And so the old order changes once again. But, no longer looking sadly backward, we may turn hopefully to the future, as past and present are united in the heartfelt tribute to the Founder with which her successor takes up the work of the school.
“Last year I stood behind her in this place and read the Prize Day report, which was her report, for her. To-day I am proud to be her deputy once again and glad, for this day at least, of the circumstances which have determined that as yet no one speaks in her place as more than a deputy.
“The thought of our School’s past—the pride in it, the regret for it as past—must be specially with us all to-day. For the first time in forty-five years we meet together for our yearly distribution of prizes without the gracious presence of the Founder, a presence so familiar, that cannot be replaced. A great teacher, a wise administrator, a strong and sympathetic leader, she held a place almost as unique in the educational world as the history of the schools she founded. Nevertheless, the loss to us in this school is deepest, widest, most intimate. To those who have been her colleagues, the sense of it is ever present, in all the details of work, and affecting all the relations of friendship.
“Noble work like hers remains in effect for all time, and great inspirations are immortal, passing on from mind to mind. The neighbourhood knows, and will long know, our building as ‘Miss Buss’ School,’ and our traditions have already lived too long to lose the stamp of the character that moulded them. To guard them with care, to act on them with zeal, will be the pleasure and duty of every North London girl.
“It is, I believe, hardly necessary, but I would like, before concluding, to remind the pupils of the thanks that are due to the teachers for their never-failing interest and devotion to work which, though always cheering, is sometimes hard. For myself, I could not adequately express, but I hope they know without words how much I have appreciated their loyal support and their unity of spirit as they have worked together with me during these last six months. The dark cloud through which we have passed has caused us all as colleagues to draw closer together, like children in a family when the head has gone forth.”
We find the same spirit in the account given in the School Magazine of Mrs. Bryant’s election, on July 9, as Miss Burstall concludes—
“It was a quiet day, and a very simple ceremony. There was something of the sweetness and ease of home in it all, and indeed we felt as if we were a family rather than a school; and, as in the beautiful and sacred life of home we do not speak of our loyalty and devotion, but act on them as principles so certain as to need no expression, so it was here. The day was a very happy one. Every one went about her work with a new impulse of earnestness, a new assurance of peaceful continuity. For the rest, the future will speak, and the past is witness that the future will be good.”
On Prize Day, that last day of the old which was the first day of the new era, Lady Frederick Cavendish in her address dwelt especially on the faith and sympathy of the Founder as the secret of the success of her schools, finding here, as everywhere, the true source of all great and lasting work in the faith that uplifts and the love that unites.
Then from the bright past the speaker looked beyond the darkly shadowed present to a future full of hope in the work to come. None present on that day will forget the inspiration of the closing words of this address—words doubly strong as quoted by one who had come through a great darkness into the light: one who will always stand out as witness that a heart emptied of joy may yet become a full channel of blessing—
“What though the brightness dim, the glory fade,