Page:Oread August 1891.djvu/22

22 REPORT OF ANNIVERSARY WEEK OF MT. CARROLL SEMINARY IN "THE STANDARD" OF CHICAGO, JUNE 15.

Previous to the usual closing exercises of Mt. Carroll Seminary occurred three pleasant musical entertainments, the first being a song recital by Miss Dunshee, a graduate in the vocal course of the Conservatory. The others were a piano recital by pupils of Miss Bole, director of the instrumental department, and a vocal recital by the pupils of Mrs. Hazzan, director of the Conservatory of Music.

The exercises proper of anniversary week opened with an address delivered on Friday evening, June 5, before the Oread Society, by Sarah Hackett Stevenson, M.D., of Chicago. Dr. Stevenson was a former student at the Seminary, and her address was a greater pleasure for that reason. The evening was very unfavorable, but most of the society and school, with some other friends, greeted the speaker, who addressed them on "Shakespeare's Characterization of the Abnormal," citing Richard III. and Caliban, as physically deformed, but dwelling more at length upon distorted normal natures, the chief examples being Richard III., the Macbeths and Iago. The audience, though small, was unusually attentive and appreciative.

Rev. C. H. Moscrip, D.D., of Rockford, preached the baccalaureate sermon Sunday evening. His clear thought and earnest manner won the attention of the crowded house, and held it from the beginning to the close. We can have space but for a brief analysis. The text was in Matt. xv. 28: "O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee as thou wilt," etc.

Christ is the great conservator of force. In his interview with the Syrophonecian woman he seeks to bring that which was powerful in her feelings and character to its fullest growth. This was faith. As in so many other instances, so in this, he developed faith as the source of power. Theme: Faith the source of power.

First—Faith removes life from evil surroundings. 1. By revealing the true character of the world. 2. Separating power of a high ideal. 3. Because of the conflict be-tween good and evil in which it submits the heart to the good.

Second—Faith is a source of power in that it develops character. 1. By it the germ of the Christ-life is implanted in the soul. 2. By it harmony of soul is secured because it brings the powers and faculties of the soul into proportionate and harmonious activity. 3. Imparts energy.

Third—Faith moves God. i. Through prayer. 2. Through God-directed activity.

The art department, under the efficient leadership of Miss L. M. Slee, gave a reception Monday afternoon which was a pleasant success. In the two hundred and fourteen entries on the catalogue one found evidence of the industry and enthusiasm brought to the work, while the large number of object and life studies displayed betrayed the direction of their efforts to be toward appreciation of and truth to nature rather than to immediate results. Many of the flower studies and still-life were arranged and executed in a manner decidedly above the usual average of amateur efforts in that line, as, for instance, Miss Wildy's "After the Ball," Miss Dunning's "Wild Sunflowers," in water color, and "Snowballs" and " Fleur de Lis" in oil.

Miss Parkinson (class of '91) carried off the palm, however. Her large water-color portrait, "Zoe," which greeted the writer as he entered the long suite of rooms devoted to the exhibit and filled with the animated crowd it had called together, had decided merit. In our judgment, it would not discredit the easel of many who stand well as professional portrait-painters in technic and life like qualities. In the long list of her work one notes with pleasure the "Marshal Neil Roses," the humorous but graceful "Nigger Heads," and many others showing ability, careful training and good taste that may be considered as indicative of a future of no common order.

All in all, we thought there was evidence that the quotation from Ruskin on the catalogue was selected as expressing the underlying thought in their work. It was "Painting, with all its technicalities, difficulties and particular ends, is nothing but a noble and expressive language, invaluable as a vehicle of thought, but by itself nothing."

With so much in the art-rooms that means hard work with rumors of recitals and concerts and devotion to the musical art, the stranger naturally asks if there is room for other things—for the disciplinary drill of mathematics and languages, the broadening culture of science and history, the intellectual illumination of letters. But there is room for all of these, and more. There is the daily association with teachers of culture, refinement and Christian worth, in a school-home—a privilege of uncounted value, for it means conduct, manners, character. This thought comes to us with force as we listen to the essays and orations of the graduating class. The ethical element pervades all of the discourses; probably not an intended coincidence nevertheless a significant fact—significant of the current life, of the very atmosphere breathed at Mt. Carroll Seminary. The Commencement programme was as follows:

March, from Concert-Stuck (Weber)—Misses Chapman and Pottle (Juniors). Anthem, Misses Hall and Dunshee, Messrs. Dunshee and Miles. "Illinois Men"—Miss Coleman. "Madre Del Sommo Amore" (Campana)—Misses Bole, Pottle and Hutton (Juniors). "Evils of America"—Miss Heil, Marche Heroique, Trio (Schubert)—Misses Saxton, Forrest and Lewis (Juniors). "The Relation of Character to Leadership"—Miss Pfeiffer. "My Heart at Thy Sweet Voice" ("Samson and Delilah"—Saint Saens)—Miss Dunshee. "The Republic of San Marino"—Miss Richardson. Hungarian Dances (Brahms)—Miss M. L. Bole and Miss Nase. "The Founder of the British Empire in India "—Miss Bailey. Presentation of Diplomas. Benediction. Miss Coleman, with the proper spirit for an Illinois girl, honors her State's heroes, who with dauntless bravery, unswerving persistency and cautious foresight became the chief instrument, under heaven, in saving the nation. Miss Coleman chooses well her theme, for no names greater than Logan and Grant and Lincoln.

Miss Heil, with a melancholy that was quite Hebraic, recounted the evils that like noxious fungi have taken upon our body politic. The Indian, the negro, capital and labor, the immigration of criminals and paupers, the liquor evil—these, and more, are the problems, the dangers, we have to face. With excellent art, with sentences crisp, compact and weighty, the speaker discussed her theme. She might have illumined her canvas with more rays of hope; but probably she chose the pessimist's coloring as an artist might the grays of a November day.

Miss Pfeiffer, in her introductory paragraph, says that "wealth gives power for a time, but character endures." With examples of the world's heroes, such as Luther, Washington, Lincoln, she justifies the assertion. When she is done there is no gainsaying her closing word, that "if America is to become the light of nations, her people must remember that the pedestal of greatness is character."

In a pleasing manner, Miss Richardson told us of the ancient, though to many unknown, history of San Marino. Her description of the tiny republic, the characteristics of its people, the commendable features of its