Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 June 1891 — ALICE IRWIN. [ARTICLE]

ALICE IRWIN.

“Opportunities for Women.” Nothingviu this most progressive century oftfre world’s history,is more wonderful than the change of public sentiment in regard to what women may or may not do. Gradually, but steadily, the era for women has come forth &ud now every profession and skilled trade is open to them * * * * When-tfae wand of civilization drew aside the curtain and sej arated darkness from light, Christianity, like an angle of love, led women .from bondage to freedom, took her feet from the miry clay and set them upon a rock and from that day to this, the Christian world has been her sphere of labor. * * * * * From this elevation, with the love of God in her heart and the accents of affection on her lips she is destined to become the chief source of light and blessing to our race. The nineteenth century above all is the women’s century. Never before in the known history of mankind, has there been such an awakening of mind among women. Fifty years ago, the only occupations open to women who were obliged to maintain themselves were teaching, millinery, dressmaking, factory work and plain sswing. Today they are engaged in over three hundred different employments, every profession has thrown epen its doors to women; they may become physicians, lawyers, clergymen, dentists, telegraphers, stenographers, bookkeepers, farmers Teal-estate and insurance agents and presidents of railroad companies and banks * * * * The truth is no calling or occupation, can in these days be said to be absolutely closed to a woman who determines to fit heeself for it and enter it * * * * The chances for men and women are rapidly becoming equalized and even now the latter have but few disadvantages to complain of.

NEWTON WARREN. Populvr Government and Popular Education. “It is a singular fact in the history of our race, that nowhere has education made any considerable progress among the people, without the effectual aid and protection of goverment * * * * It becomes necessary if a nation desires to become enlightened to provide other means besides those left to private individuals. The government seems to be the most capable agency of providing a system of education for the masses. And the extent to which a nation carries out its own plan of education, determines the kind of goverment that nation will have; whether it be a Democracy, Republic or Despotism, depends upon the intelligence of the people* * * * Popular government and popular education! These terms are co-related and utterly inseparable * * * * As Washington has saic “Just in proportion as the structure of a free government gives force to public opinion, it is essential that public opinion be enlightened.” To the common schools must be attribut-

ed the fact, that in ,a little more than one hundred years, onr nation has risen from insignificnce to the first place among the powers of the earth**** Oppression and ignorance are ‘ closely allied. Oppression and intelligence are wholly foreign to each * * * In a republic, the common schools take the place of a starring army. It is the common school that elevates the masses above the dignity of a mob. Therefore if we covet for our country the noblest, the purest and the best government the world has ever seen, such a government as shall honor God and bless mankind, let us cling to the education of the people with a patriotic love, with a scholar's enthusiasm, with a Christian’s hope.” Prof. Wilson, the superintendent, gave a class address replete with valuable suggestions, for the future course of the graduates, and M. F. Chilcote Esq., on behalf of the the School Board, presented the diplomas, prefaced the presentation with a brief address, also appropriate to the occasion. The closing ceremony was the presentation of flowers, and some more solid tokens, to the graduates, who were nearly eclipsed from view behind the banks of blossoms admirirg friends bestowed upon them. The several pieces of music that were interspersed through the pi gram formed a very agreeable feature of the evening.