Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-06-23
INDIAN GRADUATES
Five Young Men Graduated from
the Government Indian School
Last Evening.
ELOQUENT GRAFTON BY EACH
A Reception rendered Them By superin-
tendent and Mrs. Viets--It Was a
Brilliant and Very Delightful
Social Occasion.

The ninth anniversary and the second
commencement of the government In
dian school were celebrated in a very
appropriate manner last evening. Five
young men completed their course in
the normal department., and announced
themselves ready to step into the world
to do their part in sustaining them
selves and to help others. The chapel
was crowded with city people and res
idents at the Indian school. A program
of music was given, including vocal So
los by Douglass Holt, Will S.. Hall and
James A. Brown. The orchestra played
several fine selections, and fully sus-
tanned its reputation. Piano solos were
given by Misses May Throssell and
Matte Price. A chorus of voices sang
| several selections in an enthusiastic and
finished I'M Rev. G.. S. Madden,
pastor of st. Johns M. E. church, led in
prayer before the program began. The
orations by the five young men who
were presented with diplomas at the
conclusion of the exercises were schol-
arly productions, and in subject matter
as well as sentiment and literary fin
ish were superior to the average of COM
| mencement orations. The speakers all
had excellent delivery, Harry Throssall
especially being quite an orator.
William D. Minor, the salutatorian,
| extended to those present a hearty and
| dignified welcome. His GRAFTON on
"Self-Help" was introduced with the
maxim that God helps those who help
themselves. He spoke of self-help in
relation to character building and the
influence of a self-reliant people as a
nation. Self-reliance he characterized
as the secret of success of the Anglo
Saxon race. The greatest things accom-
plished are usually those attained by
simple means, and the common life of
every day, with it's cares, necessities
and duties affords abundant opportuni-
ties for the true worker for self-im-
provement. Perhaps there is no great
err teacher for humanity than that of
failure. Mans life after all is but the
life of a soldier. Accordingly, hat is
not the most successful life in which a
man gets the most pleasure, the most
money, the most power or place, honor
or fame; but that in which a man gets
the most manhood and performs the
greatest amount of useful work and hui
man duty.
Richard M. Graham spoke on "Suc-
cess" He likened the graduates to a
war vessel in a snug port, preparing to
go out under sealed orders. He de-
scribed the dangers, the hopes of the
voyage, in picturesque terms, and ad-
vised all to be original, as there are
thousands of imitators in the world. A
man never rises ny higher than that
which he worships, nor ever makes any,
thing better than what he initiates.
There is no distinction for the mere imi-
tator. When one has found his part in
life he has but to play it, and play it
well. Failure in life often operates from
a wrong choice of parts on starting out.
Vigor is the result Of a healthy and
well-developed constitution. Health is
the platform upon which all candidates
for success and happiness are elected.
Good appetite, good digestion and good
sleep are the principal planks and in
dustry the Trainer. So-called chances
have laws as fixed as planets have.
James A. Brown spoke on duty. He
described it's various manifestations
and it's relation to liberty. There is a
stronger word than liberty, and that is
conscience. Duty to God and fellow
man requires the cultivation of all the
many faculties God has given. Con-
science is eternal and universal. True
manhood comes from self-control, from
the subsection of the lower powers to
the higher conditions of our beings.
~Contentment is better than luxury or
power. Brave and honest men do not
work for gold. They work for love, for
honor and for character, and are self
sacrificing. The path of duty in this
void is the road to salvation in the
next.
Thomas S. Throssell chose for the sub
ject of his essay, Character" He said
that all life is dual. 1t has an inner be-
ing and an outward manifestation.
Character and conduct are the mani
festations Of the dual existence. Every
thought, every motion, every aspiration
of the soul, leaves its impress and be-
a part of it. There is in the soul
an unerring memory out Of which moth
ing altogether fades. The training of
every man, even of the wisest, a not
fail to be greatly influenced by the NOR
al surroundings of his early years. Men
are known by the company they keep.
Work is another character builder, and
is a necessary factor. Life can not be
enjoyed as it should be without work.
Be not solitary; be not idle.
Harry Throssell, the valedictorian,
addressed a plea to the Indians. He
told of the wrongs inflicted by the early
white settlers upon the Indians. But 1t
is different to-day. The government
has undertaken to educate the Indian,