Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-06-22
FRIENDS comuEsoiEMEsr
The Exercises IN the Meeting House,
Large Gathering.

A class numbering 10 of the Friends
school pupils received their diplomas last
Friday afternoon from the hands of the
principal, Isaac T. Johnson.
A little after 3 o'clock visitors com.
tnenced to arrive, and at 800 when the
exercises commenced, the meeting room
was almost filled. The platform was pref
tily decorated in cream colored muslin
and trailing plants The graduating class
occupied benches facing Ahe audience. On
the same bench were Principal Johnson,
Enos l., Dean and George l. Maris.
Mr., Johnson with a few predatory words
as 10 the nature of the annual occasion in
troduced the first essaSist, Jeanette T..
Cam, u no spoke on the topic THE Mis-.
sionary spirit and Its Gonduests." The
various successful missionaries of the
world were referred to. among them
Christ Paul Augustine, the Jesuits, Liv-
ingstpne, &c. Ethel Eden Bach read an
extremely interesting and original paper
on the Use Of Fiction, one that some Of
the listeners thought might be placed. id.
vantageously, above the Fiction shelves in
the Institute orany other library Elizabeth
Nields chose the always attractive subject
q harles Lamb, speaking especially IN
ms genius Tor description. $, Bell ltey-
mol read an essay on the knights of
Malta. The School Girls Future was
The subject ui All essay read by Margaret
Mhhr i'alley Speaking ON the topic of
the Charm of lrvings STYLE" Anna
Vernon, after stating that Irving was the
llrst 10 bring American literature up to tine
English standard, and that while it has
been asserted from certain directions that
IRVING was Copyist OF the AddiSonian
style, she believed he far eXcelled his al
legged master.
sarah Bancroft read an essay which was
htard with ease all over the room upon
The question, Was Whittier National
Puei or the Poet Of New England p Most
OF Whittiers national poems were upon
the subject. or were closely bearing upon
the tome Of antIsavery. But he had SYM
pAthy for everyone, white rs well as black
Most Of his New England poems were
written after the war II is said that every
corner and spot in his home in Essex
county has received notice in his poems
The speaker clnssed Whittier as the lead
lng New England poet, The others in
order are: Lowell, Holmes, Bryant and
LpnEtcluw. Whittier's natinnaism was
shown IN his marked patriotism. Alma
Frances Groves paid a fine tribute to
woman in her essay The Lady With the
Lamp known as Florence Nightingale.
Inc closing essay. The Influence Of
PArlsian CIVILIZATION, Was read BY Murray
Snip.ey llpelund, who paid what may pos
SiDlN lie criticised rs excessive adulation to
y hat the city of Paris. rs u centre Of civil
ll2atlpu, has done for the world.
At the close Of the reading of tile essays
Principal Johnson distributed the school
diplomas 10 the class Of ~ who are as
follows Ethel Eden Bach, Margaret
Mabel Bailey. sarah Bancroft, Jeanette
4, Cann, Nina Frances Groves, Murray
ShlPley Rowland, Elizabeth Sields, s. BELL
Reynolds, Nelly A. Todd Anna Vernon.
The address to the graduates was made
By George L. Maris, ia caugratulating
the class on what thev had acquired lie re.
minded them that only nov are they com.
meneing their real education. Incidentally
the speaker talked upon the study of Eng
liSh Is 4 subject that will be given more
attention in the schools during coming
time.
II was announced that lie Baron Barker
was awarded college certificate Those
who received kindergarten Training GER
tiiicates were Mary Bayls Lee, Mary &.
Price sarah $. Rumfofd, Clara Conf ton
Clark.
Al the close Of the exercises the visitors
passed across West street to the new school
rooms, where the various apartments were
examined, The work Of the drawin. classes
under the charge Of Glawson S. Hammit;
was very much admired