A few came from homes of comparative comfort and represent the better phase of social life in the city; their parents know nothing personally of the old system of ante bellum days. Others are children of freedmen, who knew in younger years all the bitterness of bondage. Representatives of such families are diminishing in numbers year by year as the events of the war are being removed farther into history. One of these graduates is the daughter of a government official, the lighthouse keeper on Morris Island, where he has proved his fidelity by long years of continuous service.
To nearly every one commencement day has been the goal of their ambition for many years, while to the parents the keeping of the daughter or the son to the end of the course has been a severe struggle, demanding many sacrifices, which have been endured in the hope or resolve to see their children have a better chance in the start in life than was ever offered the parent.
Twenty of the class are faithful members of some evangelical church, and have proved the sincerity of their profession by consistent, Christian lives while in school.
Two of the men and as many of the young women planned to continue their studies. These have taken the preparatory course along with the normal in the hope that some way might be offered for a continuance of study in one of the American Missionary Association colleges, but stern necessity compels nearly all to enter at once the ranks of wage-earners, and they must-seek positions as teachers or in some other line of employment.
Several have won high standing as scholars and would distinguish themselves if they had the opportunity for continued study. One has already begun his course in pharmacy, and others are at some chosen line of more or less skilled labor.
The commencement exercises here, as everywhere, were full of interest and attracted an immense crowd. All who appeared before the public acquitted themselves well, and the commencement of 1900 passed into history as one of the most successful the Institute has known. Thus we sow beside all waters; what shall the harvest be?
WHAT OUR GRADUATES DO—AN INTERESTING EXAMPLE.
PRES. OSCAR ATWOOD, NEW ORLEANS.