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Friends, schoolmates and citizens, once more we greet you in the name of the Deerfield high school. We greet you with as light, happy hearts as did the Class of '80. And why should we feel otherwise, when tonight we can say our school days are ended, and we are free from all the cares and trials of school life?Yes, the prison doors have been flung open and we have escaped, never to return as of yore. Friends, we greet you, and thank you for your kindness to us in the past; whenever we have met together we have been greeted by you with smiles, and encouragement, either by word or action. Your presence here this evening, shows that you still have an interest in the Class of '81. But we should ask you to remember the Class of '82, though they are few in number, yet we hope you will take as much interest in them as you have in us, and we know they will feel as thankful for your kindness as we do this evening. Trustees we greet you, and extend our thanks for what you have done for us; for need we say, that without your able management, our school would not have reached the height to which it has attained. And we feel to-night, that the loss to us would have been irreparable had not your generous hearts ever been ready to help us in anything, that was proposed for our benefit. Again, we thank you and bespeak for our successors a continuance of that kind consideration that has characterized your manner towards us. Schoolmates, we greet you this evening, with hearts full of pity and sympathy. But we would encourage you to press onward and with the prize that is in your power to obtain; and remember it is nothing but industry and hard labor that wins this prize. And we, the Class of '81, feel this evening that it is worth all the labor we have performed; and when we remember that some of you have only a short race to run before the prize is yours, we would encourage you to
"Press on! surmount the rocky steeps,
Climb boldly o'er the torrent's arch;
He fails alone who feebly creeps,
He wins who dares the hero's march."
Teachers, we greet you this evening with hearts overflowing with gratitude, for we know that it is only by your patience and labor that we stand where we do to-day. many a time have we been discouraged and almost ready to give up, when a kind word or look from you has given us courage, and we have caught the inspiration to labor for and win the prize. And, while looking over the past, we think of many things that we now regret with sorrowful hearts; oft times have we vexed and tried your patience almost beyond endurance, but your ever forgiving spirit has overlooked all, and you have again met us with smiles and cheerful words. And we would this evening, ask you to forget the dark and gloomy days, to remember only the bright and sunny ones. Classmates, I greet you in the name of Him who is high above all others; for we know that it is He who has spared our lives until this eventful evening; and it seems almost under the guidance of His hand that it has fallen to my lot to greet you for the last time in this, our school career. We know full well how to sympathize with each other for we have each and every one of us had our share of the trials of school life. Sometimes we would think our burden more than usually hard; but, now they are lightened, we will forget the sorrow and remember only the pleasures we have received together in the school of Deerfield. And, when I turn memory's pages and note that we, with but one or two exceptions, have been friends and schoolmates, if not classmates, ever since we first began to wend our way to school, I would ask this evening, that our friendship may never grow less though our school days are ended. And, my wish for you, dear classmates, as I press each hand for the last time as a class, is that your path in the future may ever be bright and pleasant'; but should clouds darken your pathway, ever remember our motto: Post praelia praemia - reward after battle.
A lineal descendant of Diogenes, the prince of Cynics, I have been informed that I, Miss Clara Salisbury, have been chosen by the Class of '81 to deliver the annual address after the style of my master, though he did live in a tub. My first inclination was not to recognize any sect, or school, or class - especially such an ordinary appearing class as the so called of '81 - by any public act of mine; but fearing that my silence might be misconstrued, and recollecting that my progenitor hesitated not to expose error and uphold truth, even in the face of an Alexander, I am here. And let me ask, who of this class, by virtue of noble deeds, will gather imperishable honor, although they do graduate and are here to-night to receive their sheep-skin. Let us compare these gorgeous graduations with the class of Socrates, the philosopher of Athens. His class, if class it could be called, was composed of students whose aim it was to earn the highest distinction by acquiring that knowledge that should make them most useful. And they met in the open, air, under the shade of the trees, in the highways, and in the by-ways, to receive their instruction and criticisms. Then there was the orphan boy Aristotle, who, when only seventeen years of age, left Stageria, in Asia Minor and traveled all the way to Athens, that he might become the pupil of Plato; who had himself been a pupil of the great Socrates, and who afterwards became one of the most learned men of his time. But this is not part of my business, to extol men of renown; but to honor virtue for virtue's sake, and to expose vice, hypocracy and ignorance, for the benefit of mankind making no difference whether the person be dressed in luxurious vanity, modern extravagance, or in the economy of poverty. But recognizing the modern necessity for these exhibitions of bad taste and worse wisdom, I will take the lantern bequeathed to me by my great, great grandfather, the aforesaid Diogenes, and look among this class for an honest person. First, let me ask if there is one in the class, who, if the Professor or any person should give you credit you did not really deserve, or honors to which you were not justly entitled, would be in haste to correct the same? But stop. You need not answer; I withdraw my question. I will not have the audience disturbed with your apologies. But as all evil has a first-cause, cannot we discover the cause of so much dishonesty in the system of marking recitations? I wonder if Plato and Zeno marked their recitations? And is there not a greater evil existing among students at the present day, through an ambitious desire to reach the summit of fame, and gather laurels to gratify their pride without an inclination to endure, for its sake, the accompanying trials. In my school of philosophy we are taught to care nothing for fame or external appearances, but everything for knowledge and the blessings that flow therefrom. So you see, with us, educations is not a thing to be completed before we are out of our teens, but is rather a study of a lifetime; and one of its highest attainments is the conscious knowledge of our own ignorance. But what a contrast between the doctrines and principles as taught in the present day. Why, our teacher will grow enthusiastic over theories in nature sciences, that would astonish to death the honored old master. Let us see: for instance sound, like the roar of a waterfall, or the noise caused by the report of some explosive substance, as powder in the discharge of a cannon, was always considered as having the property of noise in itself; but our teachers tell us that noise or sound is merely the sensation produced by the waves of the atmosphere on the auditory nerves and brain. Now that may well be true; but who ever saw the waves of the atmosphere like the waves of the ocean; and who can believe that all the noise of the universe, which gives us so much pleasure an inconvenience, exists wholly in our own heads. This, gentlemen and ladies, is a fair sample of how the students are now taught. But the trustees all over the land encourage such a system of so called education. Well may we call out with Cicero, O, tempora! O, mores!
We stand before you to-night, gazing upon Life's storm seas, knowing not whether our lot shall be dark or bright; but, as to the decision of this, we shall leave it to the prophecy, while I shall make the attempt to give you a short history of our youthful days which still live in memory. In reviewing the past, as far back as memory will allow, the earlier part of our lives is not marked for any distinction, except that we always set a good example for those around us, and as soon as we became old enough to attend school we never allowed any disturbances on the school premises because we always made it known to the teacher, and they, like all interested ones, would forbid their ever doing so again. Shortly after this there came a time when our knowledge of books had increased that we received the summons to occupy a place in the next room higher, and with all the dignity of a president, we marched into the grammar department, and then we knew more than our tutor. Also, at the time of this promotion, telling ta'es in school ceased because all were equally bemired, and we thought the best way to shun trouble was to keep our mischief to ourselves. So we passed from grade to grade, each examination being all our feeble minds cold master, till at last we were firmly established in the high school room. The first and second years passed by very pleasantly, by the third year some of us became quite discouraged with school affairs and came to the conclusion that our education was quite sufficient for all needs, prospective or immediate, so we left school and went out to test the temper of the world. But how different from the ideal as painted by our teacher did we find the stern reality. So in the fall of 1880, having pondered very deeply upon the subject, we came to the conclusion that our education was too limited to face all the battles of life; so we wended our way back to the school we had forsaken, and to-night we help to form the Class of '81. This same year the first graduating class of the Deerfield high school, made its appearance upon the stage of action, and on their departure they left to spring up in memory these words, "We are glad our school days here are ended, yet we feel sad on account of the juniors; what will they do without us?" I would just say we are very sorry indeed, that we gave them any cause for anxiety, for we have spent a happy year; our school troubles have been very few, the tears we have shed have only caused the roots and branches of education to strike deeper and spread wider in the store-house of memory; and we have done full as well, I fancy, as we should had they been here to have attracted our attention by their cunning pranks. Still, we miss them. Many are the gay times we have spent together, and we regret they are past; but the way appointed for us is the best way, although it may not seem so at the time, and we are glad to hear they have succeed so well in finding employment. We have learned that most of them are engaged in training the young and tender minds in the way of knowledge, and we hope to set as good an example for the juniors who are to follow in our footsteps. Our class, at the beginning of this year, numbered one more than the preceding class, but duty has called one from our ranks who is now trying to excel Washington as surveyor, if not as president; leaving our class equal in number of the class of '80. There are many things which have transpired in our past lives that now gives us great pleasure to think of. Well do we remember the day when some strangers called, and our teacher, quite anxious to make a display of his senior class, knowing that we had had quite a drill in philosophy and astronomy, but forgetting that the drawing class was not yet organized, sent us to the board to draw diagrams explaining the theory of the August and November meteors, and on seeing the figures they did not think it at all improbable that Mother Shipton's prophecy would come true. Another figure was intended to illustrate the force pump, and on investigation they thought the water was forced out of the handle by pumping the spout; and another was the pneumatic ink-stand which figure they though represented some animal that flourished in the Reptilian age. You can imagine what a look we received about that time. But it only seemed to brighten the dark corners in our minds, and we began to crave "more light" upon our knowledge already possessed and unused. It is not our intention to weary you, but would be pleased to give you some idea of our standing as a class " Our total lineal measure is 31 feet 5 inches; so, you see, we have a right to set our mark high, as we expect to reach it some day. Our total avoirdupois is 650 pounds. Our total age is 116 years, making our average a little more than 19. And, juniors, when the time comes for you to once more assemble in that school house up yonder, the scene will be changed somewhat, as all things in the past have been changed. No more will you see us sitting there with willing hearts and hands to assist you in every time of trouble and to encourage you to press onward and upward until you have reached the pinnacle of fame. But before we leave you, let us give you one more piece of advice: "What man has done, man can do." And remember that art and refinement spread out charms, and knowledge leads man to the highest type of social enjoyment. And now, dear friends, for past favors we thank you, and with this closes the career of the Class of '81.
We are a joyous and happy class, just starting out from our childhood's home, to roam over the world with gleeful eye and bounding heart. We travel rapidly through the throng of life and desire ever to move onward to gain honors and fame. But this effort is difficult and laborious to pass in safety over the rough fields of ice, and among the wild craggs which stand in our pathway; much caution is required to avoid the false step that would lead us far down into the valley of ruin below. Oh! how little do we know of the dangers or joys that await us in the future? Not one living soul in the whole globe can tell us. When you look forward to those plans of life of which you have thought or friends have proposed, you acknowledge that to follow them, some previous instruction is necessary, but whatever is to be your profession the main staff of your life should be education. Seek education, for we all know she cannot be dispensed with, in the age of the world. Seek fame, that immortal spirit of man's genius which lives in the minds of the people, while he is living and also after he is dead. "But seek first the kingdom of god and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you," "While on the other side shun popularity, pleasure and those thoughts which last only for this world, for popularity exists only for a shor time; pleasure is a snowflake, a few minutes white then melts forever." Life seems like a great storm at sea, with the ships on it dashed about in many ways; some sink to the bottom, never to rise again, while others arrive in safety to the shore. But it can be made more pleasant by observing the following anxioms of an ancient Grecian: "Always speak the truth without disguise. Strictly keep your promises; and do not meddle with what does not concern you: Or of Aesop; "Do not respect appearance; but in whatever grab you find hypocrisy or evil be sure to expose and punish it." "A humble life with peace and quietness is better that a splendid one with danger and risk." "We should be careful whom we admit as our companions or neighbors, for once admitted it may be difficult to remove them." "At home or abroad, always act yourself." "Never put off till to-morrow what you can do to-day." "By the company you keep you will ever be judged." To all this allow me to add, from my own knowledge funded bon experience: When lost in meditative thought, always remember to bit you finger nails, for it helps you think; always try to acquire a high standing in life, even if you have to stand on a foot-stool; in reading an essay, always strive to act the part you have written; for instance, if it is on smiles, keep a little smile on your face. To be little in stature is an honor to which many cannot attain, but to be large in mind is nothing to complain; when on the stage performing experiments in sciences if there be an explosion, be sure to run off when it is all over. "Try, try again," is a very good motto, but I wish you to take something more decisive; if you wish to obtain a high position in life, do not sit down silently and expect it will come to you, for it will not; it is gained only by the hardest work and with many trials and troubles. You may, for a few minutes, gain much, and the next loose all; but do not stop to cry and lament over this and say "I can't do this,:"or "I never can," but say with a determination of your own mind, "I will," and when you have said it always keep it as one of your precious thoughts; never give up to the weaker part and you will always be conqueror in whatever you undertake. Soft and gentle words will often accomplish what force and anger can never fulfil; take a little child in the school-room, do you think that in rough commanding tones you could mke it mind you more quickly than when spoke to in sweet and soothing words? The length of your life you do not know, but no matter how short and stormy it may be, do something in that time to help others, that you may ever be remembered; if but a slight thing it will be remembered by some one. We must all fad, but it is in our power to be what we will. Time is ever precious, do not waste it, but each moment of your life put to some good purpose.
By the mates of my class who in honor are here,
I their Sybil am chosen to-night:
To reveal the dim future that to all is so dear.
"Twill take faith to believe I am right.
With the keen eye of vision will I look into the future and solve the mystery so portentous to-night, for the past you recall, the present you realize, while into the untried future you are ever looking with bright anticipations to discover its hidden mysteries. So cross my hand with gold, no less, and I, as your prophetess, will lift the curtain, and afford you each one glimpse into the far beyond; look intently ere the curtain falls, never more to rise till torn aside by the hand of time, when we realize it as to-day. My first glimpse if filled with dark clouds, many of them with a sliver lining, and who could wish it otherwise, for
"I wish not a life for you, my friends,
All radiant as others have done,
But that life my have just enough shadow
To temper the glare of the sun."
For some say the more clouds that appear in our earth life will only make our crown brighter, and our souls purer in the time to come. So, my friends, I hope if I picture you not a Florence Nightingale, a Southworth, or a Jenny Lind, that you will remember hereafter your star will shine as a star of the first magnitude. The first vision that comes is one of beauty, for I see a bower of bright flowers and beneath this is seated the leader of our class, Miss Minnie Porter; she is before a piano, and the strains that we hear are so plaintive and sweet that one might almost fancy they were in the far beyond. Thousands already tell of the musical skill of the leader of '81, and as the years roll on she still improves, and w know not how noted she might have become if an unforeseen event had not transpired, for amidst the applause of a vast audience one is seen to be charmed so much that he is taken by the breeze and wafted to her side, and whispers that Cupid has made a target of his heart and begs that she will fly with him to the northern wilds of the Wolverine State. Which she does, and the woods echo and re-echo strains of music, sweet music. The next comes before my view is Miss Addie Bragg; but as I see her in the future I would scarcely know she was my schoolmate, for now she is a bright, healthy person, with cheeks rosy and face radiant, which tells me she is happy an contented with her lot, whatever it be. Oh! I see her turn, and with a finger of pride she points toward a seminary; she bids me enter and as I advance I see groups of smiling faces, which tell of the love and happiness that reigns there. But few have the perseverance that Miss Addie has, and through much trouble has she passed ere she reached the height of her ambition; she is preceptress over this large seminary for young ladies, and is prospering, and she continues to gain love and respect wherever she is known. Thus we see one of our class following the noble work of helping to build up our nation by instructing the young. That scene is vanishing, and in its stead one far different; I see it is a lady standing alone, thoughtful and earnest, but disappointed; 'tis Miss Clara Salisbury. But oh! how changed from the careless-hearted girl. There is surely something the cause of all this - but as I look a gentleman approaches, her attitude changes, her cheeks are suffused with blushes, her eyes sparkle with a new light. See! I behold a large city, a beautiful phaeton drawn by a pair of white steeds; inside sits Miss Clara, but I scarcely know her. A beautiful diamond ring glitters on her finger, an elegant necklace is about her neck, and her liege, lord sits beside her with ease. Everything glitters about them; they are on their way to see about bestowing some of their wealth in the noble work of erecting a home for the poor destitute children in the great city of Boston. Long may they live and prosper in this great work; and while they are thus engaged let us go to a distant part of the city, and behold we see a large hall and on the platform stands a lady; her form is erect, her voice is deep, her gestures graceful; then to us comes the applause, and we judge that this lady is peaking to the multitude, and as she speaks again to our astonishment we recognize Miss Fannie Stearns, as the renowned orator that is charming the world with her eloquence. Her principle theme is Woman's Rights, and well she pleads her cause - at least so we conclude by the interest manifested by the audience. She is engaged to speak in all the large cities of the United States, and after that her fame becomes worldwide. By her side is seated an intellectual looking lady, clad in a beautiful yellow silk dress; her bonnet is of a most becoming style, trimmed with very pretty flowerers,and tied at the chin with lavender ribbon. I think now the picture will be so vivid that all can fancy they are at the scene, and I think you will all recognize our old friend, Miss Libbie Kedzie; she is traveling as a singer, and as the strains prolong - list! we catch these words:
"No socks to darn, no vests to mend,
No buttons off, no babes to tend,
I'm an old maid, but better so
Than all the trouble married ones know."
And girls, her advice to you always is "to live an old maid, and never get married." Now I see an old lady; she is surrounded with her grandchildren; she is telling them of the long ago when she went to school, of her mates, the Professor, of her graduating, the good times and the lonely ones, and in years after, when she practised law and spoke in the halls of science, and at last how she got married and settled down, and finally had to live with her children, and now, in years after, as she had grown old, how she had these little ones to comfort her, etc. I wonder who it can be? One scene more rises to my view, whether real or not, time will relate. Many summers and winters have passed; and I see a large grove, and in it is a large gathering of people. All seems strange to me; yet I am told it is Deerfield, and it is a re-union of old settlers. I ask who are those strangers who have come from all parts of the Union, and seem so joyous and happy? Ho! These are they who took their firs lessons in yon alma mater, who have come to clasp the friendly hands of their friends and benefactors, and assure them that education is the only sure pathway to usefulness and prosperity, and strange as it may seem I see the members of the graduating class of 1881, all present - also their Professor with them. O! what a joyous time. The vision passes - I can see no more - farewell.
We are about to enter apon a new era; the hour is rapidly approaching when we shall cross that invisible line which separates our school days from the sterner realities of life, and we shall enter the realm that is opening before us. There are broader fields to pass and greater heights to climb, but we can only climb them successfully by becoming fit for the ascent. How thoroughly we have made preparation for the journey and the ascent, we leave to the historian, or to the revelation of the future, for only at the end of life can we declare that one's life has or has not been successful. To-night we have met to say farewell! - farewell to teacher, to scholars, and to old associations. How distasteful to every one seems that one little word; but it is a lesson we early learn in life, and it is the last fond word we utter. The little child lisps that word amid its sobs, as its little arms are clasped for the last time around the neck of the found mother. The old speak the same word, with trembling accents, as they take passage for the endless voyage over the ocean of eternity. But we must cast sadness away, and let it - the bitter - not rob us of all the sweetness. To-morrow, as alumni, we stand in life's vestibule, and ere we enter the temple let each ask herself, "What manner of spirit am I of?" Let us not retire from this occasion without a deep conviction of the duties which devolve upon us as graduates of the class of 1881. As we reflect upon, the past feq years, there are many things that we would blot from our memory, and we hope our teachers will blot from their minds may things which have occurred, and must have pained. We trust they will kindly forget we might say, our childish follies and frowns, and remember only our smiles. The acquisityion of knowledge is, as it were, a labyrinth without end; and we, as students, have but just begun to explore its intricies.
"As anxious tears oft fills the studen't eye,
And his breast heaves with many a struggling sigh.
His is the task, the long, long task to explore.
Need I describe his struggles and his strife,
The thousand minor miseries of his life,
How application never tiring made,
Oft moans an aching, oft a dizzy head?"
In our efforts to keep the path marked out for us many times have we become perplexed and discouraged - yes, have faltered and would have fallen by the way, but for the sympathizing, aid and helping hand of our teacher, whose words, of encouragement revived our drooping energies, and we were stimulated to press on until we have at last reached the goal; and lo! a new life opens before us. Are we prepared to go forth and battle successfully with its conflicts? Are we prepared for the struggle which will surely issue in success or sad disappointments? - for this world is full of them; but let us, as a class, try and meet them bravely. One who started with us dropped out by the way, duty calling him to other fields of labor; but though he has been absent from us he has never been forgotten. This life is like a continually revolving wheel, always showing a different side, or, like the kaleidoscope, ever changing. Again: How much also our life is like a river, for a few miles from its source the little stream ripples and sings as it flows over it pebbly bed, laughing in the sunshine and sparkling like diamonds. Here is childhood, laughing childhood! The channel deepens, the waters flow with more even sound, but now and then it rushes in mad glee over the rapids; in this we see youth and early manhood. By and by it settles into the deep broad river and soon empties itself into the mighty ocean; this is old age. We have passed over those first few years of merry childhood; to those we have said farewell. The channel has deepened in our cruise. As we say farewell to those merry times let us not look with dread into the future, but rather with joy. I think I express the sentiment of the class when I say we have a desire for a more perfect state of usefulness and a longing to exert power for good to the end. For usefulness man was made; and who would not desire to answer the design of his creation. It is with a pang of regret that we bid adieu to the old familiar places we are about to leave.
"But memory still will love to hover o'er the place,
And all our pleasures and our pains retrace."
We would tarry longer with our guide, who, as a ministering spirit, has watched over us. My pen is too feeble to portray the usefulness of our faithful teachers; we will carry with us their precepts and their instructions, as aids to the discharge of duty. It may not be our lot to distinguish ourselves in art or sciences, but as prominent actors on the stage of life, we are soon to exert an influence. Let us see to it than that each fill her place in life so honorably and nobly that when they shall hear of our success, our usefulness, or our honors, they will not be ashamed, but feel proud to own us as their former pupils. Since we have come thus far in life that compels us to say farewell to our school-days, we would thank our friends for the advantages they place within our reach. But we must close. Juniors and Seniors, to you we say a kind farewell; may your last year in school be as pleasant as ours has been. Farewell, teacher; may your life be long spared to help others in that great labyrinth as you have helped us; we would thank you for the untiring zeal in helping us in the search after knowledge. Classmates, as we bid adieu to the past and look forward to the future, let us be determined by Divine help to be not drones, not dreamers, but workers.
"In the world's broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of life,
Be not like dumb driven cattle,
But heroes in the strife."
And may we all, teachers and scholars, reach that high estate, a place destined for those who are counted among the jewels.
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