Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-05-14

school books and her illusions. Well,
perhaps the modern matriculating NAL
den hasn't so many illusions to part
with. Boarding school life is apt to
knock a good deal of nonsense out OF
the head of the average girl, as we'll as
other cobwebs from the brain of
young womanhocd that we prefer not
to see brushed away; that is, ii we care
anything for the young woman herself.
We who are worldly wise and have
seen quarter of century OF COM
MANAGEMENT seasons roll around since
our own like to think of the girl grad
uate as the ideal. Standing with re-
luctant feet where the brook and river
meet" but. it is to be feared, that
gentle creature whom the poet immor-
talized would be sadly shocked by the
self-confident young person deeply
yersed in the "ologies" that the modern
woman's college sends out. There is
little reluctance about her thick soled
calfskin shod feet. She plunges into
llle Will YAH, anu uCl iANCiiuCoo lidhOo
her seem more wholesome than the
others reluctance.
Observation of commencement days
as celebrated has long ago led me TO
the conclusion that they are perni-
cious il their influence. 1t is an effort
on the schools part to challenge public
attention by the show it makes in the
closing exercises. Outsiders who do not
know how commencements are prepar-
ed in most schools. how teachers toll
for weeks beforehand to make the most
Of the pupils literary efforts, even to
entirely rewriting the commencement
thesis, essay, poem or Grafton, would
find admiration for these illusions con-
siderably lessened' if they knew the
truth. After the best that can be done
has been accomplished with the writ
ten part of the work the commence
ment performer goes through weeks of
the most arduous drill under the elocu-
ton teacher. Every position, every
gesture, every word and tone is studied
until there is no more originality in
the students work than in patchwork
quilt The participants are supposed
not to tell that they had any help in
their work-a fine groundwork for the
encouragement of deceit.
The choosing OF the young women
who are to appear before the public in
most educational institutions is a
source of great misunderstanding and
jealousy. Where the pupils elect one
of their number to represent them
popularity or skillful electioneering, in
which the members of the faculty are
often as active as students, decides the
selection. Where speakers are selected
by the faculty expediency more than
ability often influences results. Those
pupils with useful social position, fam
lily connections, wealth or political In
fuence are most frequently brought for
ward on the platform, SNUG and self
satisfied, while real worth sits unno-
ticed in corner. The graduating ex-
ercises are generally planned with an
eye to final picturesque effects. In
some schools those of great personal
beauty or grace and able to dress the
part" well are given prominent posi-
tions. Where the distribution of hon
ors is graded according to class work
the greatest satisfaction results, but
this course is seldom taken, as good
students are often poor in composition
and elocution. Even when that plan of
selection is nominally followed the diff
Guilty of getting rid of incompetents is
often overcome by other means.
When flowers are allowed to be sent
to graduates, each one is anxious that
she will not be neglected, and her
friends often tax their resources Sc
yerely at this time of the year to sup
ply a half dozen fair girl friends with
appropriate floral tributes on the day
Of graduation.
In this atmosphere there is little to
benefit the student, and those schools
in which the students take no part in
the public exercises at closing have
adopted a sensible plan.
Fortunately at present the tendency
Is to reform such wroags. Commence
ment exercises are being made more
interesting to the majority of the
guests and the students themselves by
having distinguished persons instead
of students make the addresses. The
graduates therefore have only to con-
slider what to wear. and apropos OF
that it is interesting TO know that the
fashion of the present season COM
mands pure white garments, cream
or ecru ones being not CONNIE il fault
Thin, gauZy materials are the most
modish. Stirring, tucking, frilling and
applications Of lace and insertion
serve to make them as elaborate as
the purse will admit Silk and wool.
poplin, nuns yelling, challie, bereges.
crepons, chiffon, crepe de chine, net,
NULL gauze and silk are some suitable
fabrics that may be chosen. Soft, white
wooden goods are prepared for many