The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1905-02-21
clarksburg, W. Va, Feb. q, 1907
THE GIRL GRADUATES ATTIRE.

From over in McIleesport, or some
other town in our great neigaboring
state of Pennsylvania. the news went
OUT a short time az that the girl
graduate of nigh school classes would
this year deliver her graduation essay
unadorned in ting accustomed gown and
cap and instead appear in tine pretty
dresses which the feminine hand and
artistic taste can make 50 becoming to
the young maiden.
This set otner girls who are to grad
uate when tine roses bloom again to
thinking about the matter. Ii there is
one thing a pretty young maiI,n de-
'ires more taans any otner pleasure it
Is to array herself in inery that will
add to her beauty AMI grace And from
the masculine standpoint it is not seen
mat the young maiden Is 10 be blamed
IN this commrndablc ambition. WHAT
, more beautiful picture is tlsre taan a
handsome, graceful and attractiye young
maiden of the girl gra luate ago ar
rayed in costume which she can with all
der feminine instinct ana careful iudg
ment make herself look so entrancine?
But there is another side Of the mat
Ter to consider. TnerA is a wide var.
lance of style and taste among the
people as whole There is also great
dierence in the wealth Of tn. families
VINO are SO proud 10 have a sister and
daughter the member Of graduating
class. BY this wlaltn we do not IN an
that infinite valuation of culture. grace.
education. refinement ana learning. not
that advancement and improvement in
mental and moral training taat enables
her TO graduate, but that stern economic
valuation of dollars and cents that places
one family in position Of aflnance
where they can command all Ia, luxury
and pleasure tnat this wealth affords
and places another in close touch with
the neartlcss and cruel embarrassment
of poverty. the former is not calcua.
BILE in mere dollars and cents but il il
capable of accumulating tine latter wnic1
is dollars and c,nts-tne standard bv
waich the material things of this world
are measured. What, then. of tac sweet
girl graduate VINO cannot afford or whose
family cannot afford that array of Ruarv
which 'ner more fortunate sister will
wear at the graduation exercises Of
which they are tne central attractiy,
features?
To place all graduates upon an eouaI
plane, to make them all feel that tarv
are standing equal b.fr, their friends
and an admring public upon this qTsat
AMI happy occasion OF their lives. tar
pretty, neat. simple AMI vet BECOMING
graduation gown and cap w,rc inyept,,I
That was one OF the most sensible in.
vantions in our social and educational
progress ever created.
Let u nave the graduation gown and
cap and let Us keep it. Let as hand
tae custom down to our children and
to our childron's children That thsy all
may enjoy the advantage. OF social and
educational equality waico it not meas
ured by cold dollars and pennies. Scnool,
OF all kind that DO not have tae gradna.
lion gown and cap in their graduation
exercises should establish the custom
~ once. Those taat have mad the Gus
tom IN vogn. should keep it. DO not
allow ins girls VI graduation classe. to
deck themselves out in ribbons. laees
ana Other furbelows in competition with
ta,ir classmates.