Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-07-06

we have q public school system We
not only have public school system,
but also invite the youth from the
schools to the colleges and from the
colleges to the universities, There is
a tremendous demand today in America
for college men and women. There
are great opportunities in the colleges
for the youth of the country. The
doors are open to all. But we are not
able to stimulate the youth to realize
what are the obligations that go with
the opportunities.
He advised the graduates not to at
tempt to act part in life unless they
had mastered well the spirit and words
OF their acting. He paid tribute to
Admiral Dewey and pointed out how he
he acted his part in the war with Spain.
He could not have done so, he said,
il he had not been fully prepared for
such work. Be We always ready, he
said. Dewey's task was unexpected,
but he was ready and performed his
duty we'll. We have suddenly come to
an appreciation of what our country is.
what our flag means and how we are
regarded by the rest of the world.
He said if the youth of today had
been educated as our fathers had hoped,
there would be no such thing aaS high
officials using the language attributed
to the head of the commissary depart
ment, or by the chief executive of a
State, which was used before jury in
a neighboring city recently, or to Boss
Croker, in New York City.
The speaker concluded his highly
interesting address with some good,
wholesome advice to the graduates.
He was loudly applauded.
Diplomas were conferred by President
Shortlidge, who addressed the graduates
as follows:
1.-THE school year, which closes to-
night, has been unusually bright and
successful. Every feature of public
education in Wilmington has been pros
porous and progressive, and we have
kept abreast of the wonderful procession
which industry, business and history
are making in every direction.
1t has been a remarkable year, no
doubt, in the memory of my young
friends here. Both at home and abroad
there have been the interest activity.
the most rapid progress and the greatest
change and development.
at has been u history making year,
enquickening, instructive and inspiring
to every healthy and patriotic mind.
1T has been a wholesome year and
the influence for good of the mighty
opportunities which it has brought to
the nation, to its soldiers and sailors,
to its manufacturers and its business
men, to its men and women in every
walk of life has been felt with equal
force and fruition by its boys and girls
in the school rooms.
1.-The new atmosphere of hope and
courage and prosperity is giving vii.
mington a new high school and is in,
spring US, parents and children, tax.
payers and pupils, to take up with
cheerfulness and confidence the greater
task Of educating the new and the
greater number of the steadily increas
ing generations.
in my experience of many years
have never known the interest IN publ,
education to be stronger and deeper
than it is today, both here and through
out the country. We all believe, and
think it is true, that somehow the grea
| achievements of this nation, especial,
those of the passing year both in arml
and in industry, are largely, If no
chiefly, due to our public school system
Someone has said recently, will
| great eloquence and with even greate
truth that so long as our public school,
shall stand so long will our flag fiy
and SO long as our flag shall fly tina
long will our public schools stand upol
their foundation.
THE public school is the life, th,
strength, the safety and the glory o
our land.
lin the name of the public schools
therefore, AS we'll as in the name of tn
land we all love SO much, | now ii
behalf of the Board of Education civ
to you this certificate and diploma, th
public evidence Of your fidelity an,
industry, not forgetting to tell you a
l. told your predecessors year ag
that this is the commencement and no
the conclusion of your labors and per
haps your struggles.
You and have been told as long n
we can remember that we each one G
us Must do his part in Life. | wis
to change that title saying and tell 70
that the great task before you now
not to do your part, but to find wha
that part is.
As great as is the glory of accou
plishment in this next to the last yea
of the century, the individual struggl
to lind a worthy and proper place q
the universal work bench is eve
greater. But | will add for your con
fort that good mechanic or goo
housekeerer is greater and worthit
than poor President, and that th
honor and glory of our calling lie M
IN the calling or trade, but in Ii
manner in which we do our work.
The duty that lies before each OF
of us, with few rich but unfortuna
: exceptions, is to learn to do some OF
thing so we'll and so effectively that v
can exchange our products, wheth
: they be of the head or of the hand,
the open market, for bread and clothe
and lodging at least, and as mut
more both Of the necessities and of VI
3 Injuries of life as theyiwill buy for IL
THAT is the old law of today: i
the sweat of thy face shalt thou e.
bread.''
AWARDING OF PRIZES.
One Of the most interesting feature
! the exercises was the awarding
! prizes, which resulted as follows.
First honor prizes, $40 in gold ca,
to the young man and young won;
making the highest general avera
4 during the High School cours
: awarded by the Board of Education
. Miss Helen Cole Carter and H. Brun
/, Sellers, presented by Prof. A.
o Berlin.
# Alumni prize, $40 in gold to 4
Il young man having the best scholarsh
: record during the High School cours
d presented to Sanford Wales Sawin
s Herbert L. Rice, former president
o the association.
It Alumne prize, $40 in gold to t
@ young woman making the best ayera
10 in English during the course. present
%, n sl.L.N III