The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1893-06-21
High school ommencement.

DTS present at the Opera House last Thursday
light. where they were held, and highly credit r
BILE to the teachers and participating pupils
Diplomas were granted to five as worthy and
apable young men and women as ever COM
leted the course of study in the Ravenna
chools.
The stage was tastefully beautiied with living
erns and festoons of daisies gracefully pendant
rom the arched entrance at the rear, forming
olid background of blossomed beauty. The
decorations have never been surpassed by any
class OF graduates.
The program was ably rendered, without an
omission. First came a song by the entire
school, entitled Daughter of Error" in the
rendition of which some excellent voices were
discovered by the listeners, while the ensemble
was above that of the average youthful chorus.
The singing was conducted by Prof. Lightner,
official instructor of the schools. Miss -
presided at the piano.
Rev. o. A. Richards then stepped forward
and every head was bowed in reverent attitude |
as he invoked the blessing of God on the exer
cises of the evening. "Hark, the Curfews
Solemn Sound, by the school, was followed by
Frank E. Elliott in his salutatory. "The Aryan
Race 1t was very scholarly and compre-
hensive review of the origin of the race, and an
excellent summary of its geographical conquests
and the religious, moral and mental advance
ments of its various branches. From it came
and in it resides the civilization and humanity of
the world. The young man evinced a very
general acquaintance with history, that will be
of great future value to him.
Miss Eunice E. Fairchild read an excellent
essay on "Wealth and Fame" The notion
that happiness depends upon wealth, is false.
Probably the idle man, with his thousands is
not as happy as the poor cottager with his daily
industry. Neither will fame give peace of mind.
Alexander, with worldwide fame, still wept for
further conquests. The rich man, with all his
wealth and tame, may still be very unhappy.
Much of the evil of the day has its origin in
the love of money. Better toll day and night,
and be poor, than strive to be rich by fraud or
crime. Riches are not forever, but the glory of
doing a kind act will always follow US. Money
| is good thing, which every man should try to
secure, but it is not SO good thing that, to win
| it, one should crawl in the dust, stoop to a
mean or dishonorable act, or give his conscience
single pang.
| A quintet of young ladies-the F. "" which
we suppose means " Female Five sang a vo-
cal selection in faultless time and tune, and re-
tired with well earned applause. They were
encored, but did not respond.
"Where Tend WEI" was the subject oi
Lillian J. Judy's essay, in which the young lady
gave evidence of much thought, originality and
clear application. Through the efforts of a
woman, columbus was sent to discover Ameri-
ca, and since that time Woman has discovered
herself. Formerly women's kingdoms were their
homes, and their only art the art of housework.
But in this age of progress. women have been
finding out that they have just as good brains as
men, and that brains are more than sex. They
are becoming so prominent in all departments
that we are tempted to exclaim, with our polit
ical brethren, Where are we at?" Man il
learning that woman has other things to de
than serve him. We find women as educators
lawyers, architects, ministers and physicians
The women of today are leaders in society. Or
the question of woman suffrage, which vii
doubtless soon be settled in woman's favor
much valuable time is wasted in meaningless
words on both sides. Whatever talent woman
possesses she should use to the best of her abil
ity, no matter what critical world may think
The women of the nation constitute the " pow
er behind the throne The condition of tht
home decides the condition of the nation, ant
this will always be so, no matter where womel
may tend.
The IN. "" (male five) then came out t.
to the number of half dozen and did som
: capital singing, for which they were enthusias
tica1ly encored. They came back, and adde
new laurels to their wreaths.
In her essay, Every Toad has Preciou
Jewel in Its Head Maud J. Beckley expresse
some sound thoughts. Nothing is more despis
ed than the toad yet it is most useful creature
In any kind of animal, however insignifcan
we find something worthy OF notice. The sam
9 is true, also. of the various objects whose tru
value is hidden by rough exterior. In th
e most despised of objects some good lies hiddel
Gold is found mingled with dirt or other mate
i rial refined oil comes from filthy, disagrees
: BILE smelling mass; coal tar, once useless re
use, is now used in making some of the mo
brilliant anilne colors, and from it is obtaine
saccharine, the sweetest of all sweets Many
the greatest minds have dwelt in deformet
homely and Insignificant bodies. Pope. who:
bodily infrmities gave him The nickname of II
Interrogation Point Johnson, with his III
couth figure and diseased constitution; an
Socrates, with his ungainly figure and home
= visage, are samples of the "UGLY ToADS," a
though of course there is no arbitrary law /
q which ugliness and greatness go hand in han
b The essay closed with quotation from Ruski
to the effect that the weakest of US has a gi
u however seemingly trivial, which is peculiar
= = him, and, worthily used, will be gift also
his race forever.
). Misses Ollie Coe and May Witter favored IL
audience with well rendered vocal duet. The
h were recalled by the delighted audience.
The final number was the Grafton and val
. dctory of Louis E. Lord. He took for
: subjet i" A College Education" AS practc
treatise and common sense view of college lii
it was as good as anything we have heard for
long time. Its excellence lay in its TRUTH. +
- said that large part of college students a
rich mems sons. The athlete matriculates
q play on the ball nine the dude because it
e fashionable, and the poor mans son stays
o home and saws wood. But ambition does II
stop at the wood-pile, and this is the secret
Il great mems success, who never entered &C
lege. Private study took its place. A man
brain is like his muscle. 1t only improv
through constant exercise. The true purpo
g, of college education is TO train the reasonil
<. powers and develop the intellect. The collie
p graduate who has lost sight of this fact h
failed, no matter how much information /
may have acquired. He is like phonograp
\. Turn the crank, and the knowledge comes, b
it is the SAME knowledge, however long t
y crank is turned. He has no reasoning powe
can produce nothing original. and is only al
~ to repeat what he has heard. A college will
nothing for people of no natural ability, VIII
those possessing great mental gifts will be almc
l. sure to succeed without it, although with it su