Page 78 - 1936
P. 78

  COMMENCEMENT — 1935
Friday, June seventh, nineteen hundred thirty-five, brought to seventeen girls who were to receive their diplomas, a memorable day. In the morning the auditorium was filled for the graduation exercises.
Dr. Moment began with a prayer and then introduced the speaker, Canon Harold Belshaw.
After Canon Belshaw’s interesting address Miss Hartridge spoke to the graduat  ing class in these words:
Members of the Graduating Class:
Not long ago 1 heard for the first time that a ray of light has been found of such a nature that when certain objects, not hitherto considered fluorescent, are exposed to it they assume— or perhaps reveal—colors of almost unbelievable beauty and brilliance. Dull stones, picked up at random from the roadside, may become sources of wonder and delight, diamonds of purest water may glow with such intensity that it is difficult to believe that they can be touched with safety. Almost more strange than the effect of the ray on some stones is its lack of effect on others that had previously seemed no different.
The man who told me of the ray is an expert jeweler. In his work he deals with gems. To me his story was thrilling. When he said that as he watched a necklace of twenty-two perfectly matched brilliants only six stirred and glowed with magic color; when he cried out that a jewel he had long prized showed such fire that never, never now could he part with it, I was suddenly filled with sadness for the stones that were found wanting, that had missed, as it were, their supreme chance.
No jeweler has, as yet, been able to change the quality of his gems, and no inanimate object can of its own volition acquire any quality.
In our work we deal with human beings. Not only are we striving always, as far as in us lies, to develop in our material the qualities of unselfishness, integrity, and strength, but every teacher is forever looking for the light that will reveal hidden loveliness. I be  lieve that at one time or another it illuminates each one of us. And I have come to feel that if we would respond to it w;e must have within us, no matter what other qualities we may possess, a deep joy in life and in this beautiful world, a generosity of spirit, and an abounding, inexhaustible kindliness for others.
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