Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-06-30

ton and rendered with ease and grace.
Miss Howe had bestowed much thought
and study to the article and had 1t we'll
memorized. A portion Of the produc-
ton is here given;
God said, Let there be light and
there was light Thus beauty was
born into the world. After the crea-
ton of this first principle other natur-
al laws followed in regular order of
SUGGESTIONS; the beautiful is the key
stone of the arch OF the universe
Throughout all ages this force has
been present, and its influence is trace
able, first, in the testimony OF rocks
and fossils, second, in the written his
tory OF man.
Since the dawn OF the first day the
watchword OF nature has been Prog
ress.' With the meagre beginning of
a handful OF elements and the mystery
called 'life,' the work commenced.
Gradually advancing, growth succeed
ed growth, lower forms were supplant-
ed by those OF higher, the supernuous
was cast aside, the more perfect pre-
served and developed until today the
wondrous complexity OF the world with
its burden OF thinking, feeling, striv-
ing humanity is the result. Students
of nature sought long for the formula
by which this fact was made possible,
il has been found and is accepted as
the cornerstone of all true philosophy.
All scientists, whether Kant, original
ing the nebular hypothesis, Goethe,
arguing the metamorphosis OF plants,
or Darwin advocating the transmits
sion of species, agree that the highest
law has been and is, the survival OF
the fittest.' In other words the ruling
principle of the material world is the
law of beauty.
Perhaps in the history of no other
nation is the influence OF the beautiful
so clearly shown as in the annals of
Greece.
The simple, first children of Hellas
having inherited no PHILOSOPHERS by
which natural phenomena were eX-
planned to them studied out the rea-
sons Of things for themselves coloring
everything with delicate fancies, Civ
ing souls to objects inanImate and
seeing entertaining little dramas in
the most everyday occurrences.
= The personalities of those
men and women who have lived for
and with the beautiful, tell us more of
the nature OF beauty than all the alb
stract theories ever written. Though
there are notable exceptions, in gen
eral the most successful genius is
linked with the purest soul. Jean
Vatican, the greatest of French pain
tiers, was OF nature characterized by
sweet simplicity and ighmindedness;
Longfellow lived life more rare and
lovely than his poems: the Lille of
Milton was great epic itself; the life
of Chopin was the most matchless of
his symphonies. But il is not alone, to
some Raphael painting his soul on can
vas, to some Milton penning the epics
OF universe, nor yet to a Beethoven
pouring out his heart throbs in incom-
parable harmony, that beauty is "A liv-
ing presence. She has come to every
human being. No sphere is so narrow,
no life is so commonplace that the
beautiful does not enter. Deep plant
ed within the soul OF man is hunger
ing and thirsting for loveliness. Was
there ever need created without the
corresponding means OF satisfying that
need? No! All the world is instinct
with beauty for those who will but see
and hear"
In closing she said:
Friends and patrons, in behalf Of
the class of '9S, | wish to thank you,
not only for your presence and kind
attention here this evening" but for the
aid and encouragement extended us
all through our high school life. Hon
orable Board of Education, to you also,
we are deeply grateful for the many
favors bestowed upon us during the
four years OF our association together
as directors and pupils of the Belding
High School. Our instructors, it is to
you ninety-eight owes the greatest
debt, you have been beside us in strug-
giles, defeats, victories, always with
ready sympathy and, when necessary,
assistance. Tonight we sever our con
nection as teachers and taught, and,
though it is an inadequate expression,
we sincerely thank you. We shall
continue to adhere to our motto, and,
by being, in the world we are about to
enter, men and women of whom you
shall be proud, let deeds not words
speak our appreciation.
Classmates, after this evening the
class OF '9S will be no longer a fact but
history. We have stood together
through the storm and sunshine of
four eventful years. We have done
much hard work shared MANY nleas-