Delaware gazette and state journal., 1896-06-25
FRIENDS SCHOOL.
Thirteen Students Graduated From
That Institution Friday.

Attended-Fine Essays by Graduates and
n splendid address by Prof. Perry.
The commencement exercises of
Friends School attracted large audi
ence to the Friends Meeting House,
Fourth and West streets, ON Friday
afternoon. Thirteen graduates received
the diploma of the institution at the
hands of Isaac T. johnson, it's prinui.
pal. Four of the graduates gave their
essays and Prof Bliss Perry OF Prince
ton, N. j., mado most excellent ad-
dress TO the class.
The graduates, with Principal John
son and Prof Perry, sat in the front Of
the meeting house. Palms decorated
the platform and the edge of tho
sounding board above was adorned
with daisies A table on the platform
bore a bunch of flowers and the parti-
tion in the rear was almost concealed
by cattail leaves. The class itself was
the central object Of interest, tho girls
wearing attractive gowns Of white ma
terial.
The exercises opened with the read
ing OF a passage OF Scripture by Prin-
cipal johnson, who read from Romans
y, the passage beginning, Let love
be without dissimulation.
Alice O. Palmer read her essay upon
Emerson's Treatment OF the Woods 4"
in which she took her hearers on a
little walk In the woods that Emerson
loved 80 we'll. Emerson called the
woods his garden, and his love for
theni was we'll set forth by the fair
eseayist.
'The Mission of Oratory," was the
subject of William II. Thatcher's g ESSAY
/ mud In ~ Mr. Ihufphan 1t
clan and early American orators. De-
bate will do in the time of peace, but
oratory Is needed in time of war. and
great crisis orators have arisen to the
occasion.
L.. Edna N. Taylor delivered an ex.
position upon Jean Vatican, the hero
Of Victor Hugo's Les Miserables. =
In her essay she showed how Jean
Valjtans life was guided by conscience
through all the peculiar circumstances
of his varied and cad career.
George Sellers Smith was the last
speaker from the class, his essay being
on the subject of ''The Status of Im-
migration. lle gave some of the his.
tory of immigration and discussed
measures for reform. He gave the
subject excellent treatment.
The presentation of diplomas by
Principal johnson followed Nine Of
the class, according to his announce.
ment, expect to enter college in Sep
temher, and one or two in the year fol-
lowing. The school will send six girls
and eight boys to various colleges in
the fall, TO Smith. Wellesley, Swarth-
more. Women's College, Baltimore,
Princeton, Yale, Williams, Cornell and
Johns Hopkins. Mr.. johnson referred
also TO the fact that six young women
had graduated from the kindergarten
training class Friends school itself,
after almost century and a half of
continuous existence, desires TO be
fresh and vigorous, ever renewing its
youth. The course of study has been
strengthened TO give broader culture to
those whosesrhool days end here or to
meet the requirements of college.
The diplomas, signed by Mary B.
! Pyle, Deborah Ferris, Elwood Garrett,
Lindley 9. Kent and Principal John
son, were presented to the following !:
Lucy Bancroft, Rena Robinson Grams
ton, Hugh A. Garland, Carolyn Eliza
beth Golding, Adeine Lobdell Jones,
Mary Stapler Malone, Alice Cary Pal
Smith, William ii. Staats, l.. Edna
l.
and Alfred ID. Warner, ,Jr.
The keynote of Prof. Purry's address
10 the class was obedience, that per.
son get what he wants By paying for ii.
lie likened commencement anniver-
sary TO the first circuit of track in
race OF athletes, who while looking
backward to soc how others arc pro.
crossing yet look forward, realizing
that the largest effort is still to come.
Speaking of the dreams OF commence.
ment hour and the strong desires
reaching forward to tho light, ho
asked whether, chance aside, there
was any law to make the desires a cor
tainty. He declared that ono condition
and one only gives the mastery and
that was obedience What will you
have? Ask for it and pay for it. He
gave instances TO show that we ret
things by wanting them, and declared
that out Of the most adverse conditions
we get fine fruitage of character or
genius. He turned from the con
sideration of adverse conditions to the
bright circumstances surrounding the
members of the class before him who
had the training afforded by the
American school. We may have what
We want, he said. but We may not
have more. Ho showed how back Of a
young mans career at college is his
own assessment of himself, and he
quoted the French proverb; "By dint
OF hammering one makes himself a
blacksmith. " He referred to tho
carrying out of the law of desire and
accomplishment in tho career OF
graduates, each man sinking into his
place by moral gravitation. He applied
the same law 10 nations, history show.
ing that nation has got what it has
Lost desired But the price must be
paid. Old shopkeeper Destiny let's us
fill our pockets, but some day he will
send us the bill. What is called luck
generally falls to skilled hands. He
showed how Roentgen, who discovered
the X-rays had trained himself by
years of patient work. He emphasized
the fact that in various departments OF
life the man must first learn obedience.
! Through bondage one learns freedom.
Ultimate mastery means temporary
service. Through obedience and not
through rebellion, through discipline
and not lawlessness, through self alb
negation and not caprice, have come
the best in life and law and power.
! ! He reminded his hearers that there
was no short cut in intellectual life.
You will have to pay the price, pay i,
cheerfully and ask for a great deal.
At the close Of the exercises the
, school rooms were opened to visitors
Many took advantage of the oppor
tunity to inspect the work of the
) classes in drawing under Cawson s.
Hgmmitt, which was on exhibition il
, the drawing room.