Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-06-07
ALTON REFLECTIONS.
SOMETHING ABOUT THE SWEET
GIRL GRADUATE.
Comparison of the Present md the
Past-ResoIutions That Are Not
Kept-An Old DipIoma-Personni
Notes.
Correspondence Of the Dlspatch)
Alton, Va, June 5th.


We have reaped another crop
or sweet girl graduates;
And, o. what a crop! What variety o
loveliness in IL, collectively What al
infnitude Of sweeter possibilities In eacl
sweet individual
This is the season OF commandments
the time when the proud professor hai
the honor and felicity Of handing to thou
sands Of nuttering girls the coveted
roll Of parchment that sends them GU
from the classic walls of college, and /;
the open sesame TO the world beyond.
The papers are full Of these interesting
events. Looking over the accounts, one
is encouraged to find that there is an i'm
provement In the commencement essay
commemorate with the style Of dress II
which our sweet girl graduate throw
her maiden effort on the wide sea OF
literary opinion. The caps and gowns
are models Of dignihed simplicity. hover
ing. as It were, between the soft flowing
lines OF a Hebe and the stateiiness Of a
Roman toga. The old stock titles OF
Hope" What Dreams May Come. -
"Nemory's Vale" and other heart
searchers skilfully handled by our mo-
theirs thirty years ago have no place in
the programmes Of to-day. Somehow,
they were idealized I'm softest null and
misty lace. and white ribbons streaming
from dainty forms.
The world IS teeming with living prob
lens. and these should be impressed upon
the mind Of every girl during the school
period. II the teacher IS right, the pupil
will naturally select for discussion some
vital subject. and illustrate in its treat
ment the value OF the knowledge she has
gained. Our sweet girl graduate loses
none OF her femininity in this SOLDERING
process. This summer she has been
booked for a rare good time. after her
year Of hard work. and you may be sure
she will find IT, She has welcomed COM
mencement-day joyously and in rosy
dreams unwritten-has already decided
TO just what retired spot she will fee TO
drink in natures beauty unmolested
and-continue her studies! Like all girl
graduates, she assures herself that. in
stead CT completing study, she is really
just entering upon It. Life Is such a
serious thing with heri OF course, she
will only correspond with dear Blanche
who understands her, and they will
aid each other on every subject.
Positively, not one line will she waste
upon any Of the "boys," though VIII
is real nice" and Harry-well. Harry
was truly a godsend in German gram
mar and geomctry-but all that Is past
Her ideal summer must not be spent in
vain and frivolous trining. once away,
and in her quiet nook, she finds other:
Of her ilk who hope TO be alone.
DON'T FIND IT.
Mental refuses that are young and
pretty don't find much solitude when the
season" comes on with a rush. Tn,
souls with but single thought" double
and take a good bit OF comfort I'm thei
misery. And they walk: It may be the!
get lost in "A bog; or frightened at Tarme
Dollins's William COW; or slip from ;
rustic ridge-someway, the inevitable
comes by chance, even in real life, anC
brings the hero with it, The book-spel
is broken, and the romance is begun.
Next day my graduate goes for anothe
long jaunt, and in two weeks ''is in thu
swim" and front I'm all the limo
cent gaycty. Sometimes our little brown
chrysalis merges from academic cap an'
gown into "A full-hedged orthodox SUN
mer-girl" fully conscious, not only o
her intellectual charm, but Of beauty ne
beauty and her power. The sequel-ah
well; II did not lay between the wou
leaves Of this sessions class-books. no
was it suggested in her mastery thesi
on Tconoclasms Of the Age"
Down I'm Macon. Ga, a quaint south
ern town, not yet evolved from its chival
rous sentiment toward woman. tn
very first college in the world for womcl
was founded over fifty years ago. Ca
Uterine Brewer was the Alma Mater O
all other "sweet. girl graduates" anD
received the first diploma ever graced b.
a womans name. / saw it a year o
two ago, framed and wreathed in myrtle
and hung up with Macons most chorishc,
archives. How little. 1 thought as
gazed upon Il. did this Georgia girl. fl
her white frock and blue ribbons, dream
OF her erudite fellow-studentsl To-day
gowned and capped, and carrying. per
haps, in their learned heads ambtiou
projects to reyolutionize the world!
PERSONAL POINTS.
Many Of our schoolgirls. who hav
been in attendance at schools in Staun
ton, Richmond. and Charlottesville, cam
home this week.
Miss Lena HUI, who has been teachin
IN lower Rockhsh, left for Blackburn
Tuesday
Miss Bessie Thornton, after a pleasan
session at Locust Dale. returned 10 he
home, in Albemarle county, Monday.
Mr.. Duncan Lipscomb is home fror
school, in Charlottesville.
Miss Mary j. Goodloe has gone to Staur
| ton.
Miss Mamie Rivercombe. OF Culpepe
| Courthouse, who has been visiting he
uncle, returned home Friday.
Protracted meetings are held at nigh
at Lebanon and at Edgewood. Rev. i
A. Lapsley is assisting Rev. Mr.. shel
| nd.