Page 72 - 1923 Hartridge

The June Dance, 1922
We remember our June Dance last year with a great deal of pleasure. The auditorium was decorated by the hard-working Juniors, in orange and white, the Senior colors. This color scheme was carrieci out in every
detail. Three of the lower floor class rooms were fitted out comfortably with couches and standing lamps, and the porch outside was hung with Japanese lanterns.
The dance began at nine with a Plainfield orchestra for music, and continued until a late hour when refreshments were served. At half­ past one the music stopped and good-byes were sadly said.
Commencement, 1922
Looking back at last year's commencement 1 have a confused memory of flower-laden tables, and heavy white crepes and satins mingled in the crowded reception rooms and intermingled again on the stage. I remem-
her that Dr. Zelie spoke, and I remember most clearly of all Miss Hart- ridge’s advice and farewell to her departing Seniors, which she expressed
in these words:
Members of the Graduating Class:
(iThere are few gifts that I would not wish for you this morning, if wishes would put those gifts within your power. But since, in this century, wishing of such a nature is regarded rightly, as but an idle pastime, I shall choose, instead, today a quality that 1 want for you, and I shall try
to make you want it for yourselves.
That quality is imagination. Not the imagination that would lead
you to picture vainly things as they are not and as they can never be; but the imagination that would enable you to picture truly, from things as they are, things as they will be.
The re is an idea abroad among us that imagination goes hand in hand with a quality of vagueness, that it has no place in everyday life, that it
forms no part of the equipment of the competent and efficient man of affairs. That idea prevails only among the thoughtless. When competent and efficient men of affairs possess, also, the gift of Imagination they
become great statesmen and great leaders.
((It stands to reason that if the mind’s eye pictured to us with com-
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