The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-06-19

; Graduation for one year, at least, IS
over and most of the sweet girl grad
yates" are very thankful. Every year
graduation means more and more of
an expense to those who participate
as we'll as to their parents and friends
1t has come to be about as expensive
ito graduate from a high school as to
get married, and every one knows how
that is. And when thought Of serious
!ly it seems rather ridiculous that grad
uatiOn from high school merely, should
he such an event. Even graduation
from grade schools is made a great
IDEAL of. Of course it is all right for
THE girls who can afford it and many
mOthers cannot be blamed for wishing
ITO give their daughters everything they
want at the time of their successfully
completing a school course. But it
makes it very hard for the poor girl
and the reason why so many girls, and
boys too, drop out of school during
1.-THE last term is principally on account
of the expense.
There is one girl who graduated
this week from the high school who
would have had to give up graduating
at all but for the kindness of two Wom-
ZEN friends of her mothers, who bought
her outfit for her. 1t is astonishing the
things a girl is eXpected-yes, expect
.ed-to have when she graduates. She
must have new dress for commence
ment and new underclothes. She must
Iwear nothing old upon this occasion,
even her skirt and stockings must be
new. And then her class-day dress!
fer it would never do for her to wear
the same dress both nights. This, too,
must be new, and have its separate
new set of underwear. There is some
sort of a feeling against wearing any
thing on one night that is worn the
AOther. And all the little things, new
ribbons, pretty new fan and hand
fsome new handkerchief and a dozen
other similar articles.
/ Now one would think that this would
be enough. But no. The graduate must
Ehave her pictures taken, several dozen
LOf them, must pay for her invitations,
Iher cards, must even buy the ribbon to
ftie around her diploma before she re
tCeives it, must have a carriage to take
ther to the church on commencement
might and must have flowers tied with
ribbon. Then for her friends and rela-
,tives it is a particularly expensive af-
fair for gifts are always in order and
flowers are necessary.
1t has been only in the last few years
that things have reached such an ex-
IRENE. OF course, for the girl gradu-
lating from the university or from col
Ilege it is different matter, but when
there is so much made of early gradu-
fations, what more can a girl have when
she does finish college or get married?
"A mother of a girl who graduated last
might was heard to say to another
mother, Il have been glad that have
been able to give T everything that
she wanted. Yes, she had everything
that she expressed a wish for, and 1
think she is satisfied. But what more
can we do for her when she is mar
ried?"
1t has been suggested that the only
Iway to solve the problem is to have a
uniform costume for the pupils. But
it would be hard to do this with the
girls With the boys it is different,
they seem much more sensible than the
girls in this matter. At the Mechanic
Arts high school the boys, in talking
over their wearing apparel for COM
mencement night, decided that business
coats would be better for all Of them,
as there were some who could not at
ford evening dress. Why can't the girls
be as sensible?