The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-06-07
GIRLS CLASSICAL SCHOOL.
Closing Exercises of the School Year :
DR.. Thwing's Address.

The closing exercises of the Girls Clas-
steal School were held last evening, at the
Grand Opera House, before an audience OF
the parents and friends OF the pupils. The
graduates, Miss Ada l.. Bruner, Miss Eli
nor Byrns, Miss Myla Coburn, Miss Ethel
Fletcher, Miss Annie Hayward, Miss Helen
Holman, Miss Maud Mcconnell, Miss Anna
Sickels, Miss Louise Spann, Miss Henrietta
Won Suessmilch, Miss Evelyn Tomlinson.
Miss nellie Thornton and Miss Charlotte
Wiles, were seated IN the front Of the
stage. with Mrs. Sewall and a number Of
others at the right and the school at the
back. Rev. N. A. Hyde made the invoca-
ton, and the school,, under the direction OF
Mr.. Arens, sang. The address of the even
ing was made by Charles f. Thwing, of
the Western Reserve University. Cleveland.
o.. His subject was 1.-The College Woman"
He compared the college woman of twenty
five years ago, when there were not eight
thousand either preparing for or in college,
with the twenty-five thousand who are r'pw
candidates for degrees; Inc popuiarity mas
now reached such q point that some oI Inc
colleges have had to close their doors, as
there is no place for the women who want
college education 1t has been. proven that
women have the physical and intellectual
ability for college work. There was a fear
that college education would tend to make
WOlucn IldIIllSl did SlIOI AhAA0S ooN
this has also been disproved. A college ed
ucation for the girls makes life interesting,
broad and picturesque. On one side life is
monotonous and stupid with Its similarity
of work, but on the other side there is IN
dividualfty and uniqueness. College educa-
ton opens the eyes and lifts up the char
acter. 1t enlarges and enriches disciplines
and cultures character. DR.. Thwing showed
that the need for a college education for
women was more necessary than for men,
as the latter are thrown in contact with
men and things. and in time passes a wom-
an unless she has superior equipment in
the beginning. A college education promotes
leadership, and what this country needs is
leaders. He cited the case OF Congress, and,
in fact, the whole country, and said that
the strikes and other deplorabfe conditions
emphasize the need of leaders TO bring or
der out of the chaos. Women are needed Tor
this work as much as men. and the men
need the women. There is need of a voice to
speak the wise word to the people. The col
lege training gives power to weigh ey1-
dence. The college fits the woman for the
noble, strong and worthy. 1t is necessary
for every woman to have a college educa-
ton to be well fitted for the value and in
worthy agency for improving humanity.
Mrs. Sewan presented the prizes for dec
lamatfon to Miss Etha Mae Hall and Miss
to the graduates with an affecting address.
This year closes the first generation OF the
school. A girl entering when she is six years
years. Miss Ethel Fletcher and Miss Helen
Holman entered the school when il opened.
Others of the class have been in the school
from six to one years. There have been
eighty-nine graduated from the school and
forty-two are college women. Seven of this
years class will probably go to college.
With another song by the school the ex-
ercises closed. and those who wished went
upon the stage and met the pupils and
other guests: To-day the reunion OF the
alumni will be held at the Country Club,
with luncheon at 100, and the school year
will be finished.