Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 June 1891 — Eight More Graduates. [ARTICLE]

Eight More Graduates.

XINTfe ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT OF THE RENSSELAER HIGH ‘ SCHOOL. Almost if not fully half of the population of jthe the school town of Rensselaer gathered in the Opera House, last Thursday night, to see and hear the annual commencement exercises of the Rensselaer High School. The main liafi and galleries were packed to their utmost seating capacity , and even more. The stage was beautifully decorated, the most striking feature of the decorations being an immense evergreen crescent, in the rear, upon which was artistically arranged, in large white letters, the class motto, “Paddle” yqur own canoe.” Below the crescent hung a genuine birch bark canoe, of aboriginal manufacture, albeit only 4 or 5 feet long, and, to complete the similitude, a manikin sat in the boat holding a paddle. The excellent order that prevailed is deserving of special mention, for it does the people of our town great credit. For the first hour and a half it was almost perfect, and after that it was only disturbed by the involuntary shifting about of tired little bodies, unused to sitting so long in one position. The various themes of the graduates were unusually able in composition and, for the most part, delivered so well that even the most remote of the audience could plainly hear. Brief synopses of the themes are here appended:

IDA CHILCOTE. “ Why and Because ” One of the underlying principles in man, is to seek for a reason in nature about .him. God created man and placed him upon the earth, and surrounded him by all the beauties of nature ****** We find man from the earliest history down to the present time, inquiring Why the varous things about him exist, and in the course of time he is able to answer liis question, Because. * * * * This disposition in man to inquire why things exist about him, lead our mother, Eve, to partake of the forbidden fruit, * * * because she saw that it was good. * * * In her inquiry why the tree of good and evil existed and the sad penalty she paid because of its existence lias cost the world all its sorrows, woes and death. She shows that it was this insatiable desire to know why, that lead the old astrologers to seek explanation of omens among the heavenly bodies. This same spirit of curiosity to know -why, has promoted the researches which have resulted in onrpresentauthentic knowledge of the solar system and the many theories respecting the various works of creation.

Thus we see, that some of the greatest calculations have been made by men }>ossessed of an ixquiring'disposition and reasoning until they arrive at; a definite conclusion. And so when we stop to reflect we can understand that every achievement in science has been due to the natural disposition in man to ask why things exist in nature as they do, and his ability to explain in the course of time the cause of such existence.

Lotus HAMILTON. "Cse and Abuse of Ambition.'’ He showed that ambition, when abused, should be checked in its career before it proves a bane to its possessor. As examples of abused ambition he gives the names of Napoleon, Jefferson Davis, Aaron Burr, and others. Of ambition's abuse he says: “It must be admitted that the ambition of Napoleon was of a fearfully mad kind, and one truly to be dreaded. It was not true ambition; it was base, false and selfish. It traveled a road too narrow for friendship, too crooked for love, too rugged for honesty, too dark for science and too hilly for happiness.” But says he “Compare, if you please £this small number with the whole galaxy of great men, and then can you say that public opinion has a right to hold its present view of ambition?” He shows that ambition, when properly used is a laudable trait in any character, “'there never existed a great man, that did not possess this element of passion. The world may not have seen it working, but down deep in- the Silent man it was at work * * * it was the great mainspring which kept him in motion.”

LYNE KELLEY. Miss Lyne Kelley read a very interesting essay, subject, “Empress Josephine.” — l A brief biography of this great and good woman, beginning with her birth and following her to the grave, setting forth the many estimable qualities which made her so sincerely loved by all who knew her. In childhood she indulged in the usual childish sports in company with the children ofher uncle’s negro slaves, as freely as she did With white children, and always had a smile and a word of

kindness for these poor, unfortunate beings,at the same,time having great taste and refinement. She was admired by those of high rank and of social position. She was a talented musician, and possessed a voice unusually beautiful. She was handsome and graceful in person, kind and gentle in manner and bad a mind capable of dealing out wisdom mid justice. She grew up “a child of grab©, beauty and loveliness of character which won the love and admiration of all who knew her.” When accused by a jealous husband of being “a false coquet,” she heard the accusation with the calmness of a true and innocent wife, and freely forgave him, when she had convinced him by her actions that she was the true wife stilL After her marriage.to Napoleon, and when he had so* basely deserted her, yet she never ceased to love and honor him, and it is said of Napoleon, that Josephine was the only person he ever truly loved. To the day of her death she never faltered, or hesitated to give him the benefit of the good counsel she was capable of giving. “Thus ended the life of the purest and noblest woman of the age—true, upright, loved and respected by all Europe.”

ALFRED HOPKINS. Class Poem. The general line of his thought “Schools and Education.” He started with tne Egyptians, who first establisned a method or system for the discipline of the mind; referred to the ancient Grecian and Roman schools; commented on the country schools, grammar schools and high schools of the present day. Of education he says: “Education is a friend, m On which we may with faith depend, T'will not desert us in misfortune, Or drag us down to degradation. In strife ’twill he a noble cliampion, In solitude a kind companion; No clime can its effect destroy, No tricksters will its good decoy. In danger, it relieves of fear. In solitude it strives to cheer; In company it will adorn, And add tenfold to genius born. It acts to virtue as a guide, It chastens vice, on every side, ’Twill add a grace to what you know, 'Twill be a friend where’er you go.” EMMA EGER. “Drifting with the Tide.”

She reviewed such lives as that of Martin Luther and other men who had turned to battle against the tide; and who at the time were severely censured for this audacity, but later when the purity of their motives and the justice of their contentions were recognized, were exalted far above those who had “drifted with the tide.” “How frequently do men turn from the right in order to secure po[>ularity, wealth and fame! These attainments should neither lie despised nor idolized; an honest fame, based upon worth and merit and gained by prudence and industry, deservedly perpetuates the names of the great and good; but when men seek to acquire fame by sacrificing right and justice, when they act and live that they may gain the world’s applause rather than right, they are drifting with the tide that will in the course of time bear them to destruction and ruin. * * * The man who stands by the right amid the devotees of wrong; who loves the good and follows in its way because it is right; who shuns wrong however profitable may be its services, whether he comes from the king’s courts or from the humble walks of life, is the true victor, and his fame will be as lasting as time.”

GCSS PHILLIPS. “Class History.” He commenced with the entrance of the class into the high school, Sept. 8, 1887, when it consisted of 41 members—seven of whom are still members. There are eight members in the class at present. Combined weight 1057 pounds, height 562$ inches; ages 147; tallest 6 feet; heaviest 155; average ages 18§ years.

Alice Irwin * born Jan. 11, 1878, in Carpenter tp., moved to Rensselaer when 10 years of age; is 18 yrs., 8 montlis and 27 days old; height 5 feet inches; weight 140 pounds. Emma Eger, bom in Rensselaer, July 17, 1872, is 18 yrs., 10 mo. and 11 days old; height 5 feet 5 inches; weight 116 pounds. Ida Chilcote, born Dec. 17, 1872, "in Rensselaer, is 18 years, 4 mo., and 11 days old; 5 ft. 3 inches in height, weighs 139 pounds. Lyne Kelley, bora in Rensselaer, Sept- 1, 1873, is 17 years, 9 mo;, and 27 days old, height *5 feet 2 inches; weight 107| pounds. Newton Warren bora Oct. 30.1869, miles northwest of Rensselaer, is 21 years, 6..m0. and 28 days old; 6 feet in height, weight 155 pounds.-

» Alfred Hopkins, bora in Rensselaer, July 31, 1873, is 18 years, 9 mo, and 27 days old; 5 feet 7 inches in height, weight 114 pounds. Louis Hamilton, bora in Indianapolis, June 24 1871, is 19 years J 1 mo. and 4 days old, height 5 feet 7 inches, weight 151 pounds. Guss Phillips, bam in Resselaer, Aug. 1, 1873, is 18 years, 9 months and 26 days of age, height 5 feet 9 inches; weight ISS pounds.