The age-herald., 1901-05-31
Pretty Girls and Handsome
 Boys Receive Diplomas
COL, WILEY WAS ELOQUENT
Miss Jackson Sang Beautiful Solo, and the Diplomas Were Delivered By Prof. Cunningham After
 an Appropriate Speech.

The final exercises of the seventeenth annual commencement of the Birming- ham High School occurred at the Jef- ferson Theatre last night and many bright young graduates were made happy
 by the presentation of the diplomas
 The annual address was delivered by Hon. A. A. Wiley of Montgomery and was very effective oratorical effort, rounded in rhetorically perfect manner In this address Colonel Wiley undertook to discuss the relative parts which men and women should play in the life-work of the world. His words were as full of wisdom as they were well-chosen, and the address was as thoroughly interesting as it was thoughtful.
 Among the many words and ideas ad- vanced by Colonel Wiley were the follow ing:
 As I look around me here I see the many and usual manifestations of com mencement times are to be evidenced at any place. And these manifestations are not only pretty, charming an interesting, but they are the consequences of things and days in the far back past. The Greeks always went to see the OIympian games for the final wreathing of the winners: the Romans visited the great 1 arenas to see the gladiators shed their blood, and always in life the great and changing scenes are witnessed by the l people,
 But we come with another purpose than that of the olden time people who visited their places. We come with a l great object. and the difference between the gloom of the past and the transpar- ency of the placid cloud of the present | is exceedingly marked. We feel and know that the importance of education
 cannot be even estimated. We know
 there is that in It's flames which cannot
 be quenched but by the Omnipotent hand
 of God.
 Mutual Improvements. 'Mental improvement of man and of
 woman stands in the front ranks of all
 Improvements, Education distinguishes
 the noble from the base and lifts up from
 the low all power. Material wealth per l ishes with time, but mental riches last
 with all eternity. Education Is one of the highest necessities. and to neglect 1t is to mark a great blot on our birthrights. Prejudces and superstition vanish before the great hand of knowledge. and if you
 would have the boon you must burraw deeply Into the open shaft. The precious
 jewels of the great mine lie deep down. They are well worth the seeking and dig | ging. So say to you, go and dig and bur row down--down to the very depths.
 "The literature of the college and high
 school is one of the most formidable in- struments for supplying the young men and women with that which will mark
 them as the brightest ornaments of the world.
 "Young ladies, home is where affections l cau and that Is where you want to | shine. Adam considered the great and beautiful garden a desert until woman came The Almighty designed that the pair should live in love and harmony. He formed their structural bodies and the qualities of the mind differently. Man was made to act, not to mediate. Woman is | to be mild, soft tender and delicate. Her sway is to be imperious, powerful and as absolute as that of man.
 Man has never meted out justice 10 woman. The ancient Greeks worshiped her from the viewpoint of the passionate, and made the statue of Venus in which they sought to unite all charms and per- | factions of woman-the passionate, low | ing being. They regarded the physical | qualities only But the far-reaching lights | of Christianity has banished these old fn r,'c alx- | ing knowledge The boundaries of her knowledge has been enlarged and the standard of mans appreciation has been | raised higher and higher during all the | cycles of years.
 Her Greatest Improvement. "Young ladies, would desire to m- press upon you the deeply recognized fact that the femininity of woman is her | greatest attraction. We admire the characters of versatile wit and indomni- table courage. but we love more the poor fortunes of woman. Love. suffering, hope-what else marks the majesty of woman? Pain and poverty, suffering and trial is Gods nobest means of develop ing the brightest and deepest of woman's nature. While I would have you feast on knowIedge's table. I want you to re- tain all the charming virtues of the hearthstone. Make your home beautiful Bring to it flowers, music and sunshine. Make it an Eden of love. beauty and gladness. Make it a temple of holy rev. ealngs. Then 1t shall be that wherever  (Continued on Seventh Page.)