The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-02
SWEET GIRL GRADUATES IN
 THESE BRIGHT JUNE DA ZS
Flowers and Ribbons and Lace Tell the Days Revive the Youthful Sprt-Feted and Enter
 tained Are the Dear Young Things
By DOLLY DALRYMPLE.

than in years gone by-to close upon that
 subtle thing called-luck!
 Time for us has turned backward in it's
 flight, and made us children just for tonight" and we are blushing and smil- ing for Mary and John in their happiness, and hiding our confusion in the tumultu-
 ous applause.
 Moist eyes and a stif1ed sob recall us from dreams of other days, and we pull 1 ourselves together and feeting thought
 goes through our hearts that we would
 give much to look out upon the world
 again with such fearless glances and such faith as these girls and boys possess, and
 to know that fear and disappointment
 and despair are foes yet to be met and conquered.
 o youth-youth-
 Long lifes lovely thing to know, With all of health and wealth forsooth, 1 And lovely names and fame-but, oh The loveliness of youth" It is a poor one indeed who has not
 had invitations galore to the commence
 ment exercises all over the country within the past few weeks.
 Bits of cardboard f1utter around us every day, and we are reminded that
 many of our young friends are forever through with their school days and ready to start the battle of life.
 "Jests and youthful jollity
 Quips and cranks and wanton wiles Mods and becks and wreathed smiles" Are the sum and substance of their exis- tence at this particular time These are the halcyon days of the
 sweet girl grad" She is feted and en- tertained more deliberately than any fairp
 princess. Lawn parties, teas, picnics, balls and luncheons ara given in her honor and the only rival she brooks is the June bride.
 The colleges arrange at the finale all sorts of exercises for their entertainment. At Wellesley they have ''hoop-rolling
 day" At Mount Holyoke they have a "June-day procession" while at Vassar "daisy chain" is woven and wound l around the chairs of the IS. G. G." as she makes her adieu to her college mates. All this to the girls and boys who are now entering upon their young woman hood, and young manhood. but isn't there a word to be said for the mothers? As I sat in vast audience a night or two ago l looked at the faces of those in attendance and read the various sx- pressions of pride and happiness which these mothers wore. In that vast con- course I saw represented the rich and the poor alike, and on many a face was tn ha ba toll and renunciation, written so plain that all who run might read. That audi ence of mothers represented years of long, hard work, that Mary and John might sit
 upon the rostrum with their schoomates
 and never feel a difference in dress or opportunity on this delectable occasion There is pathos beyond words in the l patient figure-generally in black with the iron gray hair and stopped shoulders, and face all flushed at the cocomence- I ment exercises. Sitting near me on the occasion to which I have just alluded l was dear old lady of this type, who
 said, as her daughter received her di- | ploma:
 Thank heavenl It only leaves me with one more to educate!"
 | And a woman of elegance and wealth you see one touch of nature made all that row of mothers kin that night-said: My daughter says that your daughter l is the brightest girl in their class, and I know you feel very proud of her." And the bent figure looked up with a
 happy smile and replied: T am-shes good girl" And so in the commencement sermons and the commencement addresses 1t seems to me that the mothers might have a word said to them to encourage the eff forts that they have made-many of them. It might do the sweet girl gradu- ate and the college boy worlds of good to hear their mothers praised on a night like this. For they deserve it, a6ter rear ing tbeir young to years of maturity, and with the compliments of the season so generously bestowed upon the graduates 1t is an suspicious occasion to give the word of commendation to the. mothers. for to them as well belongs the homage. EAT AT THE ANNEX CAFE, IN CONNECTION wwvrr1rr mYvrJ Yr@nMr nr~