The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-05-29

Il UOWtI. Uucu OhCh III
stincts of honor, fidelity and honor
corresponding with the age OF chiv
: ilry,) desire for education, then tim
of settling down to an easy old age
This being so, what a glorious age i
that which posterity will see! w
can find some savage tribes to-day a
backward in progress as the ancien
races. Brute force might be prope
in some instances, but the advance
ment of man is race in which brail
is the great lever. The progress o
the past should stir us to renewed
work. He who fails to work goe
back, while he who works hard make,
a great advancement. Do not TURF
over a new leaf, for that wears ou1
the book of life, but begin on this
commencement day to improve The
pages that are now open.
The orchestra filled in a little in
Permission with music, Faust Queen,
by Ripley.
The next number was an grafton or
"Our Working Girls" by Miss Carrie
A Bachtle. 1t was one of the most
thoughtfully prepared on the program
and was well spoken.
Woman has always been an inter
esting factor, but neverso much so as
in the past fifty years. Indeed it is
| SO great to-day that this might be
known as Woman's Age. The field OF
| the working girl is an important Ques
ton. While this field has broadened
wonderfully, it is evident that the
majority receive scarcely enough to
support life. Girls may enter almost
any employment. There is another,
a prosperous class, which owes it's sue
cess to trained service and demand
for it's labor. Girls are now stunning
housework, which might be remedied
by more consideration on the part of
housekeepers. There is another class
whose children play upon streets
where virtue does not abound. They
may be in a city where millions are
spent for the churches, but they are
not reached. 1t is not money, but
education that is needed. BY means
of night schools in England rand
Scotland much is being accomplished.
Places Of good amusement and GYM
naSiumS have done much good. Many
homes and lives have been improved
and rendered pure by associations of
women who have gone among these
classes with their good work. These
associations have spent much money,
but the greatest gifts have been the
personal work of some noble women of
the day. Self help is most needed.
None are so poor or so highly born but
that they can do some good, making
some lives pure and grander.
John f. McBroOm gave an Grafton
upon "Modern Craftsmanship" 1t
was evidently the most interesting to
the audience of any on the program,
whether they agreed with him or not.
A 1fruitful theme for denouncing
party is it's corruption. The floating
vote and the almighty dollar form some
wonderfully fantastic combinations.
Last winter some bills were intro
duced regulating immigration and
many speeches were sent around the
country printed at government eX-
pense, but the pauper labor is still
brought in because it is the cheapest,
and the rich must have it in their
factories and mines. The Indian has
been starved, and shot down when he
showed his teeth. He is treated only
with whiskey seasoned by gunpowder
Great petitions are sent to Congress
asking for universal suffrage, and if
once granted both parties would have
to brace up. Financial bills have
been introduced thicker than dollars.
The last Congress put duty on al
most everything but acorns, ice and
office-seekers. While many eXtrava-
CANT bills were being passed by Con-
gress, the Democrats failed to make
their customary objection, and the
newspaper reporters appear to have
been off on a vacation. Every man
has right to ask for what he
wants, and he usually does it when in
Congress. The strength Of party
overcomeS everything-a minister will
vote for horsethief, temperance
man for saloon keeper. A twO-cent
cigar will gain vote. RefOrmers are
told by the old parties to wait, but
the voters of third and fourth parties
are now more frequent than previous
ly. The men who are independent
and threaten to leave party at any
time it does wrong WELD a great infiu-
ence.
Miss Kate L. Hovey recited "Home
Sweet Home" in very easy, graceful
manner. She held the closest atten-
tion of the audience. In conclusion,
the choir accompanied her in singing
one verse of the old song.
A chorus of twenty young ladies
sang Glover Song" and 81 would
that my Love-" Mendelssohn. They
were excellently rendered.
J. 0. Johnson gave an grafton upon
"Gustavus Adolphus," showing that
he had given much time in studying
this notable character. Adolphus was
one of the characters who tower above
their fellow mortals. Some have been
pre-eminent as soldiers, philosophers
and speakers, but the best qualities of
all these classes were united in this
man. Though but a boy of seventeen
when he came to the throne, he soon
succeeded in raising his country from
barbarism and ignorance to one Of the
greatest nations of Europe. A fine
orator, a lover of music, brave SOL
der, he was only eXcelled by Alfred
the Great in the field of morals. A
mighty struggle at arms took place in
Europe resulting in loss of 100000
people before peace was restored.
When Germany was overthrown by
Austria, Gustayus came to the rescue
and with small force over came the
then greatest military power of Eu-
rope. The cause in which he fought
accomplished this. 1t was an age of
bigotry, and Gustavus was far ahead
of his time. Though a Protestant he
was liberal. Since then liberal ideas