The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1892-06-02
The GRADUATING EXERCISES.
The Climax Of the Commencement Thurs
day Morning.

President Winston Makes an Eloquen
Address-The Diplomas Presented
by Bishop Northumberland Grand
Concert and AIumnae Association
Meeting.
Thursday was commencement day
at Salem Female Academy anC
the exercises of the week reach
ed the climax.
The Tide of humanity that has
gone to the Moravian church every
evening, began to move early this
morning and at 9 o'clock when the
strains of Mendelssohn's "Athalia''
by the orchestra, with Miss Alfalfa
Westbrook at the piaro, filled the au
ditorium every seat was occupied and
as usual standing room was at pre-
MUM.
The young ladies of the graduating
class occupied their accustomed
places. President George Tayloe
Winston, of the University of North
Carolina, Rev. DIR. Walter Moore,
Col. A. C. Davis, Supt. J. j. Blair,
Revs. 81. A. Brown. 81. C. Bowen
and others occupied seats on the
platform.
A scripture lesson was read by
Rev. W. A. Lutz and Rev. DIR. W.
W. Moore offered prayer.
The Salutatory, by Miss Emma
Kapp, was well written and read
with good effect, as was also the
class essay by Miss Blanche Wood.
Miss Susanne Mathewson sang
"With Verdure Clad" from Haydn's
Creation with power and
sweetness. This was decidedly the
most artistic vocal performance of
all the commencement exercises.
Principal Clewell in a few appro
pirate remarks introduced President
Winston, the commencement orator.
The address was short but full of
thought. The subject was "The Gull
ture of Women "The love of a
stalwart brother is beautiful" said
the speaker, and the most cordial
relations have long existed between
Salem Female Acad demy and the
University.
In 1920 a young lady graduated
here and young man received
diploma at the University. In 1922
the University graduate led the
Academy graduate to the altar. In
1874 the two went to the White
House together. Somewhere in the
record of mythology 1 have learned
that on the first of June there will be
similar reunion, and per-
haps in 1900 another similar en-
trance into the White House.
''It is customary for historians to
trace great human achievements but
the true historian will describe the
relations between men and women;
this is the keystone, the beginning
and the end of society. No matter
whether we believe the repugnant
theory that we are the descendants
of animals, or accept the story of
our creation that God has given us,
we must look for the beginning of
in the home. The first
woman who made home attractive
laid the foundation of progress.
Here is the work of female culture,
and it is perfectly natural that we
are more anxious about the culture
Of our boys than our girls. 1t is
necessity for it lies at the founda-
ton of all that is valuable in our
"He spoke in the highest terms of
the exercises, especially compliment
ing the music. which he said re-
minded him of his visits to Ger
many.
Tracing the history of woman's
culture he spoke of the cas-
tern life where woman is a slave, of
Der position in ancient Greece where,
she was as graceful, as beautiful, as
polished as woman can be without
of the Roman idea
where woman was considered nee
essary evil, of the absence of any
tender reference to her in Roman
and reached the conclu-
sion that there was no real life in the
woman of antiquity, that at best she
was only slave and a toy.
He declared that the first and
greatest conception of true woman
hood was found in the forests of Ger
many. Here there was distinct
for woman, for strength
as well as beauty. The early Ger
man presented his bride with spear
and a shield and a yoke of oxen,
and she became his life partner in
reality. The high conception of
woman today is but the blending of
German strength and beauty with
Christian culture. He spoke of the
great influence of Christianity in
and elevating woman
until she is almost ready to be ac-
corded place side by side with man
in every respect. He thought that
perhaps there was danger of going
too far along this line, that the de-
mands of city life, the broadening
arena which is open to her and the
high intellectual culture, may weak
en- her power where it should be
The multiplicity of clubs
in large cities is direct thirst at home
life and it's logical sequences is the
destruction of the home circle. The
women were unconsciously aiding
and encouraging this.
There are two contending forces
in nature, power and beauty, but in
all the upheayals and changes of
nature beauty is finally supreme.
That which is pure and noble is
always beautiful and will finally pre-
vail. Power is often coarse and
cruel. At first man crushes and
tramples on the weakness of woman,
inhales the fragrance, finally yields
and beauty is the conqueror.
Principal Clewell then said that as