Arizona republican., 1898-06-17

Mrs. Swiggett: After such a brush of eloquence how can venture to speak? Think of my small light struggling to shine within range of your brilliancy! But I must speak for my colleagues expect it. I was appointed by them to run this gauntlet, bristling as it is with barbed flattery and pointed inuendoes.
 "It is very kind ofyour class to offer us their old clothes. Probably they thought we'd like them; perhaps they thought we'd need them, but, thank you, we have a good many of our own at present.
 You wish us to accept this as symbol of the class of '9S. Now I do not wish to say. anything disrespectful l about the spirit of your class, and know it isn't fair to loOK a gift horse in the mouth, but 1 don't like the cut of this mouth. 1t IS too pretentious, and stiff-necked and too straight backed and too long-eared; besides, it is too small. Think of a cloak like this to cover twenty or more of my size-or less It's too thin, also. Those teachers could see right through it. They see through great many things that are not intended to be transparent to them. It isn't serviceable, either. What protection would a little thing like this be if an explosion should Oc- cur while we are in the laboratory?
 s'I want to thank you for the compli- ment that the size and texture of this gift conveys-the inference that we have few deficiencies to cover and those not glaring ones. We feel hon. ored by this attention. It is no small matter to be thus noticed by the class of '9S, by whom, through many little airs and hints, we have been constantly reminded of the veneratiOn due them. If member of my class managed to evade the watchful eye of Dr. McNaugh- ton he was sure to stumble into the august presence of seniors and to wilt beneath their whitening and superior giances. If he ventured to stammer out even apologetically some treasured opinion, how that silent air of superior ity swept over him from that cOnse- quential few and chilled him to the core It is a tremendous thing to know so much. We shall have l chance next year, but this year your class absorbed all the wisdom there was.
 "The enchanting effects of distance If you only could have sustained 1t. But the relations of school life as tho days went by brought your class into closer view, and if we discovered gaseous bodies where we expected those of greater specific gravity, you will forgive us, I presume if we say noth- ing more about it.
 ''In regard to the ripened grain to which you have likened your class, suppose it is wild oats. I am glad the stuff is ripe. You are in fair way now to start in the right direction. And if you will take my advice and not SOW any more you may hope to rank sometime with the class of '99.
 .Your class colors as displayed in this mantle are exceptionally becom- ing and appropriate-the white and the green They are respectively emble1natic of the element contained in the practice school this year. The white typifies the innocence of the children that have been under your care, and the green is significant of the characteristic of your class. which people in slang parlance call fresh
 :'Jesting aside, we take this mantle with a trembling hand, proud to be held worthy of it and uncertain how well or how gracefully it will be worn, but 1 assure you that it cannot fail to aid us in dividing the educational deeps through which we are striving to pass Still farther, let me assure you that it shall not be defiled by the dust of unworthy feet As this mantle be- comes ours, you will rise to those sub lime heights to which your chosen call- ing leads you, borne in chariot of good will from the teachers and stu dents of the normal school and swept on by whirlwind of their congratu- lations."