The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-01-26

MORE Gaps AND GOWNS.
But the Girls Looked Pretty
Despite Their Co.'S
tune.
AND THE YOUNG lIEN AWRY
High and Training School Exercises
at the New Opera House
Medals and Diplomas.
AND THE YOUNG HEN AWRY

The curtain of the New Opera House
has risen on many pretty scenes, but
never on one more delightful than was
disclosed last evening, when the seven
teenth class to graduate from the Jersey
City High School held its commencement
exercises. Carriages blocked the street
long before the appointed hour, and Mr..
Fred Decker, as head usher, had the as
sistance of Messrs. Charles A. Woolsey.
Frank Cole, Charles Clinton, Isadore L.
Ach, Edward L. Dusel, II. S. Culver,
Henry Bartlett, John Jardine, Addison
Ely, Henry Mcdonald and Frederick
Rowland, who were driven into the state
OF mind that amateur ushers usually ex-
hibit by the crowds that filled every
corner.
The rise of the curtain disclosed scene
which merited the applause 1t received.
II the centre were the twepty-one gradu-
ates from the academical department..
nineteen maidens daintily robed in soft
white academic gowns, the girdle OF Law
ender silk cord, and white Oxford caps
with lavender silk tassels, while the two
lone youths were Iobed in sombre black.
relieved only by the rakish tilt of the cap.
Atthe rear were seated the hive commercial
graduates. and to the right sat the High
School faculty, Professors Paddock. Eek
Ter. Miss K. A Speir, Miss Marie Bevier,
Miss Cornelia Nigent, Miss Cora
Withers. Miss Teresa CoppiDger, Miss M.
l.. Nicholson, Mrs. Sheppard and Miss
Field.
Among them were Police Justice
ent Brown. Charles L. Somers. Aid
erman McEntee. Superintendent Poland.
Principals Snyder, Haskell and
Wakeman and Mr.. H. c. Wait of
Hasbrouck Institute, while among the
clergymen were the Revs. Cornelius
Brett, Charles Herr. J. l.. Scudder, W.
T. Griffin, Arney S. S. Biddle and w. G.
Snodgrass.
THE CLASS EXERCISES.
After prayer by the kev. w. T. Griffin
and the presentation Of the c.ass to the
audience, which was accomplis he'd by Sup
erintendent Poland in a few we'll chosen
remarks, Miss Florence Taylor delivered
the salutatory, welcoming the guests in
a manner at once natural, graceful and
unstudied. AS Miss Selena McDougall
was excused from delivering her essay,
"Discretion," Miss Sophie G. Barrono fol-
lowed with Ancient Timekeepers," de-
scribing the bygone instruments for meas
uring the flight of time, and closing with
the recitation of Longfellow's "Old Clock
on the Stairs" The Committee of Ar
rangements wisely substituted for the
usual performance of the High School
lent male quartette, the Zethus, composed
Messrs. j A. York, Clarence I. Steele,
John H. Laster and Godfrey X. Reed
Seldom has an audience in this city been
privileged to listen to more enjoyable
selections.
Miss Grace Pauline Kelly chose for the
subject of her essay Character" in
which she INDUCED in several gentle side
hits at current politics.
1T requires strength and courage" she
said, ito swim against the stream, while
any dead fish can float with it. Moral
cowardice is displayed as much in public
as in private life. 1t is not always the
noblest and best educated man that is
sought after, but the lowest as his vote
is with the majority-there are those who
will prosurate themselves before the ignor-
ant, whose votes are thus to be OBJ
tanned"
Miss Amy B. Mitchell's essay on "Jupi-
per" was not read When Miss Nellie
James Crossman's voice rang through
the theatre, every eye was upon her, and
the attention of the audience was held
until the final word. Her subject was
"Memorials," and comparison was in
stJuted between the Pyramids and the
Smithsonian Institute, while hearty
applause greeted the recon- mendations to
make bequests prior to ones demise.
Miss Crossman's manner at once full of
grace and decision and devoid of self
finest of the evening.
The programme was divided into two
parts by the Zethus Quartette in 'Annie
Laurie" and an orchestral selection from
''Trovatore."
MIR. Charles D. Meyer opened the pro-
gramme with an essay which went far to
prove that in the class of January '92 his
sex makes up in quality what it lacks in
quantity.
THE FUTURE ATHLETE.
Taking tor his subject "The Future
College Athlete" Mr.. Meyer proceeded
to describe the college curriculum of 1850,
after the manner of Mr.. Edward Bellamy.
According to the essayist the subjects to
be considered will be football base
ball and general athletics. with
one hour per week each to the study of
Latin and Greek. This information was
CLEANED from college letter, dated 1850.
Mr.. Meyers attention was somewhat dis
tracted by the fact that his garb was un-
wontedly feminine, and he had not yet
become accustomed TO wearing his hat in
the house, but in spite of all, his essay
was distinct success.
Miss Mabel w. Bills and Miss Elizabeth
Herlihy were both excused from essays.
and Miss Laura Diana Russell followed
with Cost and Compensation" a lofty
theme well discussed in a thoughtful and
conscientious manner.
Most of the meanness of the world"
said the essayist ''is perpetrated by in
genious attempts to get something for
nothing. Labor. the expenditure of
vital effort in some form. is the measure
of values"
Miss Louisa Taylor's essay on Char
acter Building" was not read. and after
the Zethus Quartette had sang a humor-
GUS selection, Miss Emma Mallette Dear
entered to deliver the essay, Love of the
Beautiful" Before the speaker had
completed the first sentence the audience
realized that it was listening to the
nobIest Roman of them all. Her enun-
ciation gestures, diction, and above all,
her perfect repose won from the audience
the heartiest applause, and from the
committee the coveted Alpha Sigma
medal, awarded to the best speaker
of the evening. In the course of
her essay Miss Dear said. Poetry,
which makes language express ideal
beauty. can more readily enter into all
our sentiments. Poetry fashions, ac-
cording tc its own fancy, palaces and
temples like unto architecture. Happy
is he who, even in old age, can still keep
fresh IN his heart this fountain of youth,
this love of beauty; and who, as the
shadows lengthen around his life, can
still look with all his youthful fervor on
whatever is beautiful! in the works of
God or man."
The valedctory address was then de-
livered by Mr.. George Frederick Ege.
and was noticeable for well chosen met
aphore, graceful diction and elocutionary
uowers which placed il well in the front