The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-06-02

June and roses and the sweet girl grad uatel Doesn't it take you back to the days when you were one of these dear young things, dressed all in white, with your hair done high for the first time in your life? Can't you see the sheep skin, now yellow with age, tied with yards and yards of white satin ribbon, and your graduation essay written there on, in nice Spencerian hand, with the title, no doubt, of Beyond the Alps Lies Italy"-composed of the most sophomoric language, literally scaling the heights and clambering to worlds unknown in burts of oratory?
 Don't you smile to think how much more you have really gone to school since that suspicious occasion when you re- ceived your diploma, and how, in reality you have sealed the Alpine heights after bursts of oratory?
 Pray tell us, you who have had such experience, is the country on the other side worth while? Did the climbing just fly the ascent; or wasn't the peaceful valley just as desirable? Or did your steps often falter as you looked ahead and saw the awful summit that had to be reached, and with slow, half-reluctant feet and one sorrowful glance at the giddy heights, retrace your steps and rest content at the base?
 And to you. sir, upon. whose locks the scar and yellow leaf has left it's mark, and the frosty hand has laid it's imprint, do you not at this joyous season become young again, and recall your own diplo-
 tn1y rlaar along with your confirmation certificate, your wedding certificate and many an- other happy memento-among which is the graduation Reclamation, entitled The Saving of Our Country"?.
 Countless boys have saved and re-saved our country in those 30 40 or was 1t oo years, since your commencement ora tion was made?
 And yet each time the pulse is thrilled and the heart beats young once more at the, thought of your own effort on that happy June day!
 Everybody is young at this beautiful season! One cannot help it, with youth and beauty and hope surrounding one on every side.
 Once upon a time, Abulfeda relates that an old lady importuned him to tell what she must do to get into Paradise.
 My good woman," said he, Paradise is not for old women.'
 Whereupon the poor creature began to weep and the prophet consoed her by saying:
 'There will not be any old women in Paradise because they will all be young again.
 To the doubting Thomases let me say that this story is verified in the fifty fourth chapter of the Koran-and holds a happy doctrine of consolation to those who fear. eternal old age.
 So among the audiences who will gather in this month of June to hear the sweet girl graduate and the college boy read their essays there will be no old men, and women--for the fire of youth will be upon them as they hear and see and appreciate the hope that springs eternal in the youthful breast.
 "we are all twenty tonight!
 we're twenty, we're twenty, who says we
 are more?
 Take him out, the young jackanapes-
 show him the door!'
 On this eventful evening of her life the sweet girl graduate makes all the old boys and all the old girls forget their past failures and false hopes and dreams that never came true.
 We are all young again, and life Is bright with hope, and success lies with in our reach. It is so close that we can almost put forth our hands and touch, it-hands with bluer veins, perhaps,