The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-04
THEIR GRADUATING ESSAYS
TWO GIRL STUDENTS PREPARE TO
IMPRESS THEIR RELATIVES.

The High Aspirations of Budding Girlhood,
the Condition of People Who Will Wear
Too Much Jewelry and the Deep Learn
ing of Egypt and Sweet Things In Gowns.
They wore two sweet girl graduates and
they had shut themselves up in the double
room which they shared to write their essays.
The frivolous one. who had the valedlctory on
her hands. was curled up on a couch with
books OF quotations and poems all around her.
She was writing on big pad balanced on one
knee. The severe-lookinR girl was at table
surrounded with open cyclopedias. books OF
reference and dictionaries.
Listen to this" said the valedlctorian.
Tell me how this sounds We must realize
that life 10 a reality; one that confronts us
now. as never before. We stand on the thresh-
old OF the dim. i'm PEN trable future. Hereto
fore our paths have been strewn with the roses
OF kindness and affection. The schoolroom has
been our universe-a world from which we
step reluctantly into tho newer arena that
opes before u.s."
THAT what2"
"Opes"
"Oh. don't think I'd say ones. Opens or
unfolds sounds better. But it's all right.
You're In luck to have that kind OF rot to write
instead OF this thing I'm working on"
How far have you got2"
OF paper on which she had been writing and
began to read in Evolutionary style:
Blackjack to tho dim mysterious and re-
mote past. we children Of the present gaze
through the mists OF years to the centuries
when the minds OF the ancients conceived the
discoveries for which we OF to- day are the ben
efciaries. EthnooRy comparative philology
and prehistoric archaeology teach us
That's as far as I've reached how do you like
it2"
That's great It sounds just like his
tory !"
IT don't want It to sound too like the history.
Last year Jessie Cooley's essay was copied ex.
actly from the history. word for word. and the
girls all repeated It softly to themselves while
she was reading. and II made such buzz that
she had to stop half way. 1t was DREADFUL"
"Oh. yours doesn't sound like that. It's Just
smooth and nice. Now. what ought take UP
after the arena opening before us1"
About parting with schoomates That's
always good for a page and a half Make It
real strong" She turned over q page OF the
cyclopedia and ran her finger along 1t in
search OF a word. Now go on from here"
she said "'The manufacture OF glass. usually
attributed to the Ph9ncians. was really dis
covered by the Egyptians moro than four
thousand years ago-m-mm-mm. The an
cient Egyptians had methods Of coloring glass
which we have never been able to equal.
Their limitations Of precious stones Say.
did you hear that Sadie Flareby is going to
wear q diamond necklace at the graduation 2"
Il shouldn't be bit surprised. She always
dresses in horrid taste. Now. my frock is alb
solutely plain. Just a mousseline de solo slip
over white taffeta. I won't wear even q pearl;
nothing but class pin. Will youT'
II have to wear q lorgnette. you know. on
~ 7 70
chain with small pearls In the links It's very
simple, though Oh. how hate that Flareby
girl. don't you"
II despise her, I've ordered white kid shoes
because she is going to wear satin slippers.
and she wanted all the girls to. Do you know
there are none Of the girls that should care to
associate with when we get away from here.
Stupid frumps. most Of them You are the
only girl that have ever made confdante OF.
don't depend on one OF them. Mean. tricky
things always gossipinR behind ones back
But I'm disturbing you %
The pen and the pencil travelled buslly over
the paper. The severe girl skipped from page
to page OF her reference books. The frivolous
girl chewed her pencil and looked at the CELL
ing now and then. as though for inspiration.
Suddenly she stopped.
Listen! !" she commanded. Il think this is
good: This day. which seems 80 auHpicious.
so filled with happiness and the fragrance OF
our vanished school days. sweeter than the
blossoms which we wear in honor OF our COM
mencement day. Is saddened by one
cloud that darkens the vista smiling be-
fore our wondering eyes. Our gradua-
and schoolmates with whom we have
been. bound together in the closest ties of
months; When we think OF those friends who
mn n " Ia
fit back to the days gone by"
Lovely. - said the severe girl; but not
whilst-while il lust as good and one letter less.
around u the class from face to face and smile at
Il makes sa Wv VIII fH's eth the S reass
Addie sandaIhope dd that last year. and the
manner IN addressing her mates"
WHAT had she on 2?
oh; yoy can imssippss' White satin with q
aJast tane 81. Have you decided to have
'aaYes. think it's more the thing with
dotted null. It's one OF those clinging skirts.
you know, with bow knot embroidery running
up the side and ending in rosette on the left
about what subject should take up after the
you ia 80 rF ;hs% on :ro And
how old Miss Hearki nson broke IN our party
that night and took away the cigarettes to
day for that! Then 60 on to our hopes and
ideals. Oh. that's so easy. envy you"
~. Poor thing do pity you How far have
I've Just started on the literature Of Egypt:
The key to Egyptian writing was discovered
by means OF heavy block OF black basalt now
a relic in the British Museum, 1t bears tri-
iingpal inseription; written in hieroglyphic. de-
oh, that's beautiful! Go on"
1.-The hieroRlyphical writing reveals itself
in monuments OF the first dynasties. They are
vast and wonderful replica Of an age when
great minds CROPPED dimly in the sciences that
college Now branch of into ancient as
Pinkie Shields Is going to wear the gold
star medal she took in astronomy. Did you
| ever hear OF such ostentation 2"
What can you expect OF a girl who wears
:" always suspected that she did: but you
| know she denied 1t and said she tied them her
| self How did you find out?"
THE cham bermaid showed me some Plnke
had given her when they were soiled. They
| were all sewed in place."