The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-23
LAUNCHED INTO LIFE.
High School Graduates Deliver
Their Final Orations.
A NOTABLE COMMENCEMENT.
Great Audience Hears Eloquent Kssava
-Professor Hamilton's Address
Distribution of Prizes.


school, which was held last night At Ranke's
hall. drew = larger Assem- elage even than that
which hsa gathered the evening before upon
tbs occasion Of the vocal and physical culture
exhibition. Last night every seat in the hall
was taken, the floor space YVES alled with many
persons WAC were compelled to stand and the
gallery was crowded.
On the platform sat the members OF the board
Of education. Secretary Whitney Superintendent
=. J. Barnard, Principal John W. Hesson, Pro-
lessor John Hamilton, of the Industrial Uni.
ye.sity OF Pennsylvania, and the following
graduates: Miss Florence r. Smoke, Mr. Albro
Gardner, IT., Miss l. Pearl Case, Mis-. Elizabeth
u Burwell, Miss Lucy NJ stsrtrp, Mr.. Brackett
y. Case, Miss Annie V. Johnson, Miss May E.
Means, Miss Sadie Watson and Miss Jessie E.
Hurd
The stage was decorated with flowers And
ers-zreens. ceiling was formed OF white and
yellow silk, and prominent on the right side Of
the stsge was a bunch OF rhododendrons do
mated by Mrs. Alsora Haraer Fry. Over the cen.
ter of the stage hung the class motto, SCUM
RENTS p1rdtis," done in Marguerites. The whole
scene was beautiful, and the picture OF the
earnest faces OF the graduates formed a back.
ground interesting indeed to study As soon a
The graduates were seated ushers came rpon thu
STAGE sad arranged bouquets of flowers around
mem
sae orchestra rendered "Tbe Bridal Rose" a.
m opening number.
The salutatory Grafton was delivered by Miss
Florence r. Smoke, her subject b.ing "The ST.
len. Forces in Education" It showed care In
prsparation, and was delivered with earnest
ness The speaker likened human beings to
blocks Of unhewn marble awaiting the divine
touch to put life and character into
them. Then the school room was
described As the teachers kingdom
operated upon by Gods instruments. Tho
teschers unspoken influence was dwelt upon
In g siLcere manner and 3 tribute paid to all the
noble desds done outside the mere duty OF lead.
ing the mind in the way of teaching The benz
at OF example was proved by an allusion to the
good achieved by the inspiration of the story of
the lives 81 the great men of history. Rapidly
the young woman then sketched the
effect OF nature on the educational
progress OF the mind, aptly quoting
Goeths's saying that "a man should hear a little
music, read little poetry aad see 4 fine picture
every day of his life in order that the worldly
cares may not ebliterate the sense OF the beauti-
full which God has implanted in the human
soul" The speaker closed by acknowledging
the home rs the greatest influence in the educa-
tional forces of America. Miss Smoke was given
perfect attention, and at the conclusion of her
remarks was rewarded by round after round of
well-deserved applause.
grafton was the Republic and Public Schools"
In his opinion the people in a republic exer-
cised the highest powers, and all legislation
coming from the masses, it was of the utmost
importance that all classes should be intelli-
gent, 90 q to use their rights to the best adj
N absolute necessity. He felt that
the fact that each state had the
right to make its own laws regarding
public schools was unfortunate and that there
should be a national law regulating the matter
He also favored compulsory education and
serted that, by a lack OF it many children were
put to work at An early age and grew up in utter
ignorance, so that thery could not appreciate
the benefit Of our free institutions. Another
duty Of the schools was to train the hands rs
well 40 the minds. The Grafton closed with the
statement that il had been proved more than
once that it was cheaper to educate the people
and prevent crime than 1t was to punish those
whose ignorance made them break the law.
1.-THE Metric System" provided . topic for the
Grafton of Miss l. Pearl Case. This young
womsn threw considerable interest into her
subject and spoke well. She described the busy
habits OF the American people, and gave out az
her opinion that q great step in advancement
would be made when the nation adopted some
system Of weights and measures which would
simplify the process Of mental caicula-
ton, and she therefore spent her time in
endeavoring to prove that the metric
system would accomplish this. She illustrated
this by showing how much time was spent in .
tables OF weights and measures, and said If the
metric system was adopted At least enc year
would b saved to each pupil The speaker
then gave 6 brief description of the history and
meaning Of the proposed system. and then
brought her interesting speech to . close
By suggesting that the anniversary of
the discovery OF America by Columbus,
which was to be so deliberately celebrated in
this country next year, would AFFORD . fitting
time for the introduction into this country OF q
system like this which would prove great
benefit TO all By its use here it would also en-
able those who visited the Worlds fair to more
intelligently comprehend the exhibits Of for
eign nations.
The pupils of the High school then sang in
happy manner, Morning Light Is Breaking"
The graduation orstion of Miss Elizabeth NJ.
Burwel was upon the subject of "Our National
Perspective" Il opened with . noble quotation
from Emerson, America is another name for
opportunity Our whole history appears ike .
last effort OF Divine Providence in behalf OF the
human race" Shs then traced the history of
the country from ths date of its discovery and
described the forces that have wrought
the changes in national conditions. The
reasons for the prosperity of the COIN
tsy lay IN its marvellous resources,
popular form OF government and the fact that
Ii is Christ AN nation. The OWLS that
fhrss'ened the country were then pictured
boldly and icsrlsssly. The liquor traffic was
scored unsparfngiy ana the people VINO
talked temperance and voted to license saloons
were handled without gloves. The i'm
proved conditions of the workingmen were
remarked upon. and conservative action was adj
visc3 for both capital and labor. Miss BurYeu
closed by showing that the future prosperity
and salvation of the country WAS commits: 10
the young and they should properly regard the
sacred duty tina; devolvsd upon thsm IN the full
fllinent Of SO sacred obligation.
This wa, followed by Miss Lucy NJ Startup
who took the subject of her orstion tho
unique subject OF "Guanery." The address
opened with statement of the interest that the
nations took in the development of the art, the
millions that were expended annually in the at
tempt TO construct guns and TO build ships that
could sweep thousands out OF ex-
isteucs in the quickest and ceadltest man.
ner. She then showed that there was
S:est similarity between the science OF gunnery
aad the art of living Indeed, there are great
many huge cannon At for nothing but the iron
furnace, because in the casting thew were
s3otied. o. in service they were found unat for
use so in tie world, there are thousands VINO
have great opportunities. and who are rich IN
surroundings, but who arc utterly worthless iot
all practical purposes As in gunHery 30 In
think Ii strange 10 see the commander OF sn
army allowing his men to shoot NJ random,
wasting powder sad ball simply for pleasure.
AID vet there are many people IN
tbs enlightened age who allow themselves
10 waste their strength and energy with
10 definite end in view Misc startup brought
her admirable address 20 a close by words of
eacou-zssrnsut. that though defeat might
s,,nzrs,~a. .,.., . va, Ava-y effort toward right