The herald., 1897-01-29
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES
At the Normal School Last
Night
TWENTY.FOUR GRADUATES
But the Girls Outnumbered the Stronger
Sex
An Interesting Program-Dr. Dresslar's s
Address-A Teachers Call and
Her Response.

The commencement exercises Of the
state normal school were held last even
ing in the large auditorium before an
audience that filled the seating capacity
Of the room.
The class numbered twenty-six,
twenty-five of whom were young ladies.
1t was truly rose bud garden Of
girls" in pretty gowns of white and deli
cate tints, made simply of soft, sheer ma
terial.
The ushers carried in bouquets, bas-
kets and great punches Of the choicest
and loveliest flowers, so that by the time
the class marched in to the music Of the
piano there was bank Of blossoms ex-
tending around the stage and overflow
ing to the floor beneath. At the close
of the exercises each students arms were
laden with floral remembrances from
admiring friends. The program had the
merit, unusual on graduating occasions,
of being short, though lacking nothing
in impressiveness.
The opening chorus, Joy, JOY, from the
Seasons, was sung by the graduates
and the senior B. class. under the direc-
ton of Mrs. Rice. Rev. Warren F. Day
made the lnVOcatlOn, dIteT WHicH WIS
sung a chorus, See Our Oars.
Professor Pierce followed in few in
troductory remarks, saying that the
graduation of this class marked an in
teresting epoch in the history of the
normal school. Owing to the passage
of the recent law extending the course
of study to four years this would be the
last class to leave the institution on a
three yeaVs' course.
n,.nc cc1n xxroc ir1frn6IIna6
delivered the address to the class. Il
appear before you" said the speaker.
with fear and trembling, and have
prayed earnestly that 1 might bring
some truth that will help you" The
subject Of his remarks might be called.
he said, A Teachers Call and Her Re-
sponse In his boyhood days his fathers s
house was the home Of Methodist preach
ers, as they went to and fro about the
country preaching repentance. They
were earnest men, but not often men Of
much education or culture. or one
thing, however, they were sure, that
they were set apart for their work. They
went about II each day with an earnest
ness of purpose as If each were the last,
and there would be no tomorrow.
Such zeal leaves its record in the hearts
and minds of men with whom they come
in contact. This expressed the true
teachers attitude God does not de-
mand Of us a labor that endangers our
own souls. If teaching ever seems to us
a bore 1t becomes incumbent upon us
to seek another field of labor The mis-
sionary spirit so often alluded to as be-
ing necessary for the teacher Is not the
true one. The spirit that feels that all
the good Is to come to the other person
Is not the right one. Self1shness Is death
to all development, but there Is selfish
ness that must be part of the true teach
er's life. He would not be q teacher
did he not find in it the means Of spirit
ual growth. 1t is not strange that
teaching has proved itself valuable as a
preparation to other work. No calling
can more fully develop human soul
than this. A teachers thought is on the
deeper and more abiding things of life.
She is constantly looking forward to the
deeper things of life.
There is Joy in teaching that it
takes you to the best books and the in
ner life of the little child. The state has
done much for you. 1t should stir you
to constant gratitude that the humblest
citizen of the state has given of his
earnings for the higher development of
the teacher.
His observations of many teachers had
led him to believe that they had ceased
to grow, though their patrons may not
have found it out. The only reliable
teacher is the growing one. Teach two
years and go to college one year; invest
in yourself, you are more valuable than
town lots. Would that our schools were
rid of the keepers of schools who aim to
make show. The school and all that
pertains to it exists for the child; bal
ance everything by the soul of the child.
Oftentimes there is too much acting
and too little thinking. AS far as pos
sible do all experimenting outside the
school room, there Is no use for quacks
In the school room. Learn to hail with
delight the appearance of each new
truth. The consciousness that there is
so much to do better each day is a stim-
ulant to us and makes life really worth
living. There IS an ideal of manhood
to which our human race must come.
The end rests with us, it is ours to work
up to the ideal. The man who is likest
unto Him, we have taken for our ideal
Christ our Lord.
At the close of Mr.. Dresslars address
the class sang Home, Sweet Home, ar
ranged for ladies' voices. AS was all
the music of the evening, it was sung
without the instrument, the true test OF
voice culture. 1t was most exquisitely
rendered and brought a tumult of ap-
plause from the audience
PROFESSOR Pierce, with few impress
sive remarks, presented the diplomas,
ana the happy class walked forward and
received the white roll that sends a
throb of joy to the heart of every earn
est student
The graduates gave a reception to
their friends in the Office and parlors in
the lower floor The Junior class deco
rated the rooms tastefully and beauti-
fully with pink roses. smilax and the
mowers or the spacious grounds. They
assisted in receiving and serving the
chocolate and light refreshments their
last loving service to the grads
The graduating class was as follows:
Elizabeth Bates, Caroline Louise Bur
CESS. M. Ellen Case. Lydia M. Chase,
Alice Cecilia Cooper, Maude Jaoue Doss
olive Leona Ensign, Tiilie w. Hasshei,
der. Augusta Hildebrant, Margaret Hol-
ieran, Emelie Houghton, Mary Kerns
Edwin Everett Keyes. Lucille E. Keyes
Emma M: King, Margaret M. Meader
Efiie Winifred Moore. Helen Day Nun.
oay' Gnaries A. Post. Julia Cecilia Ro-
nan, Frederick Wilcox Shoemaker
Martha Rosina Taylor. Elizabeth E
Webster. Jennie Lura Wethern. Mvron
Young, Mary Isabel Stockton, O''