written.
Silas E. Coleman, in his essay on the
"Science of Politics." gave sketch of
Edmund Burke, and was of the opinion
that no one had bequeathed to mankind
such store of political principles suit
able to all times and the welfare of ma
tions as he.
Club Life" its value to many au-
thors, was discussed by Miss Ada M.
Kerlin. In some of the most noted OF
the olden-time clubs authors found ma
terial for some of their best stories and
essays.
''The Literary Drudge" as he was
when the profession of literature was
one of precariousness and hard labor,
was described by Miss Carrie M. Blan-
ford.
''The American Moralist," or Benja-
min Franklin and his almanac, was the
subject OF Philip McAnany's remarks.
He said that many of the maxims in
common use today were first printed IN
that almanac.
Miss Mary c. Bray, in her essay on
Legendary Lore" spoke of Irving and
his lively pen pictures, both OF this con-
tinent and OF the old world.
''The Historical Novel, and Its Stand
Ing III LITERATURE, WAS Vic suUJcCp Vi
Miss Edith M. Clark's essay Several of
the leading writer's of novels of a his
torical nature were mentioned, and their
work discussed.
Conformity to Nature" the subject
taken by Miss Mary B. Alexander, was
one of the most interesting essays of the
afternoon. She held that an idea to be
copied should be worthy of being copied.
So with poet whose works were worthy
of being copied. The best poet was one,
she held, who was natural. Among
those mentioned as portraying the nat
ural were Shakespeare, Cowper and
Burns.
"The Poet of Reflection" Miss Cora
E. Barton thought, was VIM. Words
worth.
Miss j. Maud Blanchard compared
Emerson with Carlyle, under the title OF
"The Apostle of Self-Reliance.
Chauncey F. Shilling discussed ''The
Novel With Purpose" and mentioned
several of the best of the class.
american Historians and Their
Works" was the subject of Miss Eldora
Lees paper, which was well written.
The work of some of the best character
painters was treated upon by Miss
Emma j. Gooch.