The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-22
SCHOOL DAYS OVER.
University Graduates Given
Their Diplomas.
ONLY ONE MALE GETS HoNoRs
Four Young Ladies' Carry on Degrees
Address by Rev. c. G. stratton,
ID. D., of Portland.


church last evening, the church being
literally packed with an audience that rep
resented the culture and refinement of the
city. The altar was pleasingly decorated
with flowers, foliage and ferns of native
growth. Dogwood with white blossoms in
profusion constituted the floral beauty of
the back of the platform, and ivy and
marigolds covered the railing. Several
vases were filled with roses, tulips, pansies,
carnations, rhododendrons and snowballs,
and maiden-hair ferns. The larger ferns
were in abundance. and there was q little
holly here and there.
The young lady graduates, with their
companions, presented a charming ap-
pearance, being attired in creamy white.
Miss Blanche Robinson, the graduate of
the music course, was attired in a costume
OF cream albatross, trimmed with pearls
aud beads. The other young ladies were
dressed in nuns yelling with white lace
and ribbon trimmings, an @effort to effect
simplicity of apparel being apparent, with
the quite desirable result that the gradu-
ates Of the normal course were simply
beautifully attractive. The graduates of
this course were Misses Isabel Dikeman,
Isabella McDiarmid and Helen E. Taylor.
They were quietly presented with mag
nificent bouquets of Mareschal Neil and
La France roses, helitrope, smilax and
iris lilies.
Mr.. Francis A. Noble was the only male
graduate, his course being the scientific
All the graduates, except Miss Robinson,
have submitted theses of their respective
lines of study which go on record for the
consideration of the university regents, as
follows:
Francis A. Noble, "Some Phases of
Chlorophyll;" Isabel Dikeman, The
Ideal an Educator" Isabella McDiar-
mid, Unconscious Education" and Hell
en- e. Taylor, Teachers as Specialists
The proceedings last night began with
an organ voluntary by Mrs. Clara S. Pat
terson, entitled Evening Prayer" ar
ranged by Clarence Eddy. A re Deum
followed, and then Rev. C. C. Stratton, D.
D.. of Portland, Or, delivered an exhaus-
tive address on "Our Times and Their
Needs" DR.. Stratton is now president of
the Portland, Ore, university. and was a
short time ago chancellor of the William
cite university of Salem. He was ten
years president of the University of the
Pacific at San Jose, CAL, and for ten
yN1AS was PtGcitCAb Va tilC d5-
sembly of California. Only an outline of
the doctors remarks can here be given.
He said substantially:
Each generation as it passes in order
owes to its successor the inheritance of the
past and the accumuiations of the present.
With the graduting class here present the
morning is spread upon the mountains
and the duties of the day are before them.
1t is fitting that the opportunity should be
improved by adding to the stores of know
ledge which you have acquired in your
course of study such a survey of the field
upon which you are to enter. and such re-
Elections upon the demands of our times as
will sober you with thoughtfulness re-
specting the grave responsibilities await
ing you and the best manner of meeting
them.
Our greatest effectiveness in life will de-
pend upon our fullest comprehension of
the times in which we live; of the currents
which move beneath the surface as well as
those which appear; of the general drift of
industry and trade, of literature and
science, of political and religious thought.
and the manner in which We may adapt
ourselves thereto.
To begin with the Pacific coast and its
needs, it will not be necessary to recall the
influences which contributed toward its
settlement. All the Pacific states lie so
near together, and have been so closely
united by business and social relations,
and have been so far removed in the past
that they should be considered together.
This Coast was not settled as were the
great states Of the Mississippi valley, by
the mere overflow of settlements further
east. Here We are separated by great
mountain ranges, and still they came in
great numbers sufficient to found grand
and prosperous commonwealths. A dis
tinct religious element mingled with our
first settlements and left distinct infiu-
ence behind. Then followed the influx of
the adventurous class, allured hither by
the fame of an Eldorado of mineral
wealth-first the young man with strong
impulse to explore the mighty West, and
next the young man filled with purpose
to win this present world, however he
might fare in the next. A few followed
who had failed elsewhere and desired a
new field in which to retrieve broken for
tunes, or perhaps, begin anew the expert
ment of life. Thus we received the rest
less spirit of adventure and q controlling
purpose to win this world-its lands and
its gold. In men of this mold the DO
nestle attachments and religious senti-
ments were comparatively weak. How
ever, these pioneers cut their way through
the forests, builded cities, extracted the
mineral wealth from the mountains, ex-
tended steamship lines, opened railroads,
and now, today, they exhibit TO the world
noble cities and great states, possessing all
the elements OF energy and hopefulness
as the reward of their enterprise. Allied
to this intense woridliness and lack of
spirituality is the gambling spirit of spec
ulation.
Another quality is still to be added. We
seem TO have restless, rowing spirit. n
want of domestic attachments and settled
habits. Males predominant over females.
boarding and lodgng-houses are more
common ana better patronized than else
where, the beautiful fireside circles, COM
posed of parents and children, spending
the evenings in useful service or innocent
recreation, are the exception. The young
people are abroad, widely distributed, at
ali hours of the day or night. Our cli-
matte conditions have something to do
with this. The sweet home circles of the
East are the social products of a harder
climate, which compels the family to re-
main within doors and cements the family
bond. The extremes of heat and cold are
wanting here. Nature does not shut us
up after the Eastern pattern. At all
seasons she permits the fullest freedom.
her balmy breezes, her, evergreens and
floral fraganoe attracting fine domestic
quiet 10 outdoor enjoyment-agencies
exertinr a marked inf3uenna ,,pov, y@o1Dta-