The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-06-22
Tome Institute commencement.

The final exercises were conclud-
ed at Tome Institute Monday morn
ing with the commencement and
presentation of diplomas to the
graduating class.
At ten O'Clock the board of trus,
tees, with Mrs. Jacob Tome and
DR.. Mackenzie, director, took seats
on the platform. Then the whole
school filed in, marching in tours,
followed by the graduating class.
After the opening prayer by Rev.
Wilfred Shaw, rector of Port De-
posit Presbyterian Church, the
cantata "Snow Fairies y by the
choral class and a song by the
whole school, DIR. Mackenzie made
brief address, introducing Prof.
Ira Remsen. The speaker contrast
ed the school teaching of a genera
ton ago with that of the present.
He said:
During the whole of my school life my atten.
ton was never for moment directed to anything
outside of the schoolroom. Nature was absolutely
ignored, unless it may be said to have been recog
nized in the study of geography. But, somehow
I never felt that there was any connection be,
| tween geography and nature.
| The same may be said of mathematics. The
problems or sums we worked upon were as faI
removed from the Iearth as possible. studied
calculus when was fifteen. but its significance
was not revealed to me until many years had
passed.
The study of English and of other languages
was not in the least calculated to interest us in
| literature-certainly not in nature. Pars:ng
Millions Paradise LOST was our principal occu-
patton in English. 1t is needless to remark that
| in those days had my own opinion of Milton,
and, for that matter, of Paradise. You will un-
derstand that we never read the poem, but simply
dissected sentence after sentence in the most cold
| blooded manner imaginable. We never read
| anything nor were we advised to read anything,
except those gems that were set in the graded
readers. should except the Bible, though this
was mot read by US in the school. In no study
was there any attempt made 10 interest US in the
world in which we live. 1t was always words,
words or symbols.
Now great change has come over our schools.
Today it is impossible for boys and girls to grow
up without discovering that there is much to be
learned without the aid OF books, and that nature
offers most interesting field ofstudy. am sure
that school work is much more attractive than il
used to be. Whether the new methods are devel-
| oping more useful more satisfactory men and
women, it is hard to say I think they are.
believe the world is moving onward-that it is
better today than il was in the last generation,
and the school is one of the great factors in
bringing about the improvement.
AT the conclusion of this address,
the choral class rendered "The
Rose" and the diplomas were pre-
sented to the graduating class.
Director Mackenzie delivered an
address to the graduates. He con-
graduated the class for the faculty
of the institution and babe them
farewell. The whole audience rose
and sang "Auld Lang Syne," after
which a reception was held.
Those who received diplomas
were Miss Ellen V. Anderson,
North East; Mr.. Charles r. Butch
enhart, Port Deposit; Mr.. Chester
I. Harper, Christiana, Pa; Mr..
James III. Hutchinson, Elk View,
Pa; Miss I. 81. Osborne, Havre dc
Grace.