The Indianapolis Journal

GIRLS' CLASSICAL SCHOOL.
Closing Exercises of the School Year-Dr. Thwing's Address.

The closing exercises of the Girls' Classical School were held last evening, at the Grand Opera House, before an audience of the parents and friends of the pupils. The graduates, Miss Ada L. Bruner, Miss Eleanor Byrns, Miss Myla Coburn, Miss Ethel Fletcher, Miss Amie Hayward, Miss Helen Holman, Miss Maud McConnell, Miss Anna Sickels, Miss Louise Spann, Miss Henrietta Von Suessmilch, Miss Evylyn Tomlinson, Miss Nelle Thornton and Miss Charlotte Wiles, were seated on the front of the stage, with Mrs. Sewall and a number of others at the right and the school at the back. Rev. N. A. Hyde made the invocation, and the school, under the direction of Mr. Arens, sang. The address of the evening was made by Charles F. Thwing, of the Western Reserve University, Cleveland, O. His subject was "The College Woman."

He compared the college woman of twenty-five years ago, when there were not eight thousand either preparing for or in college, with the twenty-five thousand who are now candidates for degrees. The popularity has now reached such a point that some of the colleges have had to close their doors, as there is no place for the women who want college education. It has been proven that women have the physical and intellectual ability for college work. There was a fear that college education would tend to make women mannish and strong-minded, but this has also been disproved. A college education for the girls makes life interesting, broad and picturesque. On one side life is monotonous and stupid with its similarity of work, but on the other side there is individuality and uniqueness. College education opens the eyes and lifts up the character. It enlarges and enriches, disciplines and cultures character. Dr. Thwing showed that the need for a college education for women was more necessary than for men, as the latter are thrown in contact with men and things, and in time passes a woman unless she has superior equipment in the beginning. A college education promotes leadership, and what this country needs is leaders. He cited the case of Congress, and, in fact, the whole country, and said that the strikes and other deplorable conditions emphasize the need of leaders to bring order out of the chaos. Women are needed for this work as much as men, and the men need the women. There is need of a voice to speak the wise word to the people. The college training gives power to weigh evidence. The college fits the woman for the home and for the school, and makes women noble, strong and worthy. It is necessary for every woman to have a college education to be well fitted for the value and interest of life. The college stands for a worthy agency for improving humanity.

Mrs. Sewall presented the prizes for declamation to Miss Etha Mae Hall and Miss Eloise Morton, and then gave the diplomas to the graduates with an affecting address. This year closes the first generation of the school. A girl entering when she is six years of age completes the course in twelve years. Miss Ethel Fletcher and Miss Helen Holman entered the school when it opened. Others of the class have been in the school from six to ten years. There have been eighty-nine graduated from the school and forty-two are college women. Seven of this year's class will probably go to college. With another song by the school the exercises closed, and those who wished went upon the stage and met the pupils and other guests. To-day the reunion of the alumni will be held at the Country Club, with luncheon at 1:30, and the school year will be finished.