The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1895-11-05

Mr.. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GEN
TLEMEN: Having been requested TO
make a few remarks on this occasion,
take pleasure in rendering my sim
cere congratulations to the honored
principal, his associate teachers and
their pupils on the suspicious COM
mencement OF this school. Our thanks
for this grand building snd these
beautiful grounds are chiefly due,
first 10 the trustees Of the Bishop
estate, who consented to their trans
/ fer at less than half their money value
in consideration of the fact that they
were to be devoted TO educational pur-
poses, and, second. TO the fsr-seeing
liberslity of the Government, which
: looked beyond the present 10 tie
future needs of this growing city and
to the fuller development of our sys-
tenn OF public schools.
In its old quarters on Fort and
School streets this school, under the
able administration Of your presnt
principal, had earned reputation
, which extended beyond the confines
. OF this little country. 1t has always
been pride and pleasure 10 me to
visit it But il was 'cribbed, cabined
and confined 1t had no chance to
! expand and enlarge its powers of use
fulness. 1t was time for ii to leave
its ow-vsulted past and enter into a
more stately mansion Like seed
ling tree, we have transplanted ii
from its box and set il out where II
can strike its roots deep and stretch
out its branches far and wide ana bear
fragrant blossoms and rich fruit for
the delight and blessing OF mankind.
| Probably msny persons are not
aware that even In its former quarters
I this school already included in its
course the studies usually pursued
/ during the first year or two OF a high
school course. 1t was then an incipi-
ent high school without Knowing II.
Ii reminds one OF the good woman
who was greatly distressed because
she was a sinner. oh, dear. such an
awful sinner, such a wicked sinner,
and to think that / have lived all
these years and never found II out be
fore Voice heard from the old cook
in the kitchen-'Laws, / kDowd it all
de time
There may be some fsult-finders |
who consider this stately msnsion, so |
remarkably adapted TO its present /
purpose, too pdidtiai and luxurious |
for school. / answer, We do well to |
honor the kind Of work that is done |
here. The masterpiece of Greek archi |
lecture, snd perhaps of all architect |
ure, the Parthenon, was dedicated TO /
the goddess of wisdom. To say moth /
ing of the United States, even in |
lately emsncipated Bulgaria, there /
may be found in every village new
two storied building, contrasting in .
every respect with the surrounding .
cottages. 1t is the primary school, /
while the finest building in Philippe. /
polls is the Girls High School.
1--WE hope, however, that this build
ing will be though mute, an eloquent
advocate for better accommodations
for the children in other i'll planned
and crowded schools, and that the
contrast between them, which is now
so glsring, will ere long be lessened,
if not removed.
1t is true that fine clothes do not
make gentleman or lady, and that
elegant buildings and even ample
libraries and cabinets do not of them
selves produce superior men and
women. Some of the greatest men
AtAaA uaNc ever cAlclcu. pcEdu
education in log school houses, where
they sat on rough slabs hewn out by
the woodman's axe. AS the body
without the spirit is desd,' so is any
school that lacks the love of knowl-
edge, the generous emulation aud the
esprit de corps that binds together as
comrades those who are associated in
the common pursuit of noble ends.
"But, my dear friends, We coufid- I
emily expect that your future course
will be worthy of the excellent begin
ming which you have made. We
hope that these beautiful surround =
ings will not fail to haNe a refining
and eievatiug influence upon you,
that you will make ii point of honor
10 scrupulously respect them and pre-
serve them unhsrmed, a. We are
pleased 10 know that you have done.
More than this, We hope that you will I
make your daily conduct correspond
TO your environment las is the ,
fashion to call it,, that these grand
halls may never witness scenes un- ;
worthy of them, that here you may ;
exemplify the knighily motto, No
biesse oolige, snd that sound scholar
ship may go hand in hand with truth
aud purity and love unfeigued'
There was most appropriate text in
scrioed on the magnificent peristyle :
81 the chief entrance OF the Viii e
City, '1e shall know the truth, and
the truth shall make you free,' sen
timent worthy 10 De placed over the
portal of any building dedicated to {
learning. 5
Remember that wisdom is far
greSter and higher than mere knowI- {
edge, and that character is the most '
precious Of all possessions. As Emer- |
-on says, Hitch your wagon to a 6
star" and leave all sordid. selfish and {
sensual aims with the 'low-vaulted |
past And as the coming years roll {
by, msy these halls become historic, {
rich III their associations with the L
honOred names OF the good and true :
men and women who sball have gone 3
forth from hence to leud s han1' in =
every good work from love TO God I
and to their fellow men. :
''Such man was the author of the C
poem, to which We have Just b
listened with such pleasure, aud 5
which was exemplified in his own '
life. The naturalist NAV {
criticize the scientific theory con- (
aimed in these verses, but be cannot {
ieny their beauty or the grandeur of :
he spiritual truth contained in the Q
dosing stanzs- To Us il has deeper
iguifiesnce from the fact that the e
,eloved author has 30 recently gone v
o join the immortal choir j;
Leaving his ourprOEn shell nv Tife-s