,,silver ,,links ,a ,,collection ,,of ,,salutatory1 ,,valedictory ,,and ,,other ,,addresses ,,delivered ,,at ,,the ,,first ,,five ,,commencements ,,of ,,the ,,female ,,stenographic ,,and ,,typewriting ,,class ,,of ,,the ,,general ,,society ,,of ,,mechanics ,,and ,,tradesmen ,,of ,,the ,,city ,,of ,,new ,,york ,,compiled ,,by ,w4 ,l4 ,,mason ,,new ,,york ,,albert ,b4 ,,king1 #hi ,,william ,,street #ahib ,,to ,,mr4 ,,isaac ,,pitman ,,the ,,father ,,of ,,phonography ,,this ,,little ,,volume ,,is ,,most ,,respectfully ,,inscribed ,,by ,,the ,,compiler ,introductory ,note ,it is always beautiful to see the young confront the uncertainties of the future1 and look forward with faith to happiness and success4 ,i am proud of young women who are willing to devote their evenings1 when they must toil for a livelihood through the day1 to a course of study which will secure to them the knowledge of a mechanical art4 ,this knowledge becomes a treasure which no disaster of fire or flood can ever destroy1 and a source of comfortable income through life4 ,it makes dependent young women independent1 and ,i congratulate every one who graduates from this excellent school of instruction with her well-earned diploma1 which is more valuable to her than any legacy of gold or precious stones4 ,martha ,j ,lamb ,new ,york ,city1 ,april #af1 #ahib4 ,address of ,rev4 ,c4 ,s4 ,harrower1 ,d4 ,d4 ,to the ,class of '#hg4 ,ladies of the graduating class1--,ladies and ,gentlemen3 ,it seems as if words were hardly in place to-night1 because of the interesting programme which is before you4 ,i suppose we have no conception of the exercises prepared for us this evening4 ,i never knew of this ,institution until ,mr4 ,moore told me of it1 and ,i am particularly glad to be here4 ,i have often remarked that our ,new ,york life is like the life of one of our great rivers1--the ,hudson4 ,did you ever live upon its banks and look away upon its stretch of water to the south or to the north2 count its sails1 and its tugs1 and its fleets of canal boats and all its life1--for half an hour fascinated by the beautiful scene2 and then go away to your work1 or to your pleasure1 for a few hours1 and return and look upon that great stretch of river and see that other sails had taken the place of those first sails1 and other vessels were coming into view1 indicating the marvelous life of that mighty stream8 ,i did that1 year after year1 and it seems to me that the ,general ,society of ,mechanics and ,tradesmen is like the mighty river ,hudson1 doing its work day after day and year after year1--a work that seems to me to be so useful and inspiring4 ,the gentlemen interested in this ,society are to be congratulated4 ,it seems to me that such an ,institution as this is among the most beautiful1 among the most stimulating of all institutions that mark our civilization4 ,dr4 ,harrower then spoke of the serious consequences which often follow the carelessness of a lawyer1 the blunder of a switchman1 the neglect of a servant1 or the indolence of a physician1 and1 in contrast1 dwelt upon the beneficent results attained by close attention to duty1 explaining also how great good arises from even very trifling acts4 ,he also remarked how strange it is that some people have every chance of getting on in this world1 while others are mortgaged to begin with1 and hampered and chained through life4 ,but1 said he1 in conclusion1 it seems to me that this ,society is engaged in a work that is characteristic of the civilization to which we belong1 and is following after our ,saviour1 the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who lived not to serve ,himself1 but the world4 ,i congratulate you1 young ladies1 that when you were put upon your trial it was found that you had been laboring in the race of life2 and to-night you are to receive the signal token of the skill you have attained1 and of the favor in which you stand in this school4 ,salutatory ,address ,,by ,,miss ,s4 ,j4 ,,sirine4 ,class of '#hg4 ,in meeting you this evening1 gentlemen of the ,committee and friends1 we1 the members of the ,classes in ,shorthand and ,typewriting1 experience a double pleasure4 ,first1 is the satisfaction that we have accomplished the task which we undertook last ,october1 and the consciousness that we are about to go forth carrying our diplomas as proof that the ,winter has been well spent1 and that we are master of a very fascinating and important art2 and1 secondly1 we feel the delightful sensation of being highly complimented at the kindly interest taken in the ,class displayed by those present this evening4 ,we sincerely hope that the exercises of the evening1 and the gratitude of the teachers and class1 feebly expressed through this channel1 will be ample proof to you of our appreciation of the compliment conveyed by your presence1 and trust that we shall continue to receive your good wishes for our success2 that we shall go forth into the business world making good use of our profession1 and worthy of the interest in our progress displayed by the ,committee and friends of this ,society1 and of the care and attention bestowed on us by our teachers4 ,to my classmates1 cordial congratulations that we can meet to-night1 and1 comparing notes1 find that the report for the ,winter is goodly evidence of time well spent2 that1 in spite of what at first appeared to be the insurmountable obstacle of the alphabet1 we plodded bravely on to the primer1 and from the slowly and carefully drawn outlines of familiar words1 we entered at last into the spirit of our art1 and with pencils tipped1 as it were1 with electricity1 learned to catch the swiftly flowing words from the lips of the speaker1 and to present them in a tangible form1 ready for future reference4 ,so also with typewriting4 ,though the unruly instrument at first persisted in spelling cat t-a-c1 and always put an interrogation point where a period ought to be2 still1 with patient perseverance1 cheered by the inspiring words of our teacher3 ,i used to do the same thing1 and filled with envy at his display of skill1 we took fresh hope1 tried again1 and1 as we were told we should1--succeeded4 ,the pleasure of the art of shorthand1 more than any other1 is not confined alone to the artist4 ,you all know the important offices in business life which shorthand fills2 of its importance to the press and all departments of the literary world1 it is not necessary to speak4 ,from the eloquent words of gifted speakers to the eagerly watched for words of the ,president's ,message2 from the business letter in the merchant's office to the words of the witness on the witness stand2 our art fulfills its important mission of giving to others the pleasure and satisfaction which are experienced on hearing them4 ,this evening forty more are added to the list of ,american writers of the ,isaac ,pitman ,phonography4 ,it is to be hoped that none of us shall ever1 in any way1 be the means of bringing reproach on our art2 but rather that we shall work to make many improvements1 that we shall help to prove its value in the different departments of business into which it enters1 and ere another fifty years shall cause the trumpet of ,jubilee to sound throughout the land1 this class of ,isaac ,pitman phonographers shall have been the means of bringing to ripe perfection the system of ,phonography4 ,valedictory ,address ,,by ,,miss ,n4 ,c4 ,,stephens4 ,class of '#hg4 ,the ,spirit of the ,time shall teach me speed1 says ,shakespeare4 ,how truly that applies to the present day1 when one might say we are living1 as it were1 in an age of rapidity1 and cannot fail to catch the infection1 for the very air seems filled with it4 ,competition is met with on all sides1 and1 in many branches of toil1 the race is to the swift4 ,contrast the world of a hundred years back with the world of to-day4 ,these people were satisfied to plod along in the good old way which their fathers had trod before them2 content because they knew no better1 and the times demanded no better4 ,but1 think you1 would the simple appliances used then1 meet the demands of to-day8 ,no6 decidedly1 no6 ,i hear you say4 ,why1 may ,i ask8 ,simply because the necessity makes the demand1 and the necessity is the ever-advancing spirit of to-day1 which urges all to attain something that will not only benefit themselves1 and be an incentive to others1 but will enlighten and ennoble the coming generation as well4 ,but the world has made rapid progress and if we would keep pace with it1 we must call to our aid every known means of saving time and labor4 ,and not the least among the many methods and inventions for this purpose is ,phonography or shorthand1 which is finding a place in almost every branch of business4 ,man's thoughts fly faster than his fingers1 and it is only by the wingd words of ,phonography that the hand is enabled to keep pace with the mind4 ,almost inseparably connected with shorthand1 is the typewriter4 ,these two go hand in hand4 ,what a boon they have proved to the busy merchant1 the lawyer and the literary man6 ,to this end1 the ,general ,society of ,mechanics and ,tradesmen1 recognizing the growing demands for the use of ,phonography and typewriting1 added to their already large benevolence a class for the study of these branches4 ,and it is to this ,society we owe a debt of gratitude which words are inadequate to express4 ,our hearts are full1 and out of the fullness of the heart1 the mouth speaketh4 ,especially to the ,school ,committee would we convey our grateful thanks for the interest you have manifested in the ,class2 and for the kindness and consideration with which you have met all our wants1 doing all in your power to facilitate our studies4 ,we trust that our success in the future may be such as will reflect credit on this ,society4 ,to our teachers1 ,mr4 ,mason and ,mr4 ,spaulding1 you who have so well performed your part1 we hardly know how to thank you for your patient and persistent efforts to fit us for the calling we have chosen4 ,taking up this work after the fatigue of the day1 with body and brain already wearied1 your task1 as well as ours1 has been a difficult one4 ,but you have ever been ready with words of encouragement to help us over the hard places4 ,faithful1 conscientious1 you have gained our respect and esteem1 and we feel that in parting to-night we bid good-by not only to teachers1 but to earnest1 helpful friends4 ,and yet1 not a final good-by4 ,for1 are we not looking forward to many pleasant meetings of the ,phonographic ,alumn ,association1 when you have promised to meet with us1 and by your presence aid and encourage us to continue our practice and by united efforts help one another8 ,for we believe the old maxim is true in this connection as in many others1--,in union is strength4 ,fellow classmates3 ,for seven months we have met and studied together2 and now that the term is over it is with mingled feelings of joy and regret that we meet to-night for the last time in this place4 ,joy that our task is done2 that the time to which we have looked forward has come2 for to many it has been a severe strain to continue to the end4 ,we alone know the difficulties we have had to contend with2 the pleasures given up and the sacrifices made to be present at the class4 ,but who shall say it has not fully repaid us8 ,is not this knowledge we have gained all the more precious because so dearly obtained8 ,some have already begun to reap the reward1 others are eagerly looking forward to the time when they shall be able to put this knowledge into actual practice4 ,with what bright anticipations we took up the study of ,phonography last ,october6 ,but what a mountain loomed up before us in the shape of the alphabet4 ,then the strokes and curves1 and circles1 how we puzzled our brains over which was which1 and how proud we were when we began to form words and to air our knowledge of these mystic signs2 only to be met with such questions as these1 ,how many words can you write a minute8 or1 ,do you think you could take down a sermon8 ,let me dictate this piece from the newspaper to you1 all of which made us feel how limited was our knowledge and how much we had still to learn4 ,then the examinations2 how they hung over our heads like dark clouds threatening us at every turn6 ,but that is all past and gone1 and time1 with its never ebbing tide1 has brought us to this parting hour4 ,what our future will be depends upon our own individual efforts4 ,let us remember3 ,what is worth doing is worth doing well4 ,in climbing the ladder of fame1 let us gain a firm footing on the bottom round1 then1 if we fail to reach the top1 we will1 nevertheless1 command the respect of our fellow beings4 ,thoughts on ,graduation ,,by ,,miss ,s4 ,j4 ,,sirine4 ,class of '#hg4 ,at last all the lessons are ended1 ,our pencils and books laid away2 ,and gathered to-night in the class-room ,there are many young hearts blithe and gay4 ,there are loving congratulations ,from classmate1 and teacher1 and friend2 ,a smile6 ,then a sigh at the parting1 ,and the feeling that this is the end4 ,it is pleasant to know we are through1 though1 ,yet saddening to know we must part2 ,and 'mid the light jest and the laughter1 ,comes a sharp touch of pain in each heart4 ,there's a hush in the happy assemblage1 ,while a prayer is upraised to the ,throne1 ,and ,we thank ,thee1 our ,father1 is uttered1-- ,and the minister speaks not alone4 ,for the tokens of love and remembrance1 ,and kind wishes expressed for our weal1 ,we would thank our dear friends and our teachers1 ,and voice the affection we feel4 ,and we thank ,thee for these many blessings2 ,yet most for the blessing that we ,can1 by striving1 attain to perfection ,and ,thy mercy and tenderness see4 ,address of ,rev4 ,n4 ,b4 ,thompson ,to the ,class of '#hh4 ,i assure you that it is with a great deal of personal pride1 satisfaction and comfort1 that ,i come before you to-night4 ,these are my girls1--that is1 ,i am the father of this class4 ,several months ago when this class was organized1 a gentleman1 not myself1 was invited to come here and offer prayer1 and give the young ladies a few common sense ideas1 such as would benefit them in after life4 ,my friend failing to come1 ,i was called upon to fill his place1 which ,i did to the best of my ability1 and when ,i look over this programme and find that there are more than forty in this class who are to graduate to-night1 ,i take it upon myself to say that they received some very sound advice1 for they are about to graduate2 that is1 ,i have made forty-four converts1 at least1 in seven months4 ,i am very glad to have opened this class1 although ,i have had nothing to do with the instruction of it1 for in that event the graduating class would not be so large1 but ,i do feel very great pride in being here4 ,were ,i so disposed1 and you very anxious to be tired with a long address1 ,i could say a great many things touching the real purpose and idea of these young ladies and their instructors4 ,there was a time in the history of the world when it was a very grave and serious question as to just what the position of woman was in society2 what ,god meant by her creation1 what was her place4 ,there are some men who think the highest ambition of woman is the wash-tub2 that when she finds her vocation there she has fulfilled her mission1 and when ,god has prepared a place for her in the ,kingdom of ,heaven1 ,he takes her home1 and gives her a diploma4 ,there are others who have an idea that the place for woman is a little higher up2 that she is to bask in the sunshine of life--that she is a kind of butterfly4 ,that is an erroneous idea4 ,i think personally1 and ,i am sure there are not men enough here to out-number the ladies1 that the position of woman in this life1 socially1 politically1 religiously1 or in a mercantile sense1 is right alongside of the best man the world can produce4 ,i remember1 while pastor of a church in an ,eastern city1 the smartest man and preacher of that city was a woman4 ,she was a man in every sense of the word1 she had the power of a man and the charms of a beautiful woman2 ,i was a little jealous of her1 because her church was a little too close to mine and she drew a great many more4 ,she was a beautiful1 godly woman1 and took out of me some of the false ideas and thoughts that ,i had1 relative to the work of woman in the world4 ,so ,i have lost all sense of jealousy1 and ,i am perfectly willing to be deposed by the women1 and there is no true man but will give the women just as good as he wants in his life4 ,i was thinking1 when ,i took up this programme1 there is a certain society of a secret order that has a motto like this3 ,by these signs we conquer4 ,that is a very wide and universal order1 but1 if ,i mistake not1 there are forty-four members of a society not as universally known1 its extent is not as large as that order and society1 who are to go out into the world and1 by these signs1 conquer4 ,the latter is just as potent as the former4 ,i told you1 young ladies1 some months ago1 about a system of shorthand and the first experience ,i had in that line4 ,some of you will remember it4 ,you will remember ,i told you about a system of shorthand that ,i had to read before it got cold or ,i could not read it at all4 ,i want to congratulate you for this delightful evening2 ,i want to congratulate you in view of the pleasant exercises you are to behold4 ,i want to congratulate these instructors for the very good and efficient work they have done during these months4 ,i congratulate you upon the marvelous work that has been done4 ,you may not all be called upon to report my sermons2 some can report #abj words1 some more1 some less4 ,you are going out into the world1 some of you immediately1 to begin your life work4 ,do not feel1 because you are a woman1 that some aristocratic specimen of creation--man--looks down upon you4 ,just hold your neck as straight and your head as high as he1 and ,i do not know but you would be par excellence above the man himself2 you have an opportunity4 ,there is one thing ,i regret1 however1 in regard to your special calling1 and it is this3 ,i read advertisements in the papers where employers advertise for young lady typewriters and stenographers and it has pained me to see the low rate of wages1 oftentimes4 ,let me put a bee in your ear4 ,you are in possession of one of the greatest sciences ,i know2 there is nothing above it in the realm of learning4 ,do not for one minute submit yourself1 any one of you1 to a service below your worth1 for ,god has implanted in ,his ,word this truth1 ,every laborer is worthy of his hire4 ,i thank the gentleman who has invited me here4 ,when ,i become older than ,i am now and fail in preaching1 ,i assure you ,i shall come to this home of hospitality and kindness1 and shall try to take up the art myself1 thereby becoming as efficient as some of you are4 ,god be with you and in ,his own time take you home to ,his abode where you will not be troubled with taking down the ideas of men4 ,salutatory ,address ,,by ,,miss ,l4 ,e4 ,,taylor4 ,class of '#hh4 ,gentlemen of the ,committee1 and friends1 teachers and classmates3 ,with what unbounded pleasure we greet you this evening2 our task is accomplished1 the goal is won4 ,after the labors of the past seven months1 assisted by the kindly interest of the ,committee1 and encouraged by the earnest and untiring efforts of our teachers1 we have at last mastered that wonderful art1 stenography1 which will enable us to go forth from here1 possessing an accomplishment the benefits of which are many4 ,this art1 the outgrowth of one great mind1 that of ,mr4 ,isaac ,pitman1 is of the utmost importance to the members of the press1 of the legal profession1 and the business man1 as well as in all branches of literary work4 ,ordinarily1 we hear words1 but this science enables us to use them2 thus they actually assume another form1 as it were1 and are deeply impressed on our minds and thus ineradicably memorized4 ,my classmates1 we meet to-night to prove that patient effort on the part of teacher and pupil has not been in vain2 that our busy ,winter has left us rich in knowledge of this noble art1 and that1 though oftentimes discouraged in our progress through the alphabet forward through the intricacies of dots and dashes1 hooks and circles1 and outlines dark and light1 over these apparently insurmountable barriers we have reached the height on which our hopes and our ambitions had been centered during our daily pilgrimage toward it4 ,so has it been with typewriting4 ,at first we made many mistakes1 such as making an interrogation mark where the period was necessary1 thus questioning ,mr4 ,jones' or ,mr4 ,smith's right to his name instead of asserting the fact2 or striking a letter instead of the space-board1 and vice versa4 ,the result left the astonished beholder in doubt whether the word produced were a representative of the ,chinese or the ,choctaw language4 ,but now we have overcome these difficulties4 ,sustained by the kind encouragement of our teacher we have struggled bravely until we are enabled to write on the machine readily1 and with rapidity1 from dictation1 and our vernacular can now be recognized as ,english1 without any difficulty4 ,we sincerely hope that the exercises of the evening may interest you and may show our appreciation of the instruction and innumerable benefits which have been conferred upon us by this ,society4 ,we are now prepared to take our place in the rank and file of the world's army of workers4 ,the elevating and benevolent influence of stenography and typewriting in the life of women is becoming more and more recognized4 ,what the sewing machine is to the needle1 shorthand is to the pen1 and1 in the great future1 the world shall see and acknowledge the vast importance of this economizer of time and labor4 ,yes1 another forty of us are ready to use these servants of hand and pen which the generosity of this ,society has placed at our disposal1 and we hope to do so worthily4 ,may we1 by our subsequent efforts and future progress1 show that none of us will bring reproach on the noble art which we have adopted1 or on the ,institution to which we shall owe our future success and our chosen profession4 ,rather let us help to prove its value in the different branches to which we may be called4 ,class ,poem ,,by ,,miss ,a4 ,l4 ,,cox4 ,class of '#hh4 ,i did not come prepared to make an address here to-night1 ,but when ,i see you all1 dear friends1 'tis such a pleasant sight1 ,i can't refrain1 but feel that ,i must say a word or two1 ,and give a hearty welcome1 yes1 to every one of you4 ,a little band1 we gathered here upon this very spot2 ,just eight short months ago it is1 since then we cast our lot ,together for our ,winter's work3 resolved that we would try ,our best to win2 with hopes and purposes and aims set high1 ,we went to work4 ,the opening lecture seemed so clear and plain1 ,that we could almost grasp the prize we were so sure to gain4 ,first came the alphabet4 ,but we in sad dismay found out ,that was an obstacle indeed that we could scarce surmount4 ,at last we thought we had it2 yes1 were sure we knew it all4 ,you may each one recite it4 ,hark6 it was our teacher's call4 ,just imagine how we did it8 ,you will guess it nearly right4 ,and then to say it backward6 ,were you e'er in such a plight8 ,then we studied till 7,i mean it7 e'en the paper on the wall1 ,each door1 and sash1 and picture frame1 and objects one and all1 ,in strokes and angles fairly danced before our very eyes1 ,and in our dreams they haunted us in every form and size4 ,next in their turn the vowel sounds1--the symbols1 dash and dot1 ,with rules and regulations charging us ,forget-me-not4 ,wish you could have heard us sound them4 ,it was amusing1 too2 ,seemed like talking ,chinese language1--ah1 a1 ee2 aw1 o1 oo4 ,then came the hooks with many crooks to puzzle and perplex2 ,they were so very obstinate1 and would be sure to vex2 ,for while we thought we had them right1 they were just turned about1 ,and when we came to read them1 we could scarcely make them out4 ,the circles didn't seem so hard2 for we could then detect ,there were still new things coming that we did the least expect2 ,so prepared our minds to meet them and take them as they came2 ,at last we'd conquered everyone and knew them all by name4 ,but ,i suppose it is not right to tell tales out of school1 ,our teacher will be saying that it is against the rule2 ,i have told you just a few of our trials by the way1 ,but it was not all so dreadful1 ,i am very glad to say4 ,for we really loved our study2 were fascinated1 too1 ,and of the pleasant memories there linger not a few4 ,well1 examination over1 then came the tug of war ,to apply the various principles that we had learned before4 ,and oh6 the work we made of it2 we tried to run a race ,to see who could write the fastest1 and then to keep our place4 ,but study and toil are over2 at last the race is run1 ,and we have gathered here to-night to say1 ,our work is done4 ,members of this ,society1 our friends so kind and true1 ,god bless you6 ',tis a grand and noble work you aim to do2 ,accept our heartfelt thanks1 for it is all that we can give2 ,the knowledge we have gathered here will ever1 while we live ,go with us1 as with brighter skies our way in life to cope ,than in our dreams and fancies we had ever dared to hope4 ,and you1 our teachers faithful1 tried1 we will not soon forget ,the many pleasant hours that together we have spent2 ,how often by a kindly word you've helped to lead us on1 ,when we were nigh discouraged1 and totally cast down2 ,and by your earnest zeal and aid we have1 from day to day1 ,gone onward1 and we thank you2 it is all that we can say4 ,and we classmates1 while we truly1 yes1 earnestly1 regret ,to leave the little room up yonder where the angels met1 ,can now rejoice together1 for it has not been in vain1 ,that we've worked hard2 yet we have won the prize we sought to gain4 ,valedictory ,address ,,by ,,miss ,a4 ,a4 ,,lewis4 ,class of '#hh4 ,,dear ,,friends ,,and ,,classmates3 ,it is a somewhat sad yet pleasant duty which devolves upon me this evening1 that of saying farewell4 ,for1 to a class whose members have studied together for so long as we have and which is found to be so homogeneous as this class has been1 a farewell is always sad4 ,when1 in ,october last1 we entered upon our course of study1 we could not look forward to this hour with any degree of composure1 but1 day by day1 as time passed on we found ourselves longing for the end1 yet dreading the parting4 ,but1 to-night1 we derive considerable pleasure from the fact that we have prepared ourselves for something which will have a strong influence upon our future lives4 ,this night may be called a real commencement for many of us who have just left school where we have learned the ordinary ,english branches1 and are now learning to apply our former knowledge to earn our living in a way that will prove both pleasant and profitable4 ,in retrospect3 ,how hard the first few lessons appeared6 ,we hardly credited the declaration that a time would come when we should be able to recite the alphabet backward and forward and in every conceivable way1 but we soon discovered that the subsequent lessons were so much more difficult than the first1 that these seem now to us as very simple4 ,as our knowledge increased1 we discovered also that each lesson followed so logically upon the previous one1 that it made it much easier to understand4 ,there were hooks to the right of us1 and hooks to the left of us1 and with these and circles1 medial and final1 approximation and con dot1 our dreams resembled a kaleidoscope rather than those of school girls4 ,when traveling on the cars we would often see a person with a note book and pencil1 and experience a fellow feeling1 knowing that they had trod the same path as we were treading4 ,occasionally1 in going home after a lesson1 two of us comparing notes would find that we1 in turn1 were objects of interest to people in the train1 and that they gazed with wonder and amusement upon the strange-looking characters with which our note books were filled4 ,then1 when it came to our home study1 although those whom we asked to dictate to us did so with great alacrity at first1 they soon found reading the same thing over twenty or thirty times1 to say the least1 monotonous4 ,yet we must say that our friends often put aside their own preferences1 knowing the daily practice was for our good4 ,we will not dwell upon the loss of pleasures that we have forfeited in order to be present at the class and to spend the requisite number of hours at study4 ,but now that we have reached the desired haven1 we feel fully repaid for everything that we have given up1 and only regret that we did not sacrifice more for our beloved study4 ,we would not however have you think it has been all hard work1 and that we have had no enjoyment4 ,for1 have we not had genial companions1 sympathetic teachers and a most watchful ,committee1 who have tried to do everything in their power to make our school life both pleasant and comfortable8 ,we cannot specify all the ways in which they have shown their interest and kindness to us1 yet we would not fail to mention the fact that we were provided with a new class-room1 which combined the advantages of seclusion1 quiet1 and all the necessary appliances for study1 with excellent ventilation1 and to this was added the feeling that it was our very own4 ,this recital can but feebly show you why the feeling of pleasure is predominant in our hearts to-night4 ,we cannot feel sad at parting with our classmates1 for1 though we shall not meet in this class-room again1 as a class1 we do expect to meet together as the alumn of this ,institution at our regular weekly gatherings for practice4 ,it is rather with a feeling of exhilaration that we realize that we have at length conquered giants that loomed up before us when we began our study1 and that these giants1 like those called forth by the magician of old1 have been made to do our bidding4 ,but now we come to the most painful part of our task1 that of bidding this kind ,committee farewell4 ,and1 in behalf of the class of '#hh1 we thank you again for your watchful care over us during the past ,winter4 ,the only way in which we can attempt to repay you for what you have done for us is by trying to rise in our profession and do something which1 when we say we are graduates of the ,general ,society of ,mechanics and ,tradesmen1 will cause you to feel proud of us1 and in this way we can slightly show our gratitude to our benefactors4 ,and to our teachers1 who have been the means of our learning this wonderful art1 we say farewell1 hoping that they will remember us kindly as having tried our best to let the studies which they have lodged in our minds bring forth good fruit4 ,although you have1 no doubt1 at times felt discouraged with the apparent failure of your work1 yet we trust that the results have proved satisfactory1 and shown you that we have tried to do what you have desired us to do1 and1 in a measure1 have succeeded4 ,we trust also that these results will reflect credit upon you as our ,instructors even more than upon us as the recipients of your teaching4 ,we do realize that many members of our class will never meet with us again1 and to you we say farewell1 with the wish that in your diverse paths through life you may attain great success in your chosen profession and always remember that you are still members of the ,class of '#hh4 ,address of ,president ,wm4 ,c4 ,smith ,in awarding the ,diplomas to the ,class of '#hh4 ,i came here this evening in a particularly happy frame of mind1 for me1 because ,i had been asked to award the diplomas to this class1 and ,i am always happy when ,i think ,i am able to do something to make some one else happy2 but my equanimity was quite disturbed1 on arriving1 to be shown a programme in which ,i was set down as having to make the closing address1 and a little later ,i broke out into a perspiration on seeing written in shorthand on the blackboard1 that you should never speak unless you have something to say4 ,those words have been burning before my eyes ever since1 and though ,i have not taken any lessons in shorthand1 ,i am almost sure ,i could set that sentence down4 ,the ,general ,society of ,mechanics and ,tradesmen is made up of men who owe what they possess1 not to chance1 not to gifts of their forefathers1 but to the fruit of honest toil4 ,the ,society which they have fostered for a hundred years owes its standing to the steady accumulations of these years1 not to any sudden speculation or easily acquired prosperity1 and it is with pleasure1 therefore1 that the ,society devotes its time and means in helping others to help themselves4 ,we believe in the aristocracy of labor1 and we are glad that we are able to do anything whereby we can help any one to help himself4 ,i shall not make a lengthy address because it is late2 it is warm2 there are diplomas to be given out1 and ,i believe that the young ladies are anxious to get down stairs where the attraction is greater than anything ,i can offer them4 ,yet there is one thought ,i would like to give out1 if you will excuse me4 ,yesterday ,i met a gentleman whom ,i have known for many years1 and whom ,i never really knew until yesterday4 ,he said to me1 ,billy 7he knew me when ,i was a boy71 have you half an hour to spare8 ,first ,i said1 ,no2 but ,i thought better of it and said1 ,yes4 ,i would like you to come round and look at my house4 ,as he opened the door of that house it was to me a revelation2 if there is anything else like it in this country or city1 ,i do not know where it is4 ,it seemed to me ,i was in fairyland4 ,here was a large house and yet so filled that it seemed small1 from the top of the very attic down to the first story1 with articles of vertu and bric-a-brac1 with tapestry that had come from all parts of the globe1 with ivories1 carved in ,japan as nowhere else1 with mosaics from all sections of the world1 with beautiful chairs1 with embroidery that had graced the homes of monarchs in the old country1 and on his back porch1 and in his yard1 were beautiful flowers hardly seen outside of the tropics4 ,i need not say to you how surprised ,i was2 ,i had only known him as a mechanic1 a member of this ,society4 ,i spent an hour and a half there ,i shall never forget2 ,i asked the privilege of bringing my better half4 ,but the thought that ,i wanted to impress was this2 in a beautiful case1 surrounded with plate glass1 was a full dinner set of the finest ,sevres china4 ,he explained to me that the set was ordered and made expressly for the second ,napoleon when he was in the height of his glory4 ,i said to him1 ,where did you get this8 ,i did not know a full set of that kind ever got away from royalty4 ,he said it did once in a while and this was the only one in this country4 ,he had been explaining to me things ,i never knew about1 and he came back to his own self and said1 ,billy1 you know when the great ,napoleon and his court were sipping their soup out of these dishes1 ,i was wielding a paint brush at #a4ej a day and glad to get it4 ,as ,i lay trying to go to sleep last night that single sentence came to me and it seemed there was a volume in it4 ,it is an ,american idea that there is no success which is not attainable by almost any person if we only take those opportunities afforded us4 ,i want to say one word to the ladies1 and ,i believe ,i said something of the same kind to the boys4 ,i often see it in the papers1 ,i hear it in speeches at trade societies and all that sort of thing1 that there is a great change in ,america2 there is no longer any chance to rise2 and that we are divided into classes1 and that the rich are going to get richer and the poor going to stay where they are4 ,i hope every ,american will disabuse his mind of anything like that2 there never was a time when opportunities were greater than now4 ,we have got to believe in ourselves and watch the opportunities when they come to us2 success cannot be obtained in a day4 ,we may not have to build a railroad but we will build something else1 perhaps greater4 ,young ladies1 it is my privilege on behalf of the ,general ,society of ,mechanics and ,tradesmen1 as its ,president1 to present you with these diplomas4 ,i do so with pleasure2 first1 because ,i feel that it is our right to give them to you2 secondly1 because ,i feel that it is your right to receive them1 for you have earned them4 ,they represent to me six months of careful1 earnest1 intelligent study2 six months of devoting yourself to the habit of close application2 six months of forming the habit of industry2 habits which1 ,i take it1 make the road to success to any one who expects to succeed in the future4 ,i congratulate you upon receiving them2 they are certificates that carry with them pleasant memories1 and ,i hope will prove in after years profitable ones4 ,in behalf of the ,general ,society1 it is my pleasure to thank your teacher2 ,i have witnessed personally his enthusiasm in his calling1 and ,i am proud to say that ,i have been here night after night and have watched the enthusiasm of the class4 ,i have seen them here sometimes long after the regular school hours1 in fact1 ,i had a mind to say1 ,you are over-taxing these young ladies4 ,then ,i thought it was a life and death struggle for only six months1 and the victory was worth the struggle4 ,i have nothing more to say4 ,i will remember the motto given early in the evening and wish you every success in life which you have obtained in this school4 ,salutatory ,,by ,,miss ,,jessie ,,ferris4 ,to the ,class of '#hi4 ,on behalf of my classmates1 ,gentlemen of the ,committee1 and friends1 it gives me great pleasure to welcome you here this evening1 and we sincerely hope that in the following short account of our progress during the eight past months1 both in shorthand and typewriting classes1 you may share1 to some extent1 our satisfaction4 ,i shall not attempt to portray our initial struggles with the dots and lines1 but rather dwell on the time when1 at the rate of a word in five minutes1 we could1 with the confidence of beginners1 write the short but expressive sentences3 ,the cow eats grass6 ,see the dog run6 ,from this time under the able guidance of our teachers1 we steadily progressed1 until our efforts have culminated in the success gratifying to ourselves1 our teachers1 and our many friends4 ,in typewriting our progress has been as encouraging as in ,phonography4 ,from slowly picking out the words3 ,william ,jex quickly caught five dozen ,republicans1 a sentence which not only exhausted all the letters of the alphabet1 but in our attempts to decipher which1 after writing1 exhausted our ingenuity as well1 we passed to the time when legal documents and business letters could be run off with an ease which at the beginning seemed almost impossible4 ,let us pause a moment to consider the advantages of these two arts3 first and chiefly1 they afford us the means of gaining a livelihood in a way more agreeable than many others2 secondly1 in the taking of notes of lectures upon various arts and sciences we become acquainted with these subjects to an extent which would otherwise require much special study4 ,how then can we be otherwise than grateful to those who have placed these advantages within our reach8 ,to you1 ,gentlemen of the ,school ,committee and of the ,special ,committee1 are our thanks especially due4 ,through your kindness in fulfilling our many calls upon your generosity1 you have contributed1 in no mean degree1 to that end toward which we have so earnestly striven4 ,you1 my classmates1 undoubtedly share in the pleasure felt by our teachers and the ,committee in having passed so successfully through the work of the past eight months4 ,let us reflect for how short a time we have pursued our studies4 ,in what branch of study1 pursued for the same length of time1 could the results attained compare so favorably as in the study of shorthand8 ,after to-night1 over thirty of us1 in the different pursuits of a business life1 will make practical use of the knowledge gained during the past ,winter4 ,let us always strive to uphold the reputation already gained by the followers of ,isaac ,pitman4 ,it has often been said by superficial observers3 ,o1 yes1 any one can write shorthand1 but how many stenographers can read what they have written8 ,perhaps there have been grounds for such allegations2 but have these ever taken into consideration the multitudes of stenographers all over the world who do successfully read their notes8 ,look at the voluminous reports of congressional1 political and other speeches1 appearing in the daily papers from time to time2 to say nothing of the hundreds of folios of evidence daily reported in our courts and accurately transcribed4 ,do not these sufficiently refute the assertion8 ,we feel sure the charge will never be brought against any of our class1 to each of whom the writing out of her notes has been made as essential a point as taking down4 ,in closing1 let me again1 in the name of the ,class of '#hi1 extend a cordial welcome to you all1 and let us trust1 when we have passed from the immediate influence of these surroundings1 and have entered upon the career for which the studies of the past ,winter have been but preparatory1 we shall continue to merit your kind approbation4 ,class ,poem ,,by ,,miss ,,isabelle ,,kiernan4 ,class of '#hi4 ,good people all1 both old and young1 ,assembled at this time1 ,to aid in bringing to a close1 ,the ,class of eighty-nine2 ,we beg you will be lenient ,with our efforts here to-night1 ,ignore all faults1 and note the good1-- ,this would be but polite4 ,this class of ours united here1 ,ere long shall cease to be2 ,a thought which strikes a tender chord ,that vibrates mournfully4 ,though truly glad to know our work ,has met success at last1 ,yet many a very pleasant hour ,in study has been passed4 ,and on these hours in concert spent1 ,shall memory fondly dwell1 ,when we in divers paths have turned1 ,but where1 ,oh1 who can tell8 ,again we'll see that school-room scene1 ,our teacher at the head1 ,again we'll ply our pencils hard1 ,as fast the words are read4 ,our teacher's patience oft we've tried1 ,and oft have vexed him sore1 ,while he strove us expert to make ,in stenographic lore4 ,oh1 thanks to you1 our faithful friend1 ,for kindness you have shown1 ,and patience too1 with which the seeds ,of knowledge you have sown4 ,and in the work we undertake1 ,we'll to the ,mason bring ,the credit1--who within our minds ,has built this wondrous thing4 ,kind benefactors1 we extend ,our gratitude sincere2 ,for all the opportunities1 ,enjoyed throughout the year4 ,may your good work1 crowned with success1 ,its blessings still bestow1 ,on many who1 through your kind deeds1 ,shall useful women grow4 ,a harvest rich of grateful hearts1 ,most surely you shall find2 ,such as is due to those who strive ,to elevate mankind4 ,and now farewell to one and all1 ,teacher and classmates1 too2 ,hoping that future days may bring1 ,much happiness to you4 ,a ,class ,history ,,by ,,miss ,,eugenia ,e4 ,,lloyd4 ,class of '#hi4 ,last ,fall sixty girls1 accompanied by a trusty guide1 started on an exploring tour through the wilderness of stenography4 ,we had been told by those who had visited this region1 that the way was dark1 the road thorny1 and the pleasures but few2 but nothing daunted1 we set out1 anxious to prove these assertions false4 ,like all travelers about to enter upon strange and novel scenes1 we started upon this journey with eager eyes1 and minds full of expectancy4 ,following closely in the footsteps of our leader1 we approached the enchanted forest4 ,the entrance was guarded by great trees1 which seemed to extend1 as far as the eye could see1 in one long avenue1 and we were surprised to find1 upon coming nearer1 that the forest which at first appeared to be but a heterogeneous mass of stems1 was set out and arranged in the most orderly and symmetrical manner1 and we saw that we should be enabled to find our way about much more easily than we had at first feared4 ,in accordance with our guide's directions1 we began jotting down in our memory tablets the names of the different trees1 and the peculiarities of each4 ,certain kinds occurred so often that we soon became familiar with them1 and long before we turned into new pathways1 we had mastered the names of them all4 ,as we left the main avenue of first principles1 we encountered more trees1 but so arranged in brilliant foliage and curious blossoms that we almost failed to recognize them4 ,we listened in wonder while our guide unfolded to us the beauty of each bud and leaf2 how patiently he traced every vein of the leaf1 and every petal of the flower1 until our eyes1 too1 were opened to their beauty so that we could appreciate and discern the difference between them1 notwithstanding that they possessed great similarity4 ,this comparative sameness caused us no little trouble1 however1 at first1 for ever and anon1 owing to early lack of training in concentration of mind1 we were prone to get them confused1 and often mistake one for the other4 ,here again the memory tablets were brought into requisition1 and it seemed as though they fairly expanded under the influence of our pencils1 so eager were we to absorb all the knowledge possible4 ,as the lover of nature1 by constant association with the flowers1 the trees1 and the shrubs1 learns in time the name of each1 so we learned1 by loving the study of our strange plants1 to recognize them at sight4 ,but we were not left to wander at our own sweet wills4 ,having thoroughly familiarized ourselves with the details and orderly arrangement of this wonderful forest1 and having stopped for awhile to review our progress1 we were led into new paths where1 though there were many obstructions and apparently insurmountable obstacles1 we could at least see the beginning of the end of our journey4 ,here1 too1 sign posts greeted us on many sides1 but none were so alluring as that which bore the legend1 ,slow and sure4 ,this accorded perfectly with our ideas1 and we would fain have rested awhile1 and gazed on the comforting words1 had not our guide pointed out to us the necessity for advance1 and described the pleasures which were still to come1 which1 if we chose that as a perpetual motto1 we should never enjoy4 ,as if to give emphasis to his words1 a little dwarf1 whose name was ,try1 met us at this juncture2 and by his bright example urged us on to greater tasks4 ,but alas6 there were so many weary hearts waiting for his cheery countenance that he was forced ere long to leave us4 ,scarce had he gone when his enemy1 a misshapen gnome1 called ,i ,forgot1 sprang up in our path1 and by many devices1 sought to undo the good work of ,try4 ,finding this impossible1 he1 too1 soon departed1 but his injured lordship1 not caring to retire utterly defeated1 left his first cousin1 ,i ,didn't ,mean ,to1 to pester and annoy us throughout our journey4 ,ere long the sound of running water attracted our attention1 and eagerly we hastened to bathe our faces in a refreshing stream which ran down the side of a hill1 only to draw back in terror as we saw a poor1 meek lamb devoured by a ravenous wolf who had come to the brook-side to drink4 ,thereafter it seemed as if the wolves had special designs on the lambs at this season1 for whenever our travels led us near the creek we were forced to be unwilling spectators to these tragic scenes4 ,here and there along the bank we had noticed little pebbles which our ,instructor told us were called1 in the language of this country1 ,grammalogues1 and some of which1 attracted by their uniqueness1 we had gathered4 ,we were obliged to label and memorize each one1 until it seemed as though the tablet would not hold another word1 and the memory pouch would break under the weight of1 what seemed to us1 heavy1 worthless stones4 ,but after being polished with the emery of practice1 the pebbles grew lighter1 and seemed to lose their dull color1 and assume a sparkling brilliancy4 ,how often since have they appeared as bright jewels in our pathway1 when1 with pencil flying over the page1 we have fully realized the fact1 that however lenient ,old ,father ,time may seem to be to others1 he has no mercy for stenographers4 ,after becoming somewhat acquainted with our surroundings that we might be able fully to realize every snare and pitfall1 we were taught to begin to walk alone4 ,what weak1 tottering1 childish steps they were4 ,how often our eyes would wander to the face of our guide1 as if to implore his help4 ,but he1 knowing it was for our good1 would simply encourage us instead of rendering the longed for assistance1 and we were thus compelled to walk or fall4 ,but when the nervous feeling had somewhat worn off1 and each step became more firm1 with what expressions of delight we proclaimed the tidings that we could at least stand alone1 and how pleased he seemed at our successes4 ,and then with watchful care was pointed out to us the necessity of removing every obstacle from our path so that our progress should not be retarded4 ,we carefully heeded the instruction1 and as a fallen bough or a moss-covered trunk of some old snag barred our onward march1 we brought all our strength to bear and remove it to a place of safety1 so that our weary feet should not be caused to trip over it again4 ,and truly we were weary1 while the promised land seemed still afar off4 ,how hard the road appeared can only be realized by those who have trodden it4 ,a great mountain1 like ,bunyan's ,hill ,difficulty1 soon rose before us1 and we were told that we must reach its summit1 before the view toward which our eyes had been ever turning would burst upon our sight4 ,here we were joined by a crowd of people1 some clamoring for land1 which they claimed had been willed to them by those who had long since joined the great majority2 others quibbling over deeds and warranty deeds1 some of which particularly attracted our attention1 on account of their great length and useless verbiage2 and others with complaints and actions at law1 until our eyes were opened1 and we realized1 as never before1 that strife is more prevalent in the world than peace4 ,but hard work and that perseverance which we believe is the surest road to success have at length conquered all obstacles4 ,and now1 having left behind the clamor and the strife1 we stand on the summit of the mountain that has so recently seemed as though it could not be climbed4 ,and here we rest awhile and look backward4 ,the roads with their winding turns are no longer new1 and eyes moisten as we think of the old but true saying3 ,the path that has once been trod1 ,is never so hard to the feet2 ,and the lessons we once have learned1 ,are never so hard to repeat4 ,we will not be called upon to walk in those paths again1 but when we meet the familiar faces of our companions we will live over in memory the now seemingly short weeks of our journey4 ,but let us look also before us4 ,we have penetrated the forest1 we have gathered bright gems1 we have climbed the mountain height1 and now we stand ready to cast our boats adrift upon the ocean of life4 ,in what waters they shall glide we know not1 but can only trust that in that great day of gatherings1 all our craft may be moored in the harbor of peace6 ,these thoughts bring to our minds the well known words of our beloved poet ,longfellow3 ,like unto ships far off at sea1 ,outward or homeward bound are we2 ,before1 behind1 and all around1 ,floats and swings the horizon's bound1 ,seems at its distant rim to rise ,and climb the crystal wall of the skies1 ,and then again to turn and sink1 ,as if we could slide from its outer brink4 ,ah1 it is not the sea2 ,it is not the sea that sinks and shelves1 ,but ourselves that rock and rise ,with endless and unweary motion1 ,now touching the very skies1 ,now sinking into the depths of ocean2 ,ah6 if our souls but poise and swing1 ,like the compass in its brazen ring1 ,ever level and ever true ,to the toil and the task that we have to do1 ,we shall sail securely1 and safely reach ,the fortunate isles1 on whose shining beach ,the sights we see1 the sounds we hear1 ,will be those of joy and not of fear4 ,valedictory ,,by ,,miss ,,lina ,e4 ,,kettleman4 ,class of '#hi4 ,bacon has said1 ,reading maketh a full man1 conference a ready man1 and writing an exact man4 ,many prominent men of the present age assert on authority that shorthand makes a valuable man4 ,the world's advancement has never been so marked and rapid as within the past century2 inventors have1 it would seem1 almost exhausted themselves in producing means for improvement2 where think you1 would the busy man find himself were it not for the opportunities open at every hand enabling him to keep in the whirl8 ,inventors1 and the value of their respective inventions1 are fully appreciated by those who make use of them1 but there has been no greater gift presented than the one by ,mr4 ,isaac ,pitman in #ahcg1 in the shape of ,phonography2 he1 after a few months of hard labor1 reduced the phonetic characters to a simple form such as any intelligent and ordinarily educated person might1 after a proper amount of application1 use to great advantage4 ,the public were not long in realizing the benefits to be derived1 and each year has seen a steady growth in the number of shorthand readers and writers1 and to-day finds thousands who are successfully using the little strokes1 some following the original system1 and others using the modifications2 all1 however1 agreeing as to the true worth of shorthand as a time saver4 ,we who started last ,autumn1 with the determination to master ,phonography and typewriting1 knew in part the advantages to be gained after the top was reached1 but we did not know by actual experience what breakers were ahead in the accomplishment of the work before us2 for the timid ones this very ignorance proved a great blessing1--conquering one difficulty at a time1 with the greater ones in the shadow1 was not as disheartening as having the future in plain sight4 ,the multitude of crooks1 circles and dry rules were taken in turn and left behind1 and after reaching half way the journey1 and pausing for a rest and renewal of courage1 we began the pleasanter work of writing and reading connectedly4 ,at the start were simple stories which seemed at the time almost silly1 then came letters and law matter1 and1 as the words in the first lessons kept recurring1 we began to appreciate ,the ,wolf and the ,lamb and various companions of a similar nature4 ,slowly but surely the work has been progressing4 ,time has fairly flown away and has brought us together to-night for the parting as a class4 ,there has been much bitter with the sweet and many clouds with the sunshine2 social pleasures were necessarily given up and numerous sacrifices made1 to say nothing of the keen disappointment brought home to each as she recognized1 despite her greatest efforts1 that the actual work was far behind what her aspirations had been at the outset4 ,but through all we have been cheered and encouraged by our teachers1 nor must ,i omit the occasional well timed lectures1 depressing at the time of delivery1 but sending each home with a fixed idea of doing better1 and continuing to the end2 added to these has been the entire novelty of the whole course1 always something new4 ,like all proverbial ,americans1 born1 it is said1 with the interrogation point at tongue's end1 the constant variety made the journey one immense ,why8 ,we are joyous over the prospect of a cessation of hard study1 but regret that the end of our intercourse has come1 necessitating the severing of ties as teachers and those taught1 and the farewell as class friends2 but each will carry with her a remembrance of the ,winter spent together with much profit and pleasure to all4 ,to our kind ,instructor through all the intricacies of ,phonography1 we are deeply indebted4 ,within ourselves is the consciousness that had it not been for his patience and untiring efforts we would have given up in despair long ago2 as also to our ,instructress and friend who has helped us over the road to the success of typewriting are we equally indebted2 to the never flagging energy of both we owe as much as to the individual effort4 ,not the least1 if mentioned last1 is our gratitude to the ,school ,committee4 ,to you1 gentlemen1 we wish to convey our thanks this evening1 both for your generosity1 as representatives of the ,g4 ,s4 ,m4 and ,t41 in supplying funds for the maintenance of this glorious work1 and for the kindly interest displayed during the past ,winter4 ,while regretting our inability to raise the standard higher1 we will endeavor1 in future1 to reflect such credit upon this school as will prove our appreciation of past favors4 ,to you1 my dear classmates1 those in particular who have not as yet felt the pecuniary advantages to be derived from this new acquirement1 take courage in the fact that six of our number are reaping the benefits even thus early4 ,wait patiently2 do not let the work end with to-night1 and become discouraged because of the same old humdrum duties4 ,remember that in filling the old post honorably1 you are doing the work assigned by the ,master who in ,his own season will send what is for your best good4 ,add to your store of knowledge from day to day1 and be able to say with the poet3 ,each morning sees some task begun1 ,each evening sees its close2 ,something attempted1 something done1 ,has earned a night's repose4 ,salutatory ,address ,to the ,class of '#ij4 ,,by ,,miss ,,harriet ,,middlemas4 ,what shall we do with our girls8 ,one of our well known daily papers came to the conclusion some time ago that our girls must be disposed of in some way1 and feeling that it lacked the ability to solve the problem alone and unaided1 sent a request abroad for help in settling this momentous question4 ,if we were in ,china1 they would say drown them4 ,horace ,greeley might have suggested sending them ,west to keep house for his young men4 ,many1 in answer to the before-mentioned paper's appeal1 advocated making business women of them2 while others said3 ,teach them to be good housekeepers4 ,now1 as all our girls cannot be housekeepers1 neither can they be business women1 is it not the best plan where there are two girls in a family1 to teach one how to minister to the wants of the household1 and let the other help to provide the means1 wherewith to supply the necessities of life8 ,we are not all ,vanderbilts or ,astors4 ,but whether it be ,yea or ,nay1 woman is making her way in the world4 ,she has been heard of as making rapid progress in law2 and it was only a short while ago we read of a young lady being admitted to practice in ,pennsylvania4 ,we have doctors without number2 one of our ,western towns boasts of a woman for ,mayor1 and they have aspired to the ,presidency4 ,much has been said of woman's sphere1 but she knows her own place in life1 and if given a little help in the various directions necessary to reach the place1 she will win1 and has won for herself respect and admiration for her courage and independence4 ,but this is not a ,woman's ,rights ,meeting1 nor a sewing circle1 in which the minister has been invited to tea1 and where we are making the poor luckless man suffer for his sex in general1 but the ,graduation ,exercises of a band of girls who have worked hard for success1 and gained it4 ,a society of men organized many years ago1 instead of sitting with folded hands lamenting their inability to dispose of our girls1 went to work and established a class2 placed at its head one of the best of teachers1 and called it the ,stenographic and ,typewriting ,class of the ,general ,society of ,mechanics and ,tradesmen4 ,now1 they said1 we have opened a way1 let us see what the girls can do for and with themselves4 ,in the ,fall of #ahhf the first class was formed1 and since then more than #ajj girls owe their present advantages to this noble institution4 ,the ,class of '#ij graduating from here to-night met for the first lesson on ,october #ast of last year4 ,of our troubles and disappointments1 it is not for me to tell1 but we have bravely toiled on1 and have at last reached the end we have so eagerly and anxiously looked forward to1 and the feeling that we have learned something which will help us in more ways than we at present fully realize1 repays us for our perseverance4 ,to-night we graduate from this school into one compared to which the trials and disappointments of this course will seem trifles4 ,we go forth to battle with the world1 and if we do not keep up with it1 it will mercilessly leave us far behind4 ,but the ,class of '#ij is not going to be laggard4 ,indeed we hope that when we graduate from that higher and more exacting school1 it will be with the same satisfactory results with which we leave here1 and1 like ,longfellow's ,great ,men1 we may leave ,footprints on the sands of time4 ,there are several benevolent institutions in this city where ,stenography and ,typewriting are taught during the day1 without expense to the student4 ,but the girls that need this instruction most are the working girls1 who have only the evenings to themselves1 and cannot afford to take the time to study that which they know would be beneficial to them4 ,but the ,general ,society of ,mechanics and ,tradesmen have recognized their wants1 and every girl in this class has acknowledged that when in the future she has reached that zenith to which every one aspires1 ,prosperity in her chosen calling1 she cannot forget that it was through this ,society she was enabled to reach that height4 ,and now1 dear ,friends and ,patrons of this school1 ,i1 in the name of my classmates1 bid a cordial welcome to you all1 confident that you who have sympathized with us during the past eight months will rejoice with us in our success4 ,class ,poem ,,by ,,miss ,,katie ,,massman4 ,class of '#ij4 ,my friends1 we all have gathered here1 ,to celebrate this night1-- ,th' occasion of a victory gained ,o'er a long and glorious fight4 ,unlike the battlefields of men1 ,where blood flows o'er the plain1 ,and eyes must meet the fearful sight ,of conquered victims slain1 ,our battlefield the school-room was1 ,where we have fought and won2 ,a conflict noble in its aim1 ,nine months ago begun4 ,oh6 how we hoped and how we feared1 ,as day by day slipped past1 ,and we kept pressing towards the mark ,we hoped to reach at last4 ,whilst oft discouragement1 the imp1 ,would whisper in our breast1 ',tis folly to continue on2 ,go1 leave it for the rest4 ,but onward1 onward1 was our cry1 ,though all around looked dim1-- ,no cowards we who fear the storm1 ',twas either sink or swim4 ,and our commander at the head1 ,with truly master skill1 ,did spur us on1 and teach us how ,each duty to fulfill4 ,through the maze of outlines1 straight and curved1 ,step by step1 he led the way1 ,till hooks and circles1 large and small1 ,at length seemed plain as day4 ,to his true service much we owe1 ,and each of us1 to-night1 ,in a vote of earnest1 sincere thanks1 ,do heartily unite4 ,we meet to part1 on this last night1 ,yet shall we fondly ever ,turn to the happy hours spent ,in ,mechanics' ,hall together4 ,and always shall our hearts respond1 ,ever grateful shall we be1 ,for the kindness of the gentlemen ,of the ,g4 ,s4 ,m4 and ,t4 ,through them our lives shall brighter grow1 ,through them we shall aspire ,to better1 nobler aims in life1 ,leading higher1 ever higher4 ,and may we from their kindness learn ,a royal truth and grand1-- ,if we can others happier make1 ,to lend a helping hand4 ,and in the journey through this life1 ,with heart1 head and hand combined ,may we ever strive to do our best ,to elevate mankind4 ,a ,history of the ,class of '#ij ,,by ,,miss ,,sabine ,c4 ,,schindhelm4 ,one evening1 early in the ,fall of '#hi1 voices were heard in the school-room as though many persons were talking at once4 ,suddenly the bell rang and the talking ceased4 ,what does this mean8 you would have asked1 and then1 your curiosity getting the better of you1 you would have peeped in4 ,such a sight6 ,at the front of the room were four or five rows of young girls1 books and pencils in hand1 and on the platform stood a gentleman who was evidently their teacher4 ,what were they going to do8 ,why1 take their first lesson in stenography1 and you can see from the number of bright and happy faces here to-night1 what that first and each succeeding lesson has done for them4 ,like little children just beginning to spell they began with the alphabet1 and step by step1 gaining strength and courage1 learning everything thoroughly1 till at the end of three months1 they had laid a foundation upon which whatever followed could securely rest2 and1 when the mid-winter examination came on 7which had all along seemed like a great wall that was insurmountable71 they were able to scale it without much difficulty4 ,but you must not think this goal was reached without many mistakes which were sometimes very disheartening1 and sometimes very funny2 as you will think when ,i tell you for the letter ,h a tick is sometimes used2 and one girl slanting this tick the wrong way wrote1 ,pale1 thou poly king2 and another1 who misplaced a vowel1 wrote1 ,i like my live eel boy4 ,however1 these errors only tended to make them more careful1 and when they started the speeding course1 it served them a good purpose4 ,at the beginning of this course1 they were addressed as ,my dear reader1 and told to observe what they were told2 then followed some maxims to be laid to heart1 and a little dwarf was introduced whose name was ,try4 ,this little fellow had a way of making every one try to do her best1 and those who were unable to do very much at first he encouraged by giving them a helping hand4 ,after a while he left us and in his place stood a very impudent fellow known by those with whom he had had dealings as ,i ,forgot1 or ,i ,didn't ,think2 but as soon as we learned his mission1 which you probably have guessed1 or perhaps know from experience1 we discharged him and to secure ourselves from his return1 sent the ,careful ,dog after him4 ,tom's uncle then gave his opinion on ,phonography1 but although it had over four hundred words in it1 it did not amount to much as some of the girls got it down in less than three minutes4 ,soon afterward ,john ,smith received a letter from his brother ,timothy ,jenkins 7this name was given the latter by mistake by one of the girls71 about some place in ,new ,york ,state where they could spend a very nice vacation4 ,this place had advantages in the way of fishing and boating1 lawn tennis and all the rest2 but one of our number1 who evidently thought more of good solid comfort1 wrote that there were good furniture and bedding4 ,while thinking still of this delightful resort with all its acquisitions1 the strong arm of the law suddenly came down upon us and holding out a document to our wondering gaze demanded the name of same4 ,then was heard a confusion of voices1 every one guessing the wrong thing1 until one1 who thought of course she knew1 cried out ,oh1 it's a divorce case6 ,it was no such thing1 however2 it was a simple complaint1 in which the husband and wife were plaintiffs4 ,we went through the entire pleadings of this case and when finished1 took up another and another until now we are not lawyers1 but some are able to be stenographers for lawyers1 and others amanuenses4 ,valedictory ,,by ,,miss ,a4 ,,natalie ,,kirsch4 ,class of '#ij4 ,in the life of every person there are two important events1 birth and death2 the former marking their advent into a state of action1 and the latter their exit from it4 ,the one is universally a time of joy1 the other a time of sorrow4 ,this is true to such an extent that the time of birth is popularly designated and commemorated as a day of feasting1 the other as a day of mourning4 ,solomon1 however1 does not agree with us in this2 he reverses this order and says1 ,better is the day of one's death than the day of one's birth2 and ,it is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting1 for the living will lay it to his heart4 ,whichever view we take of the matter this day will be one long remembered by all1 for it is both the day of birth and the day of death4 ,so with the birth of everything we attempt2 its beginning is attended with a sort of pleasurable excitement and diligence in the pursuit of the study we have entered upon1 which lasts until the novelty begins to wear off4 ,then comes the time when we find ourselves falling into a rut from which1 if we do not try hard to keep up our standard1 it will be difficult to extricate ourselves2 but1 if we summon all our energy and strive to overcome all impediments and will work hard and adopt perseverance as our motto1 we shall not fail of success in the end4 ,our small army enlisted last ,october determined to fight against all the obstacles which might present themselves in our journey toward success2 and after passing through the hardest and most tedious part of our work1--the mastering of the principles1--we found ourselves confronted by an examination1 which loomed up before us like a lofty and rugged mountain1 which we knew we must ascend if we would get that broad outlook which we must obtain for the work of the remainder of the term4 ,having safely passed that1 after a week's recreation1 we again assembled freshly armed to conquer the difficulties of the speeding course4 ,this proved to be the pleasanter part of our work1 and1 after having spent five months with our teacher in this way1 and having passed the final examination1 you see here to-night all who have been victorious in the battle4 ,we came before our leader total strangers to him and to each other1 and many happy days have we spent since first we saw his face1 and every day has deepened our regard for him for having been so patient with us4 ,when we have been on the brink of despair1 he has consoled us with the assurance that better times were coming1 and that1 if we did not give up but would push ahead and persevere1 we would surely succeed4 ,the unwearied sun has performed his daily circuit1 sometimes visible1 and sometimes hidden by the vapor laden clouds1 but right onward1 whether seen or unseen1 has he gone1 and time1 that never lingers1 has rolled on rapidly and in its flight has brought us to this hour1 ere we were aware1 and lo6 it has already begun to snap the threads which have held us together for the last eight months4 ,our lives have been speeding with the moments into the never-to-be-forgotten past2 but the tie which binds our hearts in ,christian love and fellowship death itself cannot sever4 ,the seeds of stenography1 which were cast into our minds at the beginning of our lessons1 made their appearance as young and tender shoots when we arrived at the speeding course1 and have not only begun to blossom1 but also to bear fruit1 inasmuch as eight of our number are already holding positions as stenographers and typewriters1 and we hope they will soon arrive at full maturity when we have all become experienced shorthand writers4 ,these little plants need the tenderest care and most watchful guidance1 for1 if neglected ere they are larger grown1 and the weeds of careless habits are not rooted out1 they will be a source of great trouble and annoyance in the acquiring of speed4 ,how important then that they should be wisely directed6 ,we have now arrived at the completion of our course here in the capacity of learners2 but only to enter an enlarged sphere of action and there employ what we have here been enabled to acquire4 ,not only have we been learning stenography but have been benefited in a number of other ways2 each lesson in its turn had some moral to convey and some new thought to suggest1 which1 while teaching us some new form of work1 and suggesting new ideas1 all tended to elevate our minds4 ,to you1 dear members of the ,g4 ,s4 ,m4 ,t41 are we indebted for enabling us to acquire an honest1 well-paying profession1 which is aiding so many young women to improve their condition in life1 and give substantial assistance to those dependent upon them4 ,to our ,instructor are we especially grateful for his thoughtfulness and zeal in imparting instruction1 and the affectionate solicitude which he has shown for our welfare2 nor would we forget the care bestowed upon us by the ,assistant ,instructors1 who have in many ways supplemented the instruction which we have received from the ,superintendent4 ,to you1 dear classmates1 ,i give my parting word of farewell4 ,often have we met together to study our beloved shorthand1 often have the difficulties seemed great enough to overwhelm us2 often have our sympathies been aroused by the need of help in one way or another1 and now1 for the last time1 we again assemble at this familiar spot4 ,there can but arise in our breast thoughts of sadness as we take leave of each other1 for never again can we meet as the ,class of '#ij1 but while we regret that this is our last evening together1 we must bear in mind1 that ,a fleeting hour1 a month1 a year1 ,is all that ,god permits us here1 ,that we may learn to prize more high ,that heavenly home beyond the sky4 ,introductory ,address ,,by ,,oliver ,,barratt1 ,,esq4 ,to the ,class of '#ia4 ,ladies and gentlemen1 ,i come to welcome you in the name of the young ladies of the graduating class4 ,the entertainment this evening1 owing to your presence here which is a source of encouragement to them1 will show you what they have learned and what they have been doing during the past ,winter and ,spring1 and what we have been doing to help them in the good cause and vocation which they have chosen4 ,thomas ,carlyle once asked this question3 ,what can a woman do8 ,well1 ,i think if ,thomas ,carlyle was alive to-day and could go through the offices of the merchants and business men and architects and lawyers of this city1 he would be willing to confess that at least one profession had been taken possession of by woman4 ,if he could go through the lower part of this city into any of our offices he would look with wonder to see a young lady employed as a typewriter and stenographer1 as they almost universally are4 ,in political economy the weakest go to the wall4 ,well1 it is said that they do1 but in this case ,i think they have gone to the front4 ,to illustrate that ,i will tell you a little experience of my own4 ,some two or three years ago ,i went into a gentleman's office on some business1 and made a statement to him4 ,he said1 ,stop6 ,i want that taken down4 ,he called a young man sitting at the desk and said1 ,take this statement down4 ,the stenographer was about six feet tall1 built strong proportionately1 and he sat down to take my statement4 ,one of the first things that struck me was that it was a pretty light business for a man of his size4 ,the next time ,i went into that office1 the stenographer was again called to take my statement1 but it was a young lady this time1 instead of that great hulking man4 ,i spoke to my friend about it and he said1 ,i have a young lady now and ,i find she does a great deal better than a man4 ,her work is more perfect2 more satisfactory4 ,in this case the weakest had gone to the wall6 ,the stronger intellect had forced the weaker to the wall4 ,now1 young ladies1 ,i congratulate you on the success you have attained in the school in your work1 and would like to say a few words to you with regard to your future career4 ,when you go into the employment of some merchant1 banker or lawyer1 recollect one thing1 that you are his confidential clerk1--taken into his confidence1--and what you hear there and write there must not be carried out of his door4 ,when you go out1 leave it behind you1 and you will always be successful4 ,and now1 ,i congratulate you again upon your success here1 and hope for a bright future for you and hope you will be successful in the vocation which you have chosen4 ,salutatory ,address ,,by ,,miss ,,emma ,e4 ,,reimherr4 ,class of '#ia4 ,it affords me much pleasure to greet you this evening1 and1 on behalf of my classmates1 to extend to all a sincere and hearty welcome4 ,no presence is more inspiring than that manifested in the attendance of friends at such exercises as these4 ,truly it is a deep source of gratification to us1 for1 as we gaze into the many kindly faces before us1 we are conscious that it is unqualified evidence of the loyal interest taken in our work1 and a full appreciation of our past efforts4 ,we welcome you1 gentlemen1 representatives of the ,society of ,mechanics and ,tradesmen1 for1 not only desirous of granting us every opportunity to acquire a knowledge of stenography1 without expense1 you go still further and lend us your presence1 which dignifies and adds grace to this happy occasion4 ,we1 in return1 express our cordial obligations for your favors and philanthropy4 ,we welcome ,mr4 ,mason1 our faithful teacher1 and give him heartfelt thanks for his kindness to us as pupils1 and the earnest attention he has shown in conducting the school work4 ,we can truthfully say that the success of the class in their studies is due solely to the skill of his instruction4 ,when we entered upon the inception of our task about eight months ago1 contemplation of such a tedious study as stenography had made us somewhat apprehensive of successful consequences1 and when1 subsequently1 we beheld so many curious marks1 hooks1 loops1 spirals and disjointed straights1 then1 indeed1 did alarm seize upon and almost terrorize us4 ,how could we accomplish such an arduous undertaking8 ,we pondered the subject long and well1 and1 as in all such matters1 a solution was arrived at4 ,you will doubtless not be surprised when ,i say it was application--yes1 application1 with hard1 earnest study as a relative concomitant1 which solved the problem4 ,this was the beginning1 an auspicious one1 you must admit1 because1 having unraveled the chief skein of difficulty1 it seemed to imbue us with increased confidence1 and study we did1 with intense fervor and earnestness4 ,thus it continued4 ,not a careless and desultory endeavor1 but one of energetic determination and indefatigable zeal4 ,festina ,lente1 as the old ,romans were wont to say1--,make haste slowly1--was our motto1 as little by little we gained in acquisition4 ,the curious little dots and dashes which at first seemed so strange and mysterious1 soon lost their mystery and ere long a simple acquaintance with them had ripened into a desirable familiarity4 ,the same success attended our efforts at the typewriter4 ,the irregular and heavy sounds which first greeted the ear of the learner1 have lost their harshness1 and in their turn1 as nimble fingers lightly touch the enameled keys1 the regularity of the merry ticks1 broken only by the gentle ring of the silvery bell1 as the cross-bar passes from side to side1 partakes almost of melody4 ,such has been the past1 and to-night the conferring of many diplomas will convince you that our labor has not been in vain4 ,stenography as a study is not really difficult4 ,the cardinal requisite is practice4 ,leave the rest to time and the result will not be disappointing4 ,since those who have studied here this ,winter expect to use the knowledge acquired as a means of subsistence1 it is a comforting reflection that we can thus earn a livelihood in such a satisfactory and congenial manner1 especially when bearing in mind that the majority of young women1 who toil in this great metropolis1 are constrained to pass long and dreary hours at work which is far less lucrative and much more debilitating and unhealthy4 ,again1 the study of stenography requires constant and critical attention1 thereby strengthening the mind and doing away with idle day-dreaming4 ,mental perception is rendered more acute1 as rapid yet steady thinking is continually demanded4 ,so1 after all1 now that the labors of the term are over1 we may indeed feel satisfied and happy1 assured that you are willing to endorse the satisfaction we feel at this happy outcome4 ,and now1 thanking you for the considerate attention you have accorded these words of salutation1 we trust that our programme will greatly please you2 that at its conclusion you will be happy to offer heartiest congratulations to the ,class of '#ia4 ,address of ,rev ,chas4 ,s4 ,harrower1 ,d4 ,d4 ,to the ,class of '#ia4 ,mr4 ,chairman1 ,ladies of the ,class of '#ia and ,friends3 ,i almost feel as if ,i were one of the graduates of this institution1 ,i have been here a number of years now4 ,but one thing that puzzles me is how ,i should go to work to report these speeches1 and1 really1 a moment or two ago ,i thought the young ladies were engaged in taking down the music4 ,and ,i should not be surprised if they after a little while would be able to take music down stenographically and write it out on the typewriter and perhaps1 by some modification of their skill1 evolve it into tune again4 ,i know that they can talk musically1 because we just heard some beautiful music talked by one of them and ,i know that she is a representative of the class4 ,so ,i think that after all the only claim ,i have to representing this institution is the fact that ,i have been honored by being associated with the officers1 and the teachers1 and the graduates of this school a number of seasons in succession1 and age is my only claim to honor1 for ,i cannot write stenographically1 although ,i can make some crooked marks1 but ,i do not believe that anybody else could read them after they get cold1 because ,i know ,i cannot myself4 ,i can some of them1 but ,i mean ,i cannot read them all4 ,i feel particularly honored to-night upon being given a place upon the platform4 ,i believe this is the very first occasion when the ,society of ,mechanics and ,tradesmen have pushed out from their own ancient hall into the world to give a larger welcome to their constantly growing and most admirable and enviable constituents4 ,i was wondering to-night how many of the young men and of the young women before me here had enjoyed the facilities of this institution in the times past4 ,i am sure they would have to take a hall that would hold six or seven hundred people1 who would fill it full just as this place is filled full1 and to-night this is just as full as our old hall over home has been during the past five or six years4 ,we should fill anything because if our friends know they can come and get away alive1 they will come1 but if they think they are going to sweat nearly to death1 and be crushed to death1 possibly there will a great many of them stay away4 ,i want to congratulate these young ladies4 ,there is one matter that was referred to in the salutatory this evening1--there is one aspect of your work and of your success to-night that strikes me4 ,happy is the institution that puts a class of fifty young ladies year after year into the position which those young ladies occupy who have finished their course1 and to-night are to receive their diplomas4 ,oh1 ,i do not wonder1 after what ,i know about life in ,new ,york ,city1 and life among women and girls1 that your doors are crowded every fall and that you have two1 and three1 and four times the applicants for the facilities and opportunities of the school that you can possibly accommodate4 ,i do not wonder at it4 ,why ,i know a woman #cf years of age with four children whom she is trying to support1 and who works eleven hours a day for six days of the week1 and barely makes an average of sixty cents a day1 and on ,saturday night gets six times six or thirty-six1--#c4fj for her week's toil1 and she has been at it till eleven at night1 starting soon after six in the morning4 ,just think of a story like that4 ,oh1 girls1 ,i will call you girls2 young ladies1 if you had rather be called young ladies1 ,i pray you never forget the sisters and the mothers who are toiling like this4 ,they were just as bright girls1 and just as brave girls when they were girls as you are now1 and yet life has crowded them down1 and ,i do not know how we are to lift them up1 but1 by a tremendous concentration of all of our consciences and all our powers1 which shall make a public sentiment1 that shall look into the sweaters' hells as much as it looks into the factories1 and into the stores1 and establishments of men who do not mean to be cruel or more cruel than you are1 and ,i should be1 but who1 in the tussle and competition of life1 are led to take part in a system which is sweating and destroying life which is as brave and worthy as any of theirs4 ,i wish to create a public opinion which shall make these exigencies of toil impossible in our modern life4 ,you and ,i must do something not only to lift ourselves up1 but to help some one else to climb the ladder to better conditions than otherwise they will be led to1 and ,i congratulate you that you have climbed the ladder and have climbed to a better height than that4 ,this institution just helps you all where your future is secure4 ,do ,i say too much8 ,oh6 no1 daughters and sisters1 mind1 this institution has helped you to the place where your future is secure4 ,nothing can take the place of toil4 ,nothing can take the place of work4 ,the ,emperor ,severus1 when he lay dying at the foot of the ,grampian ,hills in the old town of ,york1 a stranger who had taken him from the field turned to the men about him1 and making a little address emphasized his last words over and over again1 saying1 ,laboramus1 laboramus1 laboramus6 ,we must work1 we must work1 we must work1 he said1 and what was true of the ,emperor of ,rome cannot be untrue of us2 is just as true of all4 ,there is nothing done without work1 work1 work4 ,but you will work4 ,you mean to work4 ,you came here because you were determined to work4 ,you have been working over hours and overtime4 ,you have been overworked some of you1 just to get the facilities which this institution and this blessed year of grace can give to you1 and you will do it4 ,i know you will be true4 ,it is not for me to repeat what ,mr4 ,barratt said4 ,i know that he told the truth when he said that one of the essential things is fidelity to the confidences which come into your position1 through the relation you sustain to your superiors1 your employers and your principals4 ,i know that that is true4 ,i know1 too1 another thing1 and that is1 that there will be times when you will feel tired-headed and wish you could rest4 ,did you ever read about ,charles ,lamb8 ,you know what beautiful things ,charles ,lamb wrote4 ,some of you have read the jolly story of how roast pig was discovered by the young ,chinaman4 ,you have read that1 and if you ever want a good laugh some time get the essays of ,elia and turn to the paper on roast pig1 and read it1 and you will enjoy it immensely4 ,at last ,charles ,lamb was released from his duties in the ,india office1 he went home and wrote a letter and said to his friend1--he was so excited with the fact that now he was free1--he said1 ,for #aj1jjj ,i would not labor ten years longer in that old ,india office4 ,the best thing anybody can do is nothing1 and next to nothing1 perhaps1 go to work4 ,and he went out to do nothing4 ,he had nothing more to do4 ,two years after that he says1 ,any work is a hundred times better than no work at all4 ,the sun looks down on no forlorner creature than me with nothing to do4 ,toil is necessary1 labor is necessary for our happiness1 as well as our prosperity4 ,but ,i do not want you to overwork1 and ,i believe you do wrong when you do4 ,just for a little while1 while you are getting this knowledge1 you must be willing perhaps to overwork2 do not overwork1 do not overstrain yourself4 ,you can break your brains as easily as you can your back1 and every now and then you hear of some young fellow who breaks his back4 ,don't break your back1 and your neck1 and your brain1 and don't forget1 just for the sake of getting ahead a little faster and making a little more money4 ,remember that your life and happiness are worth more than a few dollars4 ,i say that because ,i know that some of you would be tempted to overwork1 but ,i want to say alongside of it1 another thing that ,i believe you cannot forget1 and that is this1 that there is an element in true life and in true service which dollars do not pay for4 ,there is an element that is higher and finer which we usually think of when we think of the faithful performance of our work1 the work allotted to us and the faithful keeping of business secrets that are intrusted to us4 ,there is something finer than that4 ,it would be supposed that the men of the learned profession were the men who work for something beside money4 ,the doctor must respond to a call no matter whether it comes from the poorest home1 or the richest home4 ,there is something in the professional relation to society that lifts a man up to a point where he dare not work simply for money4 ,the minister must go1 and it makes no difference where the call comes from or what time of the night or day a call comes1 and he goes without asking anything about what is to return to him4 ,the lawyer will stand up in court and take a case and plead for it1 when there is not a single shilling to come into his hands1 because the task is assigned to him4 ,he is a servant of civilized society4 ,so is the medicine man4 ,and it used to be supposed that only professional men were the servants of society1 in this high sense that takes them out from a mere consideration of gain4 ,that used to be supposed4 ,but they will not be able to monopolize this high idea4 ,the doctors1 and lawyers1 and ministers in that respect are just like the rest of you4 ,there is a point for which money cannot be paid you1 nor the lack of money release you1 it is the putting of your heart into your work1 the putting of your interest into your work1 the putting of your words into your work1 and doing your work not simply as long as men's eyes are on you1 but doing your work faithfully1 to the best of your ability1 as long as you receive a man's money and as long as you hold relations of obligation to him4 ,there is that which money does not pay for4 ,there is that element of the highest profession in all services1 whether it be a woman with the needle or a typewriter1 or whether it be the stenographer1 or whether it be the mechanic in the house1--if he does his work as he ought to do it he will put something into it that he does not expect to be paid for4 ,he will put something into it for which he is to be paid in the improved condition of life and the benefit that he has done to humanity4 ,humanity is to pay him1 and not his employer1 not in gold but in goodness1 in virtue1 in worthy services1 he is to get his pay4 ,put your heart into your work4 ,join the learned professions1 if you please1 by being not only true and faithful but by being hearty and conscientious and faithful at every point in your business life4 ,and now ,i have said all that ,i ought to say but ,i cannot avoid saying that one word more4 ,you remember when ,sir ,walter ,scott lay dying1 he called his son-in-law to his bedside and said1 ,i may not have a minute or two in which to speak to you my dear1 be virtuous1 be religious1 be a good man4 ,nothing else will be any comfort to you when you are lying where ,i am lying now4 ,be virtuous1 be religious4 ,be good women always and bless your associates4 ,be faithful in your accomplishments4 ,be useful in your services4 ,be proud of every achievement that you can make1 but above all fear ,god and in this way live close to the ,christ himself who lived not for what should come to ,him1 but for the blessing which should come to the worthy4 ,a ,class ,history ,,by ,,miss ,,nellie ,j4 ,,bell4 ,class of '#ia4 ,from the time of the creation to the present day1 everything that has ever existed has had a history4 ,every leaf and tree and blooming flower1 each have theirs2 that sky-lark soaring high in the sunny blue sky has a history1 and1 as it pours forth a sweet melody1 how the air vibrates with the gladsome song6 ,even that tiny spray of hare-bells clinging tenaciously to a cleft in the rugged rocks1 over which the foaming mountain torrent leaps and dashes1 has its own little history4 ,so has the torrent itself4 ,it began away back among the snow-capped hills1 and at first was only a tiny stream1 but1 joined by other courses1 and swollen with the melting snows and spring rains1 it has become a foaming1 dashing mountain stream1 plunging headlong over rocks and forming many a pretty cascade and sparkling waterfall4 ,now it runs deeply and swiftly through some dark caon1 and now1 emerging into broad sunlight1 and flowing peacefully through green meadows1 it gives refreshment to the ferns and rushes along its banks1 and to many a little songster4 ,so it flows on and on until it reaches the friendly arms of the sea1 outstretched to receive it4 ,the ,class of '#ia is no exception to the general rule which governs all ,nature4 ,the history of this class began last ,october2 it is thus just eight months old4 ,its diet up to the present time has consisted chiefly of ,phonographic outlines1 well seasoned and flavored with vowels and grammalogues1 and served la ,pitman4 ,and1 in the words of ,abraham ,lincoln1 we say1 ,for those who like that kind of diet1 why it's just the kind of diet they like4 ,from the time of the commencement of the class1 we have been climbing1 climbing1 up the steep and rugged paths of ,phonography4 ,we began our ascent from the base1 and while traveling up the foot-hills1 our guide explained to us something of the nature of the ascent1 and brought us into contact with some very amusing incidents4 ,the road for the most part was straight1 but as we progressed we found ourselves following our guide around curves1 and sometimes even around and around in circles4 ,at first we looked about us a good deal1 thought it would not be so very hard climbing after all1 and so gradually accustomed ourselves to it4 ,we found that we could accomplish more and more each day1 and the higher we climbed the more invigorating grew the air4 ,one day we had been toiling up a long steep hill which some one suggested was like the ,hill ,difficulty4 ,we struggled up its steep sides1 weary and travel-stained1 discouraged1 but not ready to give up1 and at each step plunging in our mountain canes1 which were black1 sharpened at both ends1 and labeled ,faber ,no4 #b4 ,soon we heard a cheery halloa1 and looking up saw a tiny little man standing at the top of a hill4 ,that's ,mr4 ,try1 said our guide1 he is one of the best people in this mountain4 ,if any one is in trouble1 wearied1 discouraged1 and just about to give up1 then is the time you may depend on ,try4 ,he comes with words of consolation1 and with his bright cheery talk so convinces his poor broken down fellow-beings of future success1 that they get up and begin to depend on ',try again4' ,soon we began to notice signs on the trees along our road4 ,one was1 ,wash tubs and window-sash1 vinegar1 putty1 pails and glass4 ,another1 ,two boys to let for the ,summer4 ,this was interesting1 and we hurried along in hopes of seeing the author of these strange signs1 for our guide told us he was the queerest man in that section of the country4 ,soon we came to his house and found it fairly bristling with signs4 ,curiosity overcame us and we stopped in and asked for a drink of water4 ,the object of our curiosity was leaning his elbow on the mantel4 ,he had long hair and was greatly stooped4 ,we found his wife very talkative1 and when she found out who we were1 began to tell us about the ,deed of their ,property4 ,when we were married1 she began in a high nasal voice1 ,chauncy's father gave him a clear title to this place2 and after ,chauncy's death it is to go back to the old homestead again4 ,then she took us through his work-shop where he manufactured the articles displayed on his signs4 ,next we came across another dwarf1 just the opposite of ,try1 our guide said4 ,he was always up to some sort of mischief1 and his greatest delight was to get other people into trouble4 ,the country people had long wished to be rid of him but he had a long lease of his house and he meant to stay there4 ,he was a homely little elf1 with bright red hair1 a slight squint in one eye and a wart on his nose4 ,if a lesson had not been prepared1 this fellow1 who was called ,i ,forgot1 was sure to be on hand in time to whisper into the ear of the culprit1 ,say ',i ,didn't ,think' or ',i ,forgot1' and the minute she opened her mouth1 out it would come and then the wicked elf would fold his tent like the ,arabs and silently steal away to parts unknown1 with a fiendish grin on his ugly little face leaving his dejected victim to receive a well-merited rebuke for carelessness4 ,this dwarf followed us for many days1 but heeding the repeated warnings of our guide1 most of us at length learned to distrust him and turn a deaf ear to his excuses4 ,thus we struggled on and on up the steep sides of the mountain1 and at the close of each day1 we realized that1 ,something attempted1 something done1 had gained a night's repose1 for us1 although we didn't always get it4 ,and now we were nearing the end of our journey1 our hopes ran high and we kept our eyes upward toward the summit4 ,the obstacles which had continually beset our path had been overcome1 and we could say like the ,irishman1 who1 on capturing three prisoners in the late war1 was asked how he secured them3 ,indade1 sir1 replied he with a knowing wink1 it's meself that surrounded them1 sir4 ,at last we reach our destination in time to just view the sunrise4 ,the grass is green1 the flowers are all in bloom1 ,spring is here4 ,the faint gray streaks of the dawn are in the sky and soon the whole ,east is suffused with a roseate flush4 ,there is a hush of expectancy in the air1 the breeze is soft1 the birds are twittering drowsily in the tree-tops1 and then in a flood of golden splendor the morning sun comes peeping over the hills4 ,instantly all nature is alive1 the birds pour forth their sweet melodies1 the drowsy hum of the bees floats lazily on the air2 there is a pleasant rustling among the tall swaying pines4 ,dew-drops glisten on the grass1 the flowers nod gayly in the morning breeze1 and we feel like singing3 ,when the sun all gloriously comes forth from the ocean1 ,making earth beautiful1 chasing shadows away1 ,thus do we offer ,thee our prayers and devotions1 ,god of the fatherless1 guide us1 guard us1 to-day4 ,the new day has begun1 and we have witnessed one of the finest views in ,nature's kaleidoscope2 for what could be more beautiful than the dawn6 ,so are our lives just at this time4 ,the air is full of hope and promise2 so are we4 ,we are just in the ,springtime of our lives2 our hopes1 our aims1 our aspirations are all as fresh and unsullied as the morn itself4 ,now1 in the dewy freshness of the early morning1 we see that we are on a broad table-land1 and not on the summit of the mountain as we had fondly hoped4 ,we notice paths running in all directions1--some go straight to the top of the mountain1 others stop at different places along the route4 ,only the future can decide which path each shall take4 ,we have a grand field of labor before us1 in this hill of knowledge which we have been traversing for the past eight months4 ,there are still rich and undiscovered resources of knowledge1 which1 brought to the light1 would make the art a perfect one and us perfect in it4 ,now it is time for us to separate4 ,some of the more ambitious of us will1 by dint of hard and unremitting labor1 reach the pinnacle of our hopes4 ,others1 less ambitious1 will be content to spend their days in the peaceful valleys of quiet usefulness4 ,but1 before we separate1 let us each resolve that we will never1 by act or word1 do anything which might reflect discredit on this ,association1 to the members of which we owe a debt of gratitude which we can never hope to repay except by doing our very best1 and so bring honor upon those who have done so much for us and upon the ,institution which they uphold4 ,the ,class of '#ia is now like the waves of the sea3 ,on the bosom of the ocean1 ,dance the wavelet's glittering band2 ,with a slow and fairy motion ,moving onward towards the land2 ,but that reached1 they burst and sever1 ,bound no more by beauty's spell1 ,thus1 we who have toiled together1 ,the goal reached1 must breathe farewell4 ,here endeth the simple annals of the ,class of '#ia4 ,class ,poem ,,by ,,miss ,,marion ,c4 ,,burns4 ,class of '#ia4 ,we extend a hearty welcome ,to you all1 both old and young1 ,who have come to aid in sending off ,the ,class of '#ia4 ,we beg you will be generous ,in judging us to-night1 ,see not the faults nor blunders1 ,but keep the good in sight4 ,this class you see united here1 ,to-night will have to sever1 ,but where to go1 ,ah6 who can tell8 ,and shall it be forever8 ,here1 many a pleasant hour we've spent1 ,but now we soon must part1 ,and yet the lessons taught us here ,shall dwell deep in each heart4 ,in after years we'll fondly think ,of pleasant times gone by1 ,and when we're treading other paths1 ,the memory'll dim each eye4 ,our teachers we have sorely tried ,as any one might see2 ,at last they've succeeded in teaching us1 ,typewriting and ,stenography4 ,oh1 thanks to you1 our faithful friends1 ,for what you both have done1 ,for firm1 but kind you've always been1 ,and patient with every one4 ,these gentlemen deserve our thanks1 ,for their goodness to us here1 ,your kindness we shall not forget1 ,for many and many a year4 ,may fortune on you ever smile1 ,and blessings on you flow1 ,this1 this shall be our prayer for you1 ,wherever you may go4 ,for many truly grateful hearts1 ,you surely here may find1 ,who fully all your gifts esteem ,to elevate the mind4 ,now1 with best wishes to you all1 ,on parting we'll not dwell1 ,but to our teachers1 classmates1 friends ,we'll say1 farewell1 farewell4 ,address of ,mr4 ,henry ,moore ,to the ,class of '#ia4 ,,in ,,behalf ,,of ,,the ,,school ,,committee4 ,of course1 it is not expected that the representatives of the ,school ,committee will have very much to say4 ,you have listened very attentively to all that has been already said1 and ,i think that the ground has been still further covered in what has already been said4 ,it may not be known to all present that this ,society1 merging community of interest at the time when the camp fires of the ,revolution had just burned out1 associated themselves together for mutual protection and for one another's general good4 ,it was to relieve the unfortunate1 the widow and the orphan that brought together the great mechanic minds of the past1 and all a-down the past century we can find that they have always been ready1 always been anxious1 always been willing to lend the hand of kindness and attention to those whom they found in need1 to assist1 to protect and to care for4 ,robinson1 in one of his poems1 has said1 ,who will break the bread of sorrow8 ,who will give the cup of sympathy8 ,who breathe of sympathy to those who are suffering1 and relieve with the cup of sympathy the sorrowing ones of earth8 ,i do not think ,i have quoted that exactly1 but it has been the motto of this ,society ever to protect those who needed their protection2 to care for those who needed their care and their bounty1 and to-night we find the result of this care and protection1 in the graduates of the ,class of '#ij-'ia4 ,i leave this matter with you for reflection4 ,we all know and realize what it is to be a member of the ,general ,society of ,mechanics and ,tradesmen1 and ,i1 for one1 am thankful to be able to say to you in hearty welcome and in hearty greeting that the evidences are now before you of the well-being1 and the comfort1 and the joy1 and the happiness of the graduates of the ,class of '#ij-'ia4 ,valedictory ,,by ,,miss ,,hilda ,,busick4 ,class of '#ia4 ,a,das ist im ,leben haslich eingerichtet1 ,das ,bei den ,rosen gleich die ,dornen stehn2 ,und was das arme ,herz auch sehnt und dichtet1 ,zum ,schlusse kommt das ,voneinandergehen4 ,footnote ,a3 ',tis said1 alas1 that life must have its sorrows1 ,that with the roses cruel thorns should grow2 ,and though we fondly dream of love's to-morrows1 ,must every heart the grief of parting know4 ,the words of the poet are but too true4 ,what rose does not hold up its pretty1 fragrant head1 feigning unconsciousness of the thorns hidden beneath its bright1 green leaves8 ,and just so life's joys are with its sorrows associated4 ,there never was a perfectly happy day1 unclouded as the skies of ,june1 for every pleasure1 inasmuch as it must end1 carries with it some sadness--every meeting1 the pain of parting4 ,so to-night the joyous echo of welcome is still to be heard1 the fragrance of its roses is yet perceptible1 when the solemn ,farewell rings upon our ears and its thorns pierce our hearts4 ,ruskin says1 ,it is a type of eternal truth that the soul's armor is never well set to the heart1 unless a woman's hand has braced it1 and it is only when she braces it loosely that the honor of manhood fails4 ,if then1 the honor of the world is dependent upon woman1 if she is to be responsible for all war and all peace1 happiness or discontent1 it behooves us to consider the greatness1 amounting to almost awe1 of the duty imposed upon us4 ,our task may1 perhaps1 be a difficult one1 but not if we seize it with an unyielding grasp1 and fight it to the bitter end--to the last syllable of recorded time--if need be4 ,our circle of usefulness is constantly widening4 ,the doors of colleges1 and thus those of every profession1 have opened to admit us within their sacred precincts4 ,in all parts of the world our sisters are successful as musicians1 painters1 sculptors--,harriet ,hosmer1 for example--physicians1 professors1 stenographers4 ,many of them are now on the highest rounds of the ladders from which their lack of superior education formerly excluded them4 ,this is especially true of stenography4 ,yet some one has recently written1 that1 owing to their superior tact in arrangement1 their neatness1 their unobtrusiveness1 their faithfulness1 and numerous other excellent qualities1 the demand for women in this capacity is steadily increasing4 ,we find them filling lucrative positions in banking1 commercial and publishing houses2 in brokers' and insurance offices1 in law firms1 in fact1 in every place where the haste of this nineteenth century requires a stenographer's speed4 ,indeed1 they have made for themselves1 in the use of the wingd words1 a name which it is our duty to assist in more firmly establishing4 ,in behalf of my classmates1 as well as for myself1 ,i wish to thank our ,instructor most cordially for his thorough teaching2 for the interest he awakened in us toward this intricate art1 without which we would have long since been compelled to cry ,vanquished2 for his timely assistance over the sharp pointed stones and by the brier bushes in the darkened forest1 and for his patience which our forgetfulness so sorely tried4 ,and1 though our words of gratitude may be weak1 the feeling is deep-rooted in our hearts1 and through the years to come we shall carry with us many pleasant memories of the hours spent with him1 and never fail to appreciate his more than kindness4 ,the neat typewritten exercises1 letters and legal documents1 which the members of the typewriting class have at different times shown us1 are an earnest of the work done in that department1 and we can have no doubt that his pupils feel grateful to their teacher4 ,the ,school ,committee1 indeed all the members of the ,g4 ,s4 ,m4 ,t41 have our heartiest thanks for their kindness in enabling so many to gain a profession1 and for the interest they have always manifested in our welfare4 ,one word of ,farewell to my classmates3 ,during the past ,winter1 while studying together1 many of us have formed strong friendships1 which we hope shall never decay1 or have bound more closely those who were friends before4 ,several of the more fortunate have already obtained positions1 making profitable use of the treasures received from our ,instructor4 ,but the others need not despair1 for if we are faithful and determined we shall in due time receive our call1 and ,in quiet and in confidence shall be our strength1 perfection shall be our aim1 and when we have reached the goal1 may it be said of us1 as ,antony said of ,brutus3 ,nature might stand up and say to all the world1 ',this was a man4' ,in our journey through life1 when doubts fall thick and fast around us1 and the lowering sky seems just above our heads1 surely these beautiful words of ,goethe will fill us with encouragement3 ,wouldst thou win desires unbounded8 ,yonder see the glory burn1 ,lightly is our life surrounded1 ,sleep's a shell to scorn and spurn1 ,when the crowd sways unbelieving1 ,slow the daring will that warns1 ,he is crowned with all achieving ,who perceives and then performs4 ,,class ,,night ,,exercises ,a ,prophecy of the ,class of '#ia4 ,,by ,,miss ,,hilda ,,busick4 ,know ,all ,men ,by ,these ,presents1 that ,i1 having departed this life1 have received permission from ,pluto1 ,king of the ,shades1 to return to this world and make known to you1 less fortunate mortals1 your destiny4 ,while lounging idly on the banks of the ,river of ,oblivion1 the sovereign of that sunless region permitted me to read in his ,book of ,life4 ,listlessly turning over the pages ,i saw a name in bold characters3 ,w4 ,l4 ,mason1 ,city1 ,county and ,state of ,new ,york4 ,then the pages began to turn of their own accord and the names of my former friends and acquaintances1 inter alia1 presented themselves in rapid succession4 ,mary ,a4 ,moore and her husband2 ,john ,williamson2 our well-known pugilistic friend1 ,john ,l4 ,sullivan2 a hen-pecked ,bostonian1 and others4 ,as ,i read a dim mist seemed to come from the river1 causing the words to fade2 bona fide pictures arose in their stead4 ,first4 ,in the famous city of ,kroy ,wen1 stood a large pagoda1 on which was emblazoned the startling legend3 ,college of ,stenography1 ,w4 ,l4 ,mason1 ,president4 ,at this hour the college doors were open and within could be seen the bulletin of the staff2 it was1 the ,president1 the right honorable ,w4 ,l4 ,mason1 ,d4 ,d41 assisted by his able corps of instructors1 the professors ,massie and ,shaughnessy1 the latter by their punctuality and the sweet temper of the former1 being of the utmost assistance to him4 ,et signiture was the course4 ,first ,term4 ,lecture on the ,principles of ,shorthand1 together with practical lessons in disorder1 untidiness1 negligence1 forgetfulness and carelessness1 all thoroughly taught in three months more or less4 ,second ,term4 ,practice in misapplying all that you have learned1 with a view to writing as illegibly and slowly as possible4 ,third ,term4 ,literature1 the reading of ,mother ,goose ,rhymes in shorthand1 and the writing of dime novels for the literature of the #bjth century4 ,the ,right ,honorable ,president1 as hereinbefore mentioned1 is old and decrepit1 unable to keep order in his classes1 and therefore always carries with him a jumping rope1 the handles of which he uses on the knuckles of his unruly pupils1 while the rope itself brings to him recollections of his youthful days when it was used for the legitimate purpose for which it was manufactured4 ,second4 ,now the panorama changes and shows a lady of medium height1 fair1 slight and happy4 ,she walks through one of the crowded streets of ,kroy ,wen1 handing to the passers by circulars which read as follows3 ,to the ,people of the ,city of ,kroy ,wen1 ,,greeting3 ,i beg to notify the public that the first issue of my new paper1--,wit1--will be ready in two weeks and ,i hereby guarantee to the said public that it will afford amusement1 entertainment and instruction1 with a special column devoted to ,phonography4 ,in ,witness ,whereof1 ,i have hereunto set my hand and seal1 the day and year last above written4 ,signed1 ,c4 ,,cellpur4 ,third4 ,a revolution had evidently taken place in ,england2 the people were clamoring for ,constitutional ,government4 ,discussions were loud and prolonged in the ,house of ,lords4 ,in the latter1 on one of the front benches1 sat the stenographer who had been admonished on her life to write the turbulent speeches verbatim4 ,she was our dear friend1 ,miss ,rhythm4 ,fourth4 ,an imposing publishing house in the city of ,not ,sob1 which city is noted for its cultured inhabitants4 ,small boys were placing on the doors and windows of said publishing house1 the same to remain thereon without hindrance or molestation1 large notices which bore this inscription3 ,our most recent publication is a book written by ,miss ,n4 ,murphie4 ,it is important as a work of art and is an authority on all topics of etiquette1 especially as regards language4 ,the cultured inhabitants of ,not ,sob cannot afford to lose this opportunity of making themselves more familiar with those refinements of speech which have long marked them as the most cultured people in the land4 ,then ,i saw what seemed to be an illegal document purporting to be a marriage settlement1 in which ,mrs4 ,ocean is wisely having her property settled upon herself1 mindful of the time when she learned that ,what's hers is his1 and what's his isn't hers4 ,fifth4 ,a convention of the ,woman's ,rights ,association4 ,the hall is crowded4 ,several determined looking women who have already addressed the meeting are on the platform4 ,the audience is breathlessly awaiting the appearance of what ,edward ,everett ,hale calls ,a ,hen's ,right ,hen4 ,she is at length presented1 her remarks are interspersed with legal terms2 evidently some part of the training has been at the ,f4 ,s4 ,t4 ,c4 of the ,g4 ,s4 ,m4 ,t4 ,her talk is upon the uselessness of the male sex and the applause is loud and enthusiastic4 ,her face and manner are very familiar1 and looking at the programme ,i see that the initials of her name spell ,h4 ,e4 ,m4 ,p4 ,sixth4 ,a copy of the ,post and ,lightning2 it is yellow with age4 ,it had probably been handed down from generation to generation as a precious heirloom4 ,the column containing the marriage notices is folded outward1 and one marked with blue pencil reads3 ,wolf--,lamb4 ,mr4 ,f4 ,wolf to ,miss ,m4 ,lamb1 both of the ,state of ,kroy ,wen1 ,may #beth1 #iab1 at the home of the bride4 ,the ,wolf had devoured the ,lamb4 ,verses ,,read ,,by ,,miss ,,carrie ,r4 ,,purcell1 ,,upon ,,awarding ,,prizes ,,to ,,the ,,members ,,of ,,her ,,section1 ,,tuesday ,,evening1 ,,june #b,,nd1 '#ia4 ,i beg of you all just a little time ,in which to attend to this dear class of mine4 ,dear ,tuesday night girls you should all have a prize1 ,and it makes me feel sad1 and tears dim my eyes ,when ,i think that for most of you ,i have no prize4 ,but a dear little tot in this class doth belong ,whose euphonious cognomen is ,margaret ,armstrong1 ,if she will come forward1 ,i gladly will give ,a prize she can cherish as long as she'll live4 ,and here is another for ,nellie ,j4 ,bell1 ,whose sweet resonant tones you all know so well2 ,come hither1 dear ,nellie1 a friend greets you now1 ,here1 take this small package and make a large bow1 ,while ,i tell your dear classmates1 with smiles all serene1 ,that soon you will rival the renowned ,lawyer ,green4 ,ah6 here is another1 it seems to be round1 ,i wonder for which of the class it is bound4 ,it may be intended for some gentle myth ,but no1 my dear friends1 it is meant for ,miss ,smith1 ,who'll take the world easy wherever she is1-- ,will she take it this evening and smile as she does8 ,here's something else before we pass on ,for our dear kind teacher1 ,mr4 ,w4 ,l4 ,mason1 ,for oft have ,i seen the briny tear start ,to his bright kindly eyes1 while my classmates so smart ,were kept waiting1 while ,i tried to write like the chart4 ,address ,,of ,,miss ,,ellen ,m4 ,,phillips1 ,,upon ,,awarding ,,prizes ,,to ,,the ,,members ,,of ,,her ,,section1 ,,tuesday ,,evening1 ,,june1 #b,,nd1 '#ia4 ,in these days of model schools it is difficult to find an innovation or to advance a theory of improvement which has not already been made2 but it seems to me there is one crying grievance from which all schools suffer1 and which ,i should like to do my little mite to redress4 ,my ideal of a school-master is the one in the opera of ,billy ,taylor4 ,his creed is summed up in the quatrain4 ,when a pedagogue1 ,i'd often wish1 ,i'd give prizes to the worst boys at school4 ,the good boys ,i would like to swish1 ,but alas6 ,i would not break the rule4 ,since the pleasant duty of awarding prizes has fallen to my lot1 ,i am determined to award them according to my theory1 and lest my reasons for bestowing them may not be perfectly clear to all1 and the system of reasoning by which my results are attained appear somewhat illogical1 ,i will endeavor to explain my reasons4 ,what1 for instance1 can be more absurd than the usual way in which the prize is chosen for the individual obtaining the highest per cent4 in an examination8 ,what1 forsooth1 is awarded but a collection of books666 ,yes6 ,to the very person who is supposed to know all that books contain6 ,it would be much more logical to my thinking to give the aforesaid set of books to a poor plucked student who would be so glad to avail himself of a little of their weighty contents4 ,for1 and in consideration of the aforesaid reason1 and for other valuable consideration1 ,i hereby assign1 transfer and set over unto you1 my dear ,miss ,reidy1 this little volume4 ,it may seem small1 but believe me therein is comprised a respectable proportion of human knowledge4 ,it will be your consolation in time of need4 ,in it you will find every thing a mortal mind may desire4 ,do you desire wealth8 ,you will find it described on all that certain lot1 piece or parcel of column #b1 situate1 lying and being on page #cjc4 ,or perhaps happiness is your aim8 ,that you will find near the southeast corner of page #acc1 the same being therein described as the ,state of ,enjoyment4 ,in short1 you will have no wish unfulfilled4 ,go1 read ye and be wise1 and however friends may forsake you1 be sure this faithful ,dict4 will never fail you4 ,another striking injustice in the bestowal of prizes is the fact the teachers get none of them1 and who1 pray1 is more entitled to them8 ,is it not the teacher who has crammed and coached the unfortunate students to the saturation point8 ,now1 in my model school1 no such injustice shall be done1 but1 what to offer8 ,there's the question4 ,of course a teacher's mind is a compendium of all human knowledge1 therefore books would be out of place4 ,so1 ,mr4 ,mason1 to you ,i offer no gaudy volume1 but only this little machine1 adapted for physical culture4 ,it is warranted to exercise every one of the blank muscles of the human body at once2 besides cultivating the artistic taste4 ,note the graceful curve it describes in the air6 ,note the harmony of color in the handles6 ,take it1 dear teacher1 to have1 to possess1 and to enjoy the same unto yourself1 your heirs1 executors1 administrators1 and assigns forever4 ,another striking incongruity is the fact that the best student is generally a pale1 slender girl1 or one on which the ravages of disease have set their mark4 ,to this delicate creature is given a prize of books which will still further tax her powers4 ,now1 would it not be wiser to minister to the body diseased and award a prize of this nature4 ,will ,miss ,hilda ,busick step this way8 ,permit me to ask you one question4 ,be you sick8 ,that is all ,i wish to know4 ,be you sick8 ,if that be so1 dear friend1 take this in time4 ,it is warranted to cure every ill under the sun1 and taken internally or externally makes no difference4 ,take it1 and bless your fortunate star which brought this to your lot rather than a pile of dusty volumes4 ,for you1 dear ,miss ,clancy1 ,i was at a loss1 but knowing that your future career will be a busy one1 ,i thought this little engagement slate might be handy4 ,you see you can hang it up in your office when you are called away to take down a sermon of ,phillips ,brooks1 or to report the ,world's ,fair of '#ib1 and the horde of stenographer-hunters may subscribe their names here and their humble supplication that you will attend to them on their return4 ,the other side of the slate may be used in casting up bills4 ,i quite agree with ,miss ,sharp that patriotic sentiments ought to be inculcated1 and for this reason ,i have chosen this little flag of our country which ,i beg she will accept2 accompanying it is a little bundle of fire-crackers dear to every patriotic heart4 ,the best way to appreciate them is to tie them together with their fuming little projecting frizzles1 set fire to the last one and throw them on the street2 the result will astonish you1 ,i am sure4 ,and now1 my dear friends1 you have seen the merits of my system1 but it is with pain that ,i point out its only defect4 ,i give prizes to the worst ones at school1 the only trouble is there are so few worst that the list of prize-winners is naturally small4 ,but ,i hope you will acknowledge that its defect is amply compensated for by its other excellencies4 ,a ,tale of ,woe ,,by ,,miss ,,carrie ,r4 ,,purcell4 7,read on ,class ,night1 ,tuesday1 ,june #b1 #ahia47 ,listen my friends1 and you shall hear ,a dreadful poem which ,i have here4 ',tis about the class of '#ia1 ,and a harrowing tale when once begun4 ,a tale that will make you all shiver and shake2 ,the thought of it now is making me quake4 ',tis a tale of struggle and grief and woe1 ,of the girls who wrote fast1 and the girls who wrote slow1 ,of girls who came early1 of girls who came late1 ,of those who had plenty1 others1 none to dictate4 ,of the girls who held pencils as if they were pills1 ,of others1 who held them as if they had chills4 ,of the dear darling girls who did everything 7write7 right1 ,of other unfortunates weeping all night1 ,oh6 indeed1 my dear friends1 'twas a terrible sight4 ,of a dear kindly teacher who came every night1 ,and who stayed long after the electric light1 ,of the class in a circle the teacher around1 ,while he watched every outline1 and heard every sound4 ,and the five minutes recess to catch the fresh air4 ,of return to the circle and catching it there2 ,of the girls who can stand up and read as they'd write4 ,of others who couldn't if they stood up all night2 ,ah6 yes indeed1 'twas a pitiful plight4 ,of ,complaints and of ,answers1 of ,leases and ,deeds2 ,of all kinds of letters for business men's needs2 ,of good sound advice as we all neared the end1 ,from our dear kind ,instructor1 who is also our friend4 ,of that dread ,monday eve which had long been expected2 ,of the papers accepted1 and the papers rejected4 ,of this beautiful calm which has followed that night2 ,and ,i'm sure that my teachers and classmates unite ,in thanking ,class '#ij for this pleasant sight4 ,verses ,read on ,class ,night ,,by ,,miss ,,nellie ,j4 ,,bell4 ,june #b1 #ahia4 ,hail6 ,to our friends1 both one and all1 ,hail6 ,to our neighbors1 great and small1 ,hail6 ,to the sweet ,june air and sun1 ,hail6 ,to the ,class of '#ia4 ,for the past eight months we've been working1 ,working with might and main1 ,to get ,phonographic outlines ,fixed firmly in our brains4 ,but now our work is ended1 ,our ,winter's work is done2 ,then hip hurrah1 hurrah1 hurrah1 ,for the ,class of '#ia6 ,and we smile as we think of the hours ,that we thought so fraught with pain2 ,they have gone like the fleeting shadows1 ,n'er to return again4 ,and now we can sit in our cosy homes1 ,and watch the drizzling rain2 ,it used to be1 ,put up your umbrella ,and don't you miss the train4 ,i was seated one night1 with book and pen1 ,the midnight oil burned low2 ,while on the table spread before me lay1 ,a legal doc4 with verbiage slow4 ,when all at once on the still night air1 ,rang a terrible shriek1 so wild and shrill1 ,it curdled the warm blood in my veins1 ,and made my very heart stand still4 ,i rushed to the casement1 and open it flew ,the pale moon shone in the azure sky1 ,and like costly gems1 'neath a cloud of lace1 ,gleamed the stars in the ,milky ,way4 ,and ,i looked and shuddered1 ,for what did ,i see1 ,but ,thomas and ,maria a lookin' at me1 ,their voices were pitched in the high key of ,c4 ,classmates1 now step to the front1 ,and make your bow to the business world1 ,we are ready to work for honest hire1 ,with our banners all unfurled4 ,and now in conclusion we bid you adieu ,and make room for the ,class of '#ib4 ,now give three cheers1 and three times three ,for this glorious ,g4 ,s4 ,m4 ,t4 ,god's blessing be on it forever1 we say1 ,may it know naught but prosperous days4 ,address to the ,graduating ,class ,on ,examination ,night4 ,,by ,w4 ,l4 ,,mason1 ,,instructor4 ,,my ,,dear ,,pupils3 ,this is the last night of our course1 and since we have studied our final lesson together1 it has occurred to me that this would be a good opportunity for a little talk with you1 as you are about to leave this school and go out into the world4 ,first of all1 ,i want to tell you1 as ,i have many times told you before1 how very much ,i have enjoyed my work in connection with this class during the past ,winter4 ,there is a certain satisfaction in feeling that ,i have been able to help you to learn something1 and this feeling is increased by remembering that ,i1 too1 have been learning1 and that my knowledge of the art of shorthand has been enlarged by teaching it to you4 ,you1 on the other hand1 must keep in mind the fact that you have not learned all there is to be learned about ,phonography4 ,though you may live many years1 and practice ,phonography all your life1 you probably never will feel that you have a perfect knowledge of all the details of the art4 ,this1 however1 need not discourage you1 but1 on the contrary1 should fill you with pleasure to think there is something yet to be learned1 and thus the fascination which the study of ,phonography has had for you during the past few months1 can never diminish so long as you have a desire to advance more and more towards perfection4 ,it is not to be expected that you will for any length of time remember everything that ,i have ever said to you with regard to the advantages of shorthand or its practical use2 but of one thing ,i feel very sure1 and that is that whatever ,i have said that is worth anything will at some future time recur to you when you need it most1 and when it will probably be better understood than it is now4 ,there is one fact that ,i wish very strongly to impress upon you1 namely1 that you have1 by your diligent study of the past ,winter1 gained something which is of priceless value to you1 and1 if used aright1 something which must some day1 sooner or later1 prove of particular advantage4 ,this practical knowledge of shorthand which you now possess is something which cannot be bought or sold2 it is something which you can never wholly forget2 it is something which many persons would give a great deal to obtain2 and ,i therefore charge you to guard it with care1 and treasure it as a talent for the right use of which you will some day be held accountable4 ,do not by any means give up your practice4 ,even if you cannot continue it regularly1 do not abandon it altogether1 but look upon your shorthand as a mine of intellectual wealth which1 if rightly worked1 will yield rich results4 ,and now1 one word more3 be diligent1 be persevering1 be true to whatever trust is reposed in you2 and1 if you seek a reward outside of the natural satisfaction that will come from work well done1 remember the word of ,one who said1 ,thou hast been faithful over a few things1 ,i will make thee ruler over many things4 ,with hearty congratulations upon your success1 and with the most cordial wishes for your future prosperity1 ,i bid you ,god-speed4 ,,transcriber',s ,,note3 ,minor changes have been made to correct typesetters' errors2 otherwise1 every effort has been made to remain true to the authors' words and intent4 a indicates an a-macron4