The Indianapolis journal., 1890-06-18
RECEIVED THEIR DIPLOMAS
High-School Course Completed and Now
Ready for College or Life Pursuits.
Nine Graduates of the Forty-Five Read Inter-
esting Essays or Deliver Thoughtful Ora
tions toa Large Audience Winner.


There has probably never been q more
select audience in Tomlinson Hall upon oc-
caslons of similar character than that
which assembled last night at the twenty
second graduating exercises of the High
school. The front seats on the lower floor
had been reserved for friends and relatives
OF the Graduates, but back of them the
he'll was crowded. as were also the gal
leries. AS the class took their seats. while
Milier's orchestra were rendering selections
from the opera "The Brigands." they were
received with applause. Taken as a whole
they appeared unusually young for pupils
who had completed four years in the high
est years of a common school education.
But with their youth it may be said
that their faces were exceptionally bright
and intelligent. and judging from the liter
ary efforts of nine of their number they are
not below the high standard of the school
in point of mental development
The programme, as it was carried out,
was not too lengthy to prove entertaining
and Instructive on so hot a night. Rev.
John Baltzly opened the exercises with
were then allowed to deliver their
productions without individual in
introduction. Miss Mamie Reiffel,
the first essayist. read paper on "An edu-
and work of Laura Bridgman as her cen
tral idea. Heaven endows man, she said,
with great blessings. but the two most i'm
gortant are the senses of sight and hearing.
beauties of nature and the voices of loved
ones. Ihe education of Miss Bridgman,
who was both deaf and blind, was only an
example of what can be accomplished
Snaer pncr dlscouraging surroundings. She
the little household duties that came
In her way. In 1887 DR.. Howe, of the Bos-
ton Institute for the Blind, took her under
his care, and gradually taught her the
names of objects by the label system. She
had been with him for one year, but in
time she acquired considerable skill in that
line. In four years she was learning geol-
ogy, geography and history, and subse,
the blind: Her life, the speaker thought.
suggested useful lessons whereby one can
learn to forget self for others.
Miss Mary Todd read an interesting essay
On The pathos of Dickens" showing q
careful and systematic study of his works.
From 'Pickwick Papers" Dickens's first
book, to Edwin Dr0Od," his last and un-
finished work, his readers are impressed
The latter, the speaker thought, is as pOw-
erful in holding the attentio of the reader
as the former. Dickenss pen-pictures of
sorrow and suffering affect human sympa-
thy, for such scenes were based upon his
personal observation and experience. As
an author he lived in his books and suffered
with his characters. The pathetic element
in his stories has had a refining influence
upon mankind. 1t arouses sympathetic
feeling in his characters and quickens his
roadarQ N N
aid people in real life.
The first oratiou of the evening was de-
livered by Frank r. Shepard on the sub
Ject, Should school boys have outside occu-
pationsl' The speaker answered the ques-
tion In the affirmative, limiting his conclu-
sion to certain conditions. School boys are
of two classes. he said-those who pay for
their education and those who are able to
side financial assistance. To the latter class
only his subject was applied. He
gave several examples of work that
could be made profitable, and earnestly
during spare moments for a little spending
money. Such work gives the young man
an insight into business principles,
although the advisahility of such course
depends largely upon the boy himself. In
general, however. outside work is advan-
tageous, laying, as it does. foundation
for future prosperity and increasing self
respect.
w nat should United States Senator
BET" was the question discussed and an
are written qualifications. she says. of age
and residence, which are required
before & citizen SI is is eligible as
Senator but beyond tys .hot1d these ere
served. A Senator should have thorough
knowledge of American and international
law; he should be educated by travel at
home and abroad; and he should be thor
atx of ofD In. he,
gets the broad and comprehensive knowl-
edge that enables him to serve his constitn-
ents as he should. He should vote accord
| ing to mis- honest convictions without re-
gard for money OF hopes for reelection.
Miss Mary Grace, Smith discussed
in their behalf. Many of that
class, she said, do not lack
| purpose, although it may act gradually.
In the life of every person there is much of
| which the world is ignorant, and in the
| hearts of the ''commOn-p place" people there
may be hopes and ambitions which do not
| appear to the casual observer. People
| must make allowances for such, for their
| lives may have been blighted by unfortu-
| nate circumstances.
| Mcdonald Robinson delivered the second
| and last Grafton of the evening on THE
| newspaper and American civilization" He
| views, and handled his subject
with ability. The American press.
/ he said, has done more to advance
| the country than any one other institu-
| tion. 1t has promoted national unity and
| made possible liberal democracy in our
government The editor of a great daily
| has a great influence in framing and guild
| ing public sentiment Men like Greeley,
the speaker thought, have had more inhu-
| ence on the affairs of government than have
kmany men in the halls of Congress. The
| newspaper is an educator, and should ele-
| vate its readers morally as well as intel
lectually. Party prejudices should not en-
| ter it's makeup. but only those elements
| which tend to secure the education, cult
| ure and perfection of the people.
Miss May Self read an essay on Travel
and reading" claiming that both are neces-
sary factors in thorough education. To
see, she said, is better than to read of what
others have seen, but perfection can best
be gained by the combination of the two.
Miss Self advised her hearers to read be-
fore. during and after travelling.
THE giving of gifts" was Miss MAY
| Louise Clossers subject for essay that
was exceptionally interesting. The Gus
tom of giving gifts. she said, reaches it's
climax in this country at Christmas time,
when the tokens we bestow upon our
| friends show depth of purity and love.
Pride often regulates gifts. Miss Closer
said. and often frugal meal follows a
costly wedding present that was deemed
necessary. The ideal gift is where the
| heart-strinps as we'll as the purse strin ps