Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1896-06-04

mistake pleasure for happiness. but
what a difference between them.
Contentment is the key that unlocks
the treasure. What person brood
ing over misfortune can be happy.
Whate'er our station, our health our
riches, our past, we should journey
toward the future with smile on our
face, q kind word on our lips and joy
in our hearts. The oration was a sue
cession of refined thoughts clothed in
the most beautiful English, and tn ere
was none of Miss Urban's listeners
but what had loftier aim and more
generous thoughts as she spoke her
closing words.
Following came Miss Margaret
Hudson with "The Poet-His place
in Literature. What a wonderful
power has the poet! How marvellous
y intricate is the poem in its perfect
form! Is the historian, the critic,
the essayist, the novelist, the orator,
or the poet the monarch over all
monarchs of the human mind? The
writer of prose requires some things
but to be poet requires everything.
The history of the poem was traced
from Homer and Virgil to the present
day. Quotations from different poets
were given by Miss Hudson showing
the smoothness of their language and
the divine nature of their thoughts.
Our literature is made up of different
forms, still if it We're not for poetry
it would be barren indeed, would be
like q garden without flowers
Honor to those whose words and deeds,
Thus help us in our daily needs;
And by their overflow
Raise us from what is low.
Miss Mary Cullinen Finnegan was
intrusted with "The Plea for the
Graduates of '96,' and it is safe to
say that the subject could not have
been placed in better hands. The
oration was original and the witty
remarks and the earnestness OF the
speaker more than once brought a
smile over the faces of her listeners.
She apologized for the fact that the
education of the class was theoret-
ical rather than practical, but they
were still wise otherwise. The speak
er prophesized that in the future the
echo of the fame of different members
ofthe class of '96 will resound through
out Greater Napoleon, and people
will nod wisely at one another and
triumphantly say ltold you so. They
were certainly remarkable class. "
In closing Miss Finnegan requested
the audience to bear with the class
in their attempt to make the evening
one of pleasure to the literary taste
and remember the old adage, "It is
not permitted orgreat minds to know
all things"
The closing oration was delivered
by Earl 7. Crawford, he having for &
subject "The Perpetuity of Our Gov
ernment." The oration was one full
of patriotism and love of country.
Means of how to keep this govern
ment above every other were discuss
ed and the different modes comment
ed upon. 1t is not by skirmishing
with Spain, it is not by warning with
England, neither is it by making
great conquests; but it is by taking
care of what we have already in oul
possession that will secure the per
petuity of our government. The
greatest evil to-day that is holding
these United States back is politics
Future America depends on the ris
ing generation and the school house
is the means by which this natiol
will still hold its prestige. When th'
people of the United States realize
that our future rests upon their pat
triotisln then will our perpetuity b.
assured.
Judge Cuff in u short and appro
pirate address presented the gradu
| ates with their well merited diplomas