Middletown transcript., 1896-06-20
THE coMMENcEMEHr.

s & 81 =. z ~ ~ 81 ~ ~
TIE COMMENCEMENT.
The Opera House presented charmine
scese last Friday night on the occasion ol
the annual Commencement of the Middle
/ town Public Schools The stage was very
prettily decorated with flowers and flags.
and the Board of Education. the teachers
Il and those who participated in the even
| ing's program occupied seats on the plat
form, but It's needless TO say all these
dignitaries were eclipsed when the sweet
girl graduates appeared on the scene The
program as published in last weeks TRAN
SCRIPT was well rendered and the large
and appreciative audience was unstinted in
its manifestations of pleasure. Mr.. Brady's
vocal selections were very taking, and his
generous response to the frequent encores
most gratifying. Miss Grace Paryis gave
pleasing variety to the program by singing
"The Man in the Moon" to the delight of
her many admirers. The essays read by
Miss Louise Reynolds and Miss Edna How
ellwere much compiimented. The other
/ members of the class, Miss Ethel Pitt. Miss
Mabel Derrlckson and Mr.. Willis Clothier
were excused from reading their essays.
which however, were carefully and credi-
tably prepared. Prof Stamey, the Princi-
pal, presented the diplomas and said few
earnest and appropriate words to the
graduates and also reminded the parents
and the people of the community of their
duty and relations to the schools. Prices
Orchestra furnished music. William M.
Byrne. Esq, of Wilmington. was the orator
ofthe evening. He is speaker of marked
ability, and though his address was neces-
sarily brief, he made more than one "hit,"
and won the hearty applause of his hearers
His manner and voice were pleasing, his
diction fauItless and he made fine ap-7
pearance. He was happy in his choice of
subject, which was
"THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND THE REPUBLIC"
Mr.. Byrne said in part:
Robert Burns. the sweet singer of
Scotland, once asked to instruct young
friend in the principles of philosophy fitted
for the struggle Of life which he was about
to begin, wrote to him in lines which have
pleased millions
lang hae thought, my youthful friend
something to have sent you,
Though it should serve nae other end
Than just kind memento,
But how the subject theme may gang,
Let time and chance determine,
Perhaps it may turn out a sang,
Perhaps turn out q sermon.
And SO on occasions like this it is diff
cult to determine whether our remarks |
shall have the gaiety of song. or be
chai ged with the seriousness of sermon.
Certainly the hour is propitious. 1t is
freighted with joy. The end of labor
crowns it. The happy object of long de-
sires is attained tonight in the fruition of |
hopes for successful completion of school |
life. And yet the sensation of pleasure is
not so predominant as to render inappro-
pirate few serious thoughts on this occa-
sion.
Standing on the threshold of life, those
who are about to commence i'll its struggle |
are not without responsibilities. There are
grave duties which will come to them by
reason of the education which they have
received. Their superior training will de-
mand that they assume prominent posi-
ton in the public life of their day"
Mr.. Byrne traced the history of educa-
ton in Middletown, referred to the insti-
tuition of the old Middletown Academy and
its fiourishing condition until it became
merged into the Middletown High School,
and spoke of the advantages of State e-sup-
ported schools. He said
1.-The recent coronation of the Car at
tended by panoply of greatness exceeding
any similar celebration of the century, has
directed the attention of thinking men to
the gov. rnmental systems of monarchy
A review of history shows remarkable
succession in the forms of government
among the nations of men. Monarchy,
aristocracy and democracy following each
other with surprising ssiftness. Change
is the characteristic of man; but great as
have been governments in other times and
under other forms, the human race never
achieved better and safer form Of govern.
ment for lis advancement and exaltation
than was devised and framed by the Ameri-
can patriots when separating from Great
Britain they founded this imperishable re.
public, declaring for the equality Of men,
securing to every citizen an equality of op-
portunity in his private and public life.
spreading an egis about and around tie
citizen and squirting and en-
couraging him to progress and improve
ment which have brought to him the en-
comiums and the admiration of the world.
"But these great public benefits cannot
be conferred upon the citizen by the State
without corresponding duty from the
citizen to the State. In our plan of govern
ment the wisdom of our national policy
depends upon the intelligence and the
virtue of the citizen. 1t is from the indi-
vidual citizen that the government draws
its life; and as the stream is influenced by
its source. so does the composition of our
government feel the influence of the in
diyiduals composing it. No favored class
assumes the direction of public affairs; but
the people-the great people-in their
collective capacity mould and direct the
destinies of the. nation. If wisdom and
prudence are to characterize our public
councils, our private lives must be marked
by intelligence and virtue A state depend
ing as eminently as ours upon the character
and attainment of individuals would be
shortsighted indeed if it were not to pro-
vide means for encouraging and foster
ing those qualities and characteristics
necessary for its perpetuity and safety. 1t is
therefore of absolute necessity that free
government representative in its character
drawing its life from the people should in