The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-06-26
4 Beautiful gssay,
Seek the Pearls beneath tht Tide

The following is the Commencement
Essay of Miss g. Irene Townshcnd on
the occasion of her GRADUATE n from st.
Cccela's Academy. Washington, ID. c.:
What a world of thought is conccn-
trated in those few words! How many
persons have started out in search OF
the precious pearls of life. but have re-
turned empty handed, or hearing only
wretched limitations. Their pearls. or
what they deemed as such. were found
gliding on the surface. whilst the gems
of purcst ray serene. remained deep
concealed hcneath the tide.
Honor is pearl which many seek,
but soon they find that superficial or
spasmodic work can never win endur-
inc fame;-that those whose names re-
VERTEBRATE from age to age are only
those who learned early and late tn
dive deep beneath the tide of popular
prejudice and opinion and persever-
ingly to labor for some undyin@ prin-
ciple.
Beauty too is a precious pearl which
every on would wish to possess. But
alas! how many are content with the
tinsel ornaments of external grace.
.sIt is not so much the setting should prize
As that which in the setting lies. -
Real beauty cmanates from the heart
where truthfnlness. sincerity and un.
affected modesty.-thc sweetest charm
of excellence. th,. richest gem in the
dadem of honor lies deep concealed
rejecting its soft light in deeds of gra
cious usefulness, in manners amiahlG
and unassuming. in sympathy ever
ready and sincere. in charity gentle
active and unobtrusive.
All men are in search of the pearl ot
happiness. but frivolous and worldly
minded people never find this precious
gem. They seek it in the flash o
worldly gain, or i'm the 9littcring tOlli
cles that float around in the shallow
waters OF worthless pleasure: but they
find ere life has ended that the glcan
which daZZled and attracted them was
only the sparkle of decay. and that
their hands grasped nothing but bitter
seawecds of rcmorSe. Wiser people
however. dive deep beneath the waves
of outward show. and discover thcr,
the pearl OF purcSt happiness gleamin"
in all its splendor.
The sweetest homes, homes It,
which men in weary life lon, back with
yearlin" to" deep for tears; homes
whose recollrctionS lin"cr round them
like the beautiful sunshine and sweet
air filled with the fragrance of flowers
Are homes where each one has diveo
deep beneath the he It'd. of unSrliisl
pearl of happiness.
But VIII" would seek for happiness
without seeking knowledge also. Tn,
desire for knowledge is never. perhaps
more strongly developed than in early
lie Children seek this pearl with
earnest zeal and are Willing to sacri,
flee much enjoyment tnnhiaim it. Th,
desire To know lives within them rs n
sacred lamp burning before the shrine
Of truth. But knowledge, wisdom :
pearl so fair, is not to he found in shall
low coaStingS. nor by lcapInI from
rock to rock as many youths suppose
Deep beneath the tide of steady and
prrSrverin9 research CLEANS this fair
pearl. and only patient toll can find it.
Many. such rs Newton, Bacon, Keep
Ter and Farraday sought this pearl
from early childhood: but they did not
like too many others do, drop out ofthe
race before the goal was reached. On,
on they toilcd, divin" deeper and deeper
heneath the tide until at last they dis
covered cleaning in all its beauty and