_To the Class of '91._
Ladies and gentlemen, I come to welcome you in the name of the young
ladies of the graduating class. The entertainment this evening, owing
to your presence here which is a source of encouragement to them, will
show you what they have learned and what they have been doing during
the past Winter and Spring, and what we have been doing to help them
in the good cause and vocation which they have chosen. Thomas Carlyle
once asked this question: "What can a woman do?" Well, I think if
Thomas Carlyle was alive to-day and could go through the offices of
the merchants and business men and architects and lawyers of this
city, he would be willing to confess that at least one profession had
been taken possession of by woman. If he could go through the lower
part of this city into any of our offices he would look with wonder
to see a young lady employed as a typewriter and stenographer, as they
almost universally are. In political economy the weakest go to the
wall. Well, it is said that they do, but in this case I think they
have gone to the front. To illustrate that I will tell you a little
experience of my own. Some two or three years ago I went into a
gentleman's office on some business, and made a statement to him. He
said, "Stop! I want that taken down." He called a young man sitting at
the desk and said, "Take this statement down." The stenographer was
about six feet tall, built strong proportionately, and he sat down to
take my statement. One of the first things that struck me was that it
was a pretty light business for a man of his size. The next time I
went into that office, the stenographer was again called to take my
statement, but it was a young lady this time, instead of that great
hulking man. I spoke to my friend about it and he said, "I have a
young lady now and I find she does a great deal better than a man. Her
work is more perfect; more satisfactory." In this case the weakest had
gone to the wall! The stronger intellect had forced the weaker to the
wall.
Now, young ladies, I congratulate you on the success you have
attained in the school in your work, and would like to say a few words
to you with regard to your future career. When you go into the
employment of some merchant, banker or lawyer, recollect one thing,
that you are his confidential clerk,--taken into his confidence,--and
what you hear there and write there must not be carried out of his
door. When you go out, leave it behind you, and you will always be
successful. And now, I congratulate you again upon your success here,
and hope for a bright future for you and hope you will be successful
in the vocation which you have chosen.