The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-07-04
THOUGHTS ON EDUCATION.
Suggested by the Graduation Exer-
cises at ST. Anne's Academy.
Fort Smith, on Friday,
IInn ORth

knowledge can be made to serve good
purpose in the advancement of the
happiness and prosperity of its
possessor in this life. Too much of the
Education of the present age is merely
superficial and ends at the moment the
boy or girl graduates and bids fare
well forever to the school where so
many valuable moments were spent i'll
committing to memory the contents of
books. True Education consists not 80
much in book lore as in learning how
to learn, and the boys and girls who
step out of the schoolroom onto the
! stage of life with such an Education
have, in reality, only mastered the
alphabet, as it were, and have the vast
realm of knowledge yet to explore. A
school that will graduate boy or
girl merely for graduation sake does an
lncalculable injury to the youth com
mitted to it, and to future generations,
but that institution that teaches the
boys and girls ''how to learn is a
public benefactor. Such graduates are
a blessing to their day and generation,
an ornament to themselves, their
families and their country, and through
all the years of their life are found
searching for the pearls of knowledge
that are only accessible to the earnest
seeker and deliver in the fathomless
mine of True knowledge.
Such school is st. Anne 6 Academy
at Fort Smith, conducted by the Sisters
of Mercy in the parish of the Immacu-
late Conception. This excellent school
was established over forty years ago
and down to the present time has had
reputation for thoroughness of in
struction and discipline second to none
in the State and it is noteworthy fact
that pupils completing the prescribed
course of study leave it with genuine,
practical Education, having learned
how to learn and not pulled up with
the idea that they know it all. On
the contrary, the graduates of st.
Anne s realize that they have only
mastered the Alpha of Knowledge and
that the Omega is in the dim distance
before them on the journey of life.
The commencement exercises of st.
Anne s Academy took place on Friday,
June 26th, and was an occasion of more
than passing interest to the friends and
patrons. The program was admirably
arranged and well calculated to
emphasize what has been said of the
thorough instruction and discipline
impaired by the earnest corps of
talented teachers. Each number was
faultlessly rendered and worthy of
extended special mention, but limited
space forbids. Each pupil was in place
and executed the part assigned her in a
manner that seemingly indicated she
had a true conception of the aim and
object of the school and school life.
The browning feature of the occasion,
however was the graduation of two
young ladies' Miss lone Harshaw, of
Van Buren,, and Miss Lena Mivelaz, of
Fort Smith. The young ladies who
finish the course of study in the female
schools of today are playfully spoken of
as "sweet girl graduates, and too
often is the term applied in derision.
In this case, however, the graduates
can be truly designated as thoroughly
educated young women, who go forth
from their Alma Mater equipped for the
battle of life and prepared to encounter
and overcome any trial and obstacle
that may arise. Miss Harshaw was the
salutatorian and the subject of her
essay, Cover the Alps Lieth Thine
Italy. In manner, the fair young
graduate was somewhat timid and
nervous at the beginning, but as she
proceeded in the reading of her essay
she warmed up to the subject and
seemed to feel and realize its full force
and import and, before she reached the
middle of the paper before her. she
become truly eloquent and the tone of
her voice indexed the emotions that
!, 1nl hnr 1rn no md
aroused all that was good and true and
beautiful in her generous, womanly
nature. The essay was masterful
production for one so young and
evinced patient thought, careful study
and correct conception of the main idea
underlying the subject. In words that
sank deep into the heart of each nearer,
Miss Harshaw in phrases and sentences
of true poesy pictured the Alps of this
life rearing skyward and presenting
almost insurmountable difficulties and
instructions to the onward and upward
course of the ambitious youth of our
land, but demonstrated beyond cavil
that over and beyond this barrier lies
the fair Italy of their earthly hopes and
aims and aspirations, which the
humblest of God 8 creatures can attain
to if he or she will but strive for by
studious effort and honest purpose.
The essay was revelation of the
possibilities within the reach of the
youth of our land and won for the
talented young essayist the most I'M
stinted praise. A bright future is in
store for our fair townswOman, If she
will but realize that the seven years
spent within the hallowed walls of st.
Anne were but so many fngerboards
guiding her mind and heart to the field
of true knowledge and that she there
merely 'learned how to learn.
Ones education is not finished with
Graduation Day, but is lifetime work.
The valedictorian was Miss Lena
Mivelaz, of Fort Smith, one of the
brightest and brainiest of the fair
daughters in our neighbor city. The
subject of her essay was, knights of
Other Days, and was treated in a
manner that indicated the essayist had
clear, unmistakable understanding of
the true meaning and import of the
subject. Familiarity with the history
and meaning of the true Knights and
Knighthood of the centuries of the past
was shown in every line, phrase.
sentence and paragraph, and the fair
young graduate in the fervor and
eloquence of her soul urged her school
mates and the youth of today to emulate
the noble deeds of the knights of
Other Days and strive to reach the
pinnacle of excellence in the crusades
and Journeys of the future.
A school that can turn out two such
properly educated women as Misses
Harshaw and Mivelaz is deserving of
+ln moot lauish tarnisa and s11ch a