The Opelousas courier., 1894-05-26
The Commencement Exercises at the
Opelousas Female Institute.

ing which, under the able management
OF Mrs. M. NJ. Hayes, has for nearly a
quarter of a century uninterruptedly
conferred lasting benefits upon this
community, took place at the Institute
Hall on Thursday night, the Gath inst.
A very large audience was in attend
ance and the following program was
successfully carried ont, with the as
sistance of Miss Leola B. White, Of
Delhi, and Miss Wayne Hosbrook, of
Cincinnati, Mrs. Hayes talented assis-
tants, whose patience, kindness and
gentleness have won the affection OF all
the pupils:
Invocation-Rev. Z. I. benson.
Chorus-"The Song Of the Roses school.
Duet-"I g Denle, "Marche Militaire-Julia Bur-
leigh. Bertha Wallior.
L.. streabbog--Irene Shute. Matte Shute.
Song" Oh, Tell Us, Merry Birds OF SPRING
by c. A. White-Hattie Terwilliger. Nell
Piano solo-"The June Bugs Dance" Edward
H~olst-Beulah Young.
Song" Swinging in the Grape Vine SWING" by
Hubbard smith-Mattle shute, Irene
Duet" Beauties of Paradise" Polka, by L.
streabbog = Hattie Terwilliger. Nell
Esssy-"Th Angel Of Memory ~ NErr1E
Song. Letting the Old Cat DE-" by H. wehr-
mann-Irene Shute, Matte Shute.
Essay-"Our Meceas MABEL Z. sANDoz.
song-"I Dreamed That I Was Grandpapa" -
Hattie Terwilliger. Nell Hayes.
Baccalaureate Address-G.L DuPRE, ESQ.
The sweet girl graduates" Misses
Nettie White and Mabel Sandoz, read
their interesting and pleasing essays
gracefully, and Mr.. Dapre acquitted
himself with distinguished credit. He
spoke as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen
/ am really sorry that the task of
making this address should not have
been placed in wortllier hands, to some
drawing to their close. In that event,
he could have given you the benefit OF
his experience from yoC.h to manhood,
past middle age into the sombre, staid
and quiet evening of life. He might
have pictured to you the illusions of
childhood, the ambitious of manhood
and the quiet resignation of old age
| mans life from the cradle to the grave.
With me the case is different. l have
only passed through the stages of child
hood and boyhood, and am now as it
were in the meridian of iife-a time
when life ought to be at its best /; when
ambitious views urge n forward 10
heights that would dazzle and blind the
sight of older men when the exnber-
ance Of animal spirits sustains the mind
it were, the thought of the after life sell
dom breaks in upon III meditati0ns.
because We still possess the incautious
fearlessness attending our c%hiidhond.
when our years forbade Us to be eau
tious. No one is fearful about life when
beginning it. 1t is only as one grows
older. when old age has fastened Its
clutches upon US, when onr contempo-
raries begin by n to pass away
and the infirmities of the body var us
| of our enfeebled condition, then and
| then only do we indeed realize that "
are approaching the end OF life's jour
ney.
lam encouraged, however, with the
thought that my limited experience in
life has furnished me much food for re-
Election, and this in turf has supplied
me with an inexhanstible fund Of a
vice, part of which Lam willing to give
you.
It has been said that nothing Is as
cheap nor more unwhoies0me than adj
vice, but this ought not apply to
such advice as savOrs rather OF
reason than persuasion, that ad-
dresses itself TO the soul rather
than the passions, that seeks to
color with optimistic hues the journey
OF life, rather than darken it with the
sombre rays of the pessimist.
/ for one believe that you will ind ex-
istence full Of sweet SAVIOR it you do not
expect from it what it canno give
When people complain of life it is al
most always ,because they have asked
impossible things OF it. You will be
pleased with existence it you make fair
use of it, and if you abide well pleased
with yourselves. To each one Of yon i.
Allotted some place in life which you car
fill. Find out what place it is and 70
and fIl it. If you are a young man en-.
ter upon your occupation with h resO-
luton that you will be promoted from
the ranks TO 4 commander. Never con-
tent yourself with anything else; above
all, do not trust 10 the doctrine ol
chance. Remember that |" things dom
turn up in this world until somebody
turns them up,n that "a pound OF pluck
and forward, with an ambition to be al
honor to yourself. Rec0ilect that yoI
live IN q government where every maj
is the architect OF his own future. NJ
post of honor SO high, but the po0res
boy may hope to reach it. 1t is th,
pride of every American that man.
cherished names, at whose mention 10
hearts beat with o quicker bound, Wer,
worn by the sons OF poverty, who con
Quered obscurity and became fixed star
in our armament. There ia II lesson il
the lives Of these men that ought ap
peal to the ambitious young men anon
you. 1t shows how many q poor orphan
without any capital save his young am
bilious mind has by persistent industr,
and q faithful adherence To the right
attained the heights where sit the grea
!, men of Our country. Ii Il young lad,
: your life is destined To be and it Ough
to be shaped in d different mould. ORR
ginally created AS the helpmate Of mar
Won should continue to serve il that ca
pacity, and in the various relations 0
daughter, wife, mother and friend,
we'll rounded existence full of peace an,
happiness can be secured you.
IdO not remember having seen a NOR
beautiful description of woman's mis-
. sion ia life as a comforter 10 her bro
Their man than is given by Washingto
, Irving when he says: "As the win
which has long tWined it's graceful Ia
|. linRe about the oak, and been lifted b
!, il into e%unshine, will when the hard
plant 10 rifted by the thunderbolt elm
around il with its caressing tendrill
and bind up its shattered boughs, so
. has been beautifully ordained by Prov
| dence that woman, who is the mere de
, pendent and ornament OF man in hi
happier hours. should be his stay an
! solace when smitten with sudden ca
Iamity, winding herself into the rugge
: recessos OF his nature, tenderly support
inn tho drnnninU head and adj n