The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-06-21
Graduating Exercises.

one year since Owosso possessed high
school.
The M. K. church was beautifully deco
rated with class colors-white, yellow and
lavender, cut flowers, palms and national
flags. The attendance was far In excess OF
the seating capacity of the church. About
half past eight the junior class filed down
the north aisle and formed an arch with
palms, under which the graduates marched,
headed by Supt. Simmons and Pres. Boone,
of the Normal school at Ypsilanti.
After the voluntary by Miss Duff, and a
chorus by % girls, prayer was offered by
Rev. Kerridge and the Lotus clubs version
Of "Old Black Joe," rendered by Duff's
male chorus. The address given by DIR.
Boone, of Ypsilanti, was well received and
we add brief synopsis of it:
1 stand before you as members of the
class of '95, and you as their friends and
parents, in wonder and admiration at what
the years and circumstances and their own
hearts must have done for these young
people. How has it been brought about?
By what agency has the puerilities of youth
and installations of childhood and the i'm
potence of early years given way to the
manliness and womanliness, the dignified
self respect, the larger culture and reliance,
and mastery and leadership of this evening?
The answer is no easy one. There are
many classes of men and women, but two
which concern us this evening. Those who
live in an ideal world, better than the pres
ent, at least thought to be, but very pos
siblo one. one just about to be realized, and
those between whom and the future there
is an evident wall of suspicion or hopeless.
ness.
Change in whatever interest comes from
forward lockers" sometimes it is improve
ment, sometimes only destruction. Stabil-
ity, fxedness is chiefly due to the backward
lockers. The former are the radicals, the
latter conservatives. Age usually belongs
to the second class. Youth is hopeful, OPP
timistic and ambitious. To the untaught
there is no horizon, all is reach and chance
and possibility; aye more, there is probable
ity, and invitation and infinite suggestion.
There Is always hope in the untried, and to
the young, life is untried. The mind of the
adult, however, to whom have come re-
verses, and who has found closed doors,
has met defeat and neglect, and for whom
there has been the unscalable wall where
was thought to be an open way, greatly
softens in its enthusiasm, becomes sober
and grave, matter of fact or reserved, some
times skeptical and hopeless.
Primarily, the having and nursing of a
purpose, an abiding purpose, serves to dig
Nifty lite and regulate conduct. Never
more than today has it been necessary for
every man, If he would have recognition on
the one hand, or the self respect that comes
of success on the other, to give himself to
something he can do and do well. Arnold
says: 1.-THE illiterate man who builds fac
tories or railroads, the humble worker who
teaches ragamuffins how to spell, are great
er additions to society than the cultured
idler who spends his life in uttering correct
English and collecting bric-a-brac."
There are three resources in every ones
hands against shipwreck of ones treasure.
First, there should be treasured throughout
life independently of ones business, some
interesting collateral concern, an avocation
to which one may turn for rest and growth,
some strand of human history, some great
reforming thought, closer sympathy with
nature, man or his institutions. Second,
do not neglect to take an interest and par
ticipate actively i'm the local institutions.
AS a citizen, as q Deighbor, as member of
the church, this is your duty. Finally, let
there be reserved rich home life. What
ever success one may have achieved in his
business or profession, it counts, you will
agree with me, for less than nothing except
as ones home and private life be worthy
and pure. Virtue thrives where these
home and hearth relations are concerned.
1t withers. whatever may be the outward
show, when they are neglected"
The selection, MAY Bells and Flo wers,'
was sung by Mesdames Allen and Chris
tian, after which Supt. Simmons presented
the class with their diplomas in few well
chosen words. Howard Daniels, gradu-
ate of '94 was given second diploma as a
recognition of certain post graduate work
done during the year.
Supt. Simmons gave the public a cordial
invitation to visit the schools at any time and
urged them not to confine their interests in
school matters to the annual exercises. The
exercises closed with benediction by Rev.
j. G. Cromer.
The great play, "Chick, the F0rester's
Daughter" will be produced under the aus
pices of Court Owosso Independent Order
Of Foresters, at Salisbury's opera house,
Monday, June "a. The play is one of the
best upon the stage, and strong cast has
been procured, headed by the talented
actor, Mr.. Frank j. Dean, who has won
favor with both press and public during the
past ten years, in the cities of the United
States and Canada. Mr.. Dean will be as