The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1901-06-15

Summer skies and roses.-and COM
mencement exercises everywhere in the
land! In the high school and the COL
lege, il the noble university, in every
locality where there is an institution OF
learning. the interest Of the community
is centered for 8 few brief hours upon
the young men and maidens who are
completing the one line OF work which
they have attempted. and are now look
ing forward to other fields, and other
struggles, and the widened experience
which years alone can give. In the
grammar school and the university the
same idea prevails. The underlying
principle is that Of conquest. and
whether the enemy has been weak or
mighty, the consciousness Of victory is
the same.
The little roll Of blue-ribboned parch.
nent. innocent in appearance, has an
almost hypnotic effect upon its recip-
tents. Not one of the thousands OF
graduates this week can receive it I'm.
moved; and the particular emotion ex-
cited in each students breast largely
depends upon the size Of his bump Of
egoism. To many this occasion is in.
deed commencement" marking the
accomplishment Of the first stage Of
life's journey. To others-and the list
is not short-it celebrates the acquisi-
ton OF all knowledge necessary for this
world and the next, and is tangible evil
dence Of the superior quality Of twen-
tieth century brain matter to that which
was considered creditsble fifty years
ago. There is tendency among young
persons, when they begin to experience
some mental quicksning, to imagine
that their pond Of thought is a Shore
less sea, and to believe there is some
thing peculiar in the penetration and
grasp of their minds which qualities
them to challenge all traditional or her
editary beliefs at sight.
| At no time 10 mans life does he feel
his individuality more strongly than on
his graduation day. To the audience
there is a strange monotony in the rows
of black. coated, white-robed victors,
but to each man and woman of them
the difference is very great indeed. In
the heart Of every one is the unspoken
conviction that his particular life will
be Of most advantage to the world, that
his aims are the highest, and that his
achievements will be the most lofty Of
all the class. For the encouragement
of these hopeful ones we can only say,
in tho words Of Lowell: "No power can
die that ever wrought for good"
The world of society has felt respou-
sive thrill from the festivities at the
high school and university. Glass re-
unions and fraternity meetings have
been the feature Of the week, and the
beautiful homes of Lincoln have been
opened freely for the entertainment OF
the student-guests.
Sixty.five members OF the association
Of collegiate alumnae we're entertained
by Miss Helen Harwood on Tuesday
afternoon. An interesting talk on $50.
cial life at Oxford" was given by Mrs.
w. G. L. Taylor. Mrs. Taylor con.
siders the English hostesses more tact
full, though less graceful than their
American sisters. Simplicity character.
ICES even the large English parties, but
the strongest feature of social life in
England is the afternoon tea. uni
versity life in Berlin" was Miss Cham
berlin's subject Women are allowed
tn attend lectures on presantat;on NJ =.