The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1893-06-16
COMMENCEMENT DAY.
st. Mary's Academy and wasco Inde-
pendent Academy Exercises.

Commencement day-that event of
the year which is the acme of interest to
an entire community, of pride alike to
pupils, parents and faculty-the auspi-
cious hour when class associations are
severed, and those who have acquired
the sum of knowledge volunteered by
the academical societies stand upon the
threshold of mature life to battle with
the world, equipped with that education
and discipline pertaining thereto! The
event is solemn as well as joyous, and
its pathos is not hid by the bold decora-
tions of vine and flower and the wealth
of perfume of countless roses.
Two of our highest and noblest insti-
tutions yesterday launched from their
friendly walls number of human lives,
who will henceforth be called upon to
for the future-St. Mary's Academy and
the Wasco Independent Academy of
The Dalles.
ST. MARY's.
The spacious hall of st. Mary's Acad-
emy was filed long before the hour an
nounced for the graduating exercises to
commence o'clock p. M. yesterday.
The platform was very handsomely dec
Grated with sprigs of tamarisk and the
ilex-leaved mahonia. Every niche was
occupied with picture, beautifed with
vines and flowers. The chandelier was
hidden with its burden of roses, and the
air was fragrant with their perfume.
An exquisite floral motto above the
stage read ssGod Bless the Friends We
Love-" Four pianos had place upon the
stage, and as the appointed hour ap-
preached for the commencement of the
exercises the stage was suddenly en-
tered by twelve young ladies in white,
who seated themselves at the pianos
and there burst forth such musical
welcome as fairly electrified the audi
ence. At its conclusion they retired,
leaving Miss D. Fredden upon the stage,
lwho delivered the salutatory. In a
graceful manner she welcomed the as
sembled guests, touching upon the love
of her school associations and her tutors,
and the inestimable value of the lessons
taught in all that goes to make pure
and noble womanhood.
Retiring, the stage was filed with the
pupils of all ages, who rendered the
vocal solo ''Visions of Home.'
"Cultivation of Literary Taste" was
the subject of a remarkably forcible
essay by Miss F. Lewis, one of the grad
yates, who chose for her subject one of
those which has been widely discussed
by the press and pulpit, relating to the
evil effects upon the mind of cheap
literature. For the proper cultivation
of literary taste she .dilated upon the
necessity of providing good literature
for children. By far the greater share
of that now recklessly distributed and
carelessly allowed TO be within reach by
parents and guardians tends to ruin the
memory and impair all the mental
faculties.
An instrumental solo was next rem
dered entitled civilian Tell," a melo-
dious selection calling for great dexter
ity upon the piano.
Miss L. M. Hinton, graduate, next
read Echoes that being the subject
of her essay. 1t abounded in interest,
and after reciting some of the remarka-
bic instances in nature, and relating a
pretty myth accepted for truth by the
barbarians as to what makes the echo,
drew therefrom the truism that since
every object in nature has an echo, and
every echo voice. SO it is with regard