The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-05-23


and his companion Nazarius are travel
ling along the Appian Way in the early
morning. The sky in the east is begin
ming to grow rosy with light Illuminating
teh Alban Hills The statues on the vel
vet lawns Of the villas are emerging from
ten darkness of the night. The dew drops
hang from the leaves of the tree and upon
the flowers that bloom by the wayside.
The Apostle is leaving Rome. Proceeding
along the highway the pilgrim, weary and
sad, leaning upon his staff looks forward.
and beholds approaching the risen Christ,
wearing an auriole brighter than the
light of the returning day. Peter falls
with his face on the earth, and with
words broken by sObs, the aged man, ad-
dressing his Lord and Master says: Quo
vodis, Dominie?" Baptized in this vision
of light, and with his Lords answer
burning in his soul, with a new courage,
heaven born, Peter arises and turns his
face to the Eternal City. His companion
repeats as an echo, the words Quo Vadis
dominica addressing Peter, and the
Apostle replies, ITO Rome"
Young ladies, you stand now on the APP
plan Way of human life-in the rosy
morn of a beautiful existence. Soon you
are to leave these college walls, and let
me ask each one of you the solemn ques-
ton, Quo vadis?" Happy indeed would
| be if this morning ] could throw a sim
gle ray of light upon the way stretching
out before you.
But let me observe here that, thanks
to the Christian civilization OF our age,
there are many ways open up to women.
Had Peter, on his return to Rome, said to
the Roman maiden just blooming into
womanhood, Quo vodis''-sitting in the
dark shadows of paganism. had she an
swered according to the spirit OF the day,
she would have said II go as the play
thing of my lord and MASTER and at
that time the women Of all nations would
have made the same answer-for the
ennobling influences destined Ito recast
the minds of men," had not yet wrought
the work of woman's emancipation. In
deed it was not accomplished until centu-
ries later. The development of chivalry
brought with it certain homage paid to
to woman but Love and war were the
essence of life, and both were the inspira-
tion of song
Recently ! read a poem written by a
talented lady, entitled, THE Awaken
ing" 1t is "a fairy tale of old" 1t tells
of palace buried away in the deep wood
in which for a century a fair princess re-
posed in an enchanted sleep. One day
"a prince in cloth of gold passed that
way, and knelt beside her as she slept.
Zone kiss-and swift the century's slum-
Der broke,
And with a smile, the dreaming princess
woke
so slept the mind of woman. All the
night
Of her great soul and heart, so pure and
strong.
Deep sunk in darkness of a pagan night,
While hushed her voice in all save pleas
ures song
BY the magic touch of a better civili-
zation the mind of woman has awakened,
and disenthralled she looks out today
upon broader horizon. / congratulate
you, young ladies', that you live in the
day of awakening, and that yOn enter
upon the active duties of life with the
dawning of a new century"
Continuing the speaker told of the won
derful development of the past century
and of the rapid progress of events which
had moved the centre of the financial
world from Lombard street in London to
Wall Street in New York. He predicted
that in perhaps a half decade some
Southern city would wrest from Manches-
ter. England, it's prlmacy in cotton manu-
featuring, just as now Birmingham lead
in coal and iron over Newcastle. The
intellectual development of women was
discussed and the graduating class was
congratulated on it's opportunities. He
told them that the greatest work they
could do would be to become educators
or to seek a field of work in the realms
of art and sculpture. He declared that
on women depended the religious and
civil liberty of the country. In regard to
what some young women might do he told
| of the pressing need of primary history
| of North Carolina that awaits writer
Of force and ability, and said that no
| woman could do a grander thing than
lay such a tribute upon the altar of her
| State.
Mr.. Gilmer closed his forcible speech
| by urging a selection of some specific duty
| by each of the graduating class so that
whittier goest thou need not be asked,
| the conservation to duty and to dis
tinctive work being so plain that all
might recognize the path of her who trod
| it, and recognizing, find in teh life of her.
who did so a noble incentive to do right
| for rights sake.
The closing musical number was The
| Pilgrims Chorus" from Tannhauser. II
was grandly sung by the full chorus class,
| with the accomplished musical instructor,
Mrs. Lille Logan Kean at the piano.
The benediction pronounced by Rev
| DR.. Daniel closed the program and the
brilliant commencement exercises OF
Peace Institute for 1901 were aver