The daily morning journal and courier., 1896-06-23

'AAAt7N 7NAS 'bAAA tN l'ANNNS hNNNthNN 'L A'o"S for Professor Jepson
 As the song ended the pianist struck into a march and the students in pairs, left the stage and took seats in seven front rows that had been reserved for them, preparatory to listening to the address of the day
 Rev. Dr. Henry Van Dyke of New York, taking Democracy and Cult ure' as his theme, said in part;
 "A democracy is not so much a sys- tenn of government as it is tendency q spirit, a current of ideas, It is the recognition, not the actual quality of all men as a fact, but of their po- tential equality as a hope.
 "We believe that democracy is right but we should not ignore the dangers that threaten to set it back and re- verse our national advance, One of our greatest perils is the material pros perity. We are in danger of making too much of the creature comforts and imagine that there is something sta ble and enduring in them. We are tempted to rely upon our physical pros perity as pledge of security and let ting things take care of themselves. The American idea has immense vigor, but it may be swamped. '"rhe common schools are important. they do not now fill their place, good as they are. Illiteracy is constantly growing. The teachers are oVerworl<- ed. The system is bad. There is too much expected in rules and not enough is given to the necessaries of education to fit children for life. We should do away with most of the rules, all the. formal examinations, and all the prizes in special studies and devote the time to the teaching of the arts of seeing, reading and thinking
 "Blow, Soft Winds" was a pretty vo- cal waltz, and was well rendered by the girls and then came the valedic- tory by James Ewen Mcintyre, an excellent and well delivered speech, most creditable to the young man and the school. In opening he told of the beginning of the high school here forty years ago-its limited curriculum and meagre accommodations. From the old original school rooms in an Orange street building the school next was located in the upper rooms of the old Lancasterian school building, which stood where now the high school build ing stands, Onward and upward has the schools growth been. Proceeding the speaker added: Such was the be- ginning of our high school. To-day 1t numbers 700 students It is fitted with fine chemical and physical laboratories, and it's library of reference books con- sists of several thousand volumes, while corps of trained teachers are con- stantly engaged in making the road to learning as straight and level as pos sible.
 This morning we, the class of '96 the largest class which has ever graduated from our high school, are assembled here to receive the reward of our four years of labor, and to say farewell to our school days.
 We appreciate the generosity of the New Haven public, We remember the forty long years of experience which have laid the foundation of our edu- cation and we hope to pay the debt | by honorable and intelligent citizen ship"
 l The valedictorian then returned the sincere thanks of the class to the super intendent of schools for his nobly done work, to the board of education, the | members of which were present and deeply interested spectators. Then came words of beautiful thanks to Principal Thomas and the corps of teachers, and the closing words to the | classmates.
 The school then sang Grows in the 1 Cornfield."
 Then came the announcement of the award of the special prizes which one of the editorial boards of II, H. s. have been permitted to offer, obtaining them with the proceeds of an entertainment given not long ago. They are as fol- lows:
 Btwt story by first or second year student, Miss Ethel Frisbie, '99
 Best story by third or fourth year student, James Ewen Mcintyre, 96. | Fe poem by frs or seg ond year stu dent, Donald B. McLane 99. Best poem by third or fourth year student, James Ewen Mcintyre 96.
 Best essay, first or second year, Ellis Baker '99.
 Best essay, third or fourth year, Charles Kellar '96
 Two year French, Miss Seymour. second year Ntei indii, I1l9fo hehtCbCl'
 Senior mathematics scientific depart ment, MT. Powers.
 These prizes will be presented to the winners at Il D. m. Wednesday, in room II, Hillhouse High school, and their friends will be welcomed.
 The presentation of diplomas came next with very excellent address by Superintendent Kendall. In closing he said:
 You become graduates of the public school-the one institution that has more of the love and respect of all the people of the United States than any other institution. So conduct yourself that you will show to the world that the public schools have aided you to become good citizens. Go forth deter mined to earn the respect of your neighbors in business and in social life"
 Following came the singing of the class song, Sing no Sad Song" writ
 ten by Prof Jepson, and which was rendered by a quartet composed of Miss Elizabeth J. Klock, Miss Florence Holmes, Fred D. Bonner and Charles l.
 Benton, with the class joining in the
 chorus. with the '96 class cheer by the
 boys (young men now), the graduation