Transcription:
Graduation Essay of Arabella O. Dean of Houston Country, Georgia.
Presented by her grand-daughter, Mrs. Lillian Estes David, of Macon, Georgia.
The Graduation Essay of Arabella O. Dean of Houston County, Georgia was read at her graduation from Wesleyan College in 1847*. She was the daughter of James Dean and Elizabeth Lowe Dean, and entered College as a boarding student at the age of nine. She was in the sixth class to graduate from Wesleyan College. Her sister, (Mrs. L. Q. C. Lamar)** graduated in the class of 1846***. After her graduation, Arabella Dean moved to Macon, and married John E. Jones, President of the Central of Georgia Bank and of Southwestern Rail Road. All of her daughters attended Wesleyan College (Elizabeth, Henrietta, Eva, Florence, and Nannie) as well as her grand-daughters (Belle and Mattie Collins, Lillian, Nannie, Evelyn and Claude Estes). All were members of the Philomathean, or Phi Mu Fraternity.
Essay
"O deem not, midst this worldly strife,
An idle art the Poet brings;
Let high philosophy control.
And sages calm the stream of life,
Tis he refines its fountain-springs,
The nobler passions of the soul," **** [page 1]
What is happiness? It is that state in which all the desires of man are satisfied where his long and expected anticipations have been fully realized, and he feels conscious of having in possession a combination of all these gratifications. But how few where we consider the great mass of mankind are now in the possession of all the earthly enjoyments. Let us examine that man who has apparently all the luxuries of life thrown around him in the enjoyment of health and strength whose domestic fireside presents an emblem of peace and quietude and ask him if he is happy? His response will be that so soon as he has obtained some object in the future which he hopes ere long to secure, that then contentment and happiness will be his. This response bears us out in the assertions that "Hope is happiness."
Men, whatever may be their peculiar avocation or circumstances assert that their lot is fraught with more difficulties, that they have more unbending obstacles to encounter than his fellow men, that not withstanding (sic) their many disappointments, although despair may have hovered over them with her dark wing. Hope with its heavenly power throws a gleam of sunshine in the gathered cloud whose very blackness presents in bolder relief the glorious arch which spans it in rainbow beauty giving promise of a brighter, happier, more beauteous day [page 2] to come. What is it that induces the author and the poet to continue their arduous efforts where their first productions have been discarded and criticised (sic) by others who are known to be their superiors and whose literary fame has established an acknowledged and unshaken reputation.
Is it not Hope that whispers in their hearts and bids them persevere with undiminished energies giving promise of something more flattering in the perspective and they make a greater effort with the prospect of success. Again we see persons journeying along the rugged mountain on whose towering top stands the temple of fame, throwing out bright scintillations to cheer their drooping spirits and guide them in their onward march promising a reward of no ordinary magnitude for their untiring exertions, dissipating the gloom that ever and anon intrudes itself in their pathway and bidding them persevere with unshaken courage to the goal of happiness.
Still barriers mighty and stupendous present themselves and when well nigh worn out with fatigue and oppressed with discouragement that most precious gem comes in as an auxiliary bids defiance to despondency and promises happiness as a future reward. Is it not Hope that points out the road that leads to success to the statesmen of our Country (sic). See them where their spirits are buoyant and the wheels of government are in successful operation triumph stands as a beacon light in the distance holding out inducements [page 3] for their enterprise and perseverance, but ere the zenith of their aspirations has been reached, clouds bleak and lurid in their character spring up their feelings droop and are depressed, their lives well nigh sacrificed in the adjustment of political difficulties, and despair is ready to claim them as its victims.
"Hope" ever ready and active points out the path to crown their efforts with success and gild their pathway with sunshine and happiness, and it is there we find the condition of mankind whether in prosperity or adversity ameliorated and cheered with The Hope of Happiness (sic).
When we consider the situation of the Outlaw (sic) who has entirely divested himself of all philanthropic feelings, a misanthrope at heart; regardless of the finer feelings of his nature, whose motto is gain irrespective of the manner in which it is accumulated, infringing upon the rights of his fellow men, disturbing the peace and harmony of society and finally destroying the lives of his countrymen, it is presumable at least that his conscience has become seared and hardened as adamant (sic) yet ask that man and he will tell you that there is yet a glimmering ray of Hope left, he cherishes it as if it were the last vital spark and looks forward not doubting but it will yet lead him on to the goal of happiness.
Again, we perceive a man who has been charged and found guilty of crimes of the deepest dye. The sentence of judgment has been pronounced [page 4] upon him, alone and deserted he finds himself locked within the walls of a prison, shut out from all the enjoyments of society, no gentle voice to soothe him with its cheering melody, no hand to smooth the rugged pillow of his dungeon, his conscience lashes him, he pictures the horror of eternity and although his friends may have rejected and his foes vilified him still Hope (sic) offers a palliative and there is yet some light amidst the gloom. Our subject is applicable to men in every vocation to the mechanic, the planter, the speculator the erudite and the unlearned.
How often do we see persons entering the field of speculation regardless of the consequences attending it, the desire of gain carries with it an influence that throws a bright lustre (sic) upon every object.
Their operations are unlimited, they look forward with eager expectations to the day when their immense anticipations will be realized and the harvest of their operations be golden, and although misfortunes apparently heavy may come upon them and dampen their energies, still Hope (sic) remains and by its potent influence, they divest themselves of lethargy and are again pressed forward seeking happiness though in the distance. See the planters upon whose success rests the prosperity and even life of mankind. They too are surrounded by difficulties the sudden changes of the weather hang heavily upon their clouded brows. The storms of darkness rage exciting fearful apprehensions, no soothing representations to awaken their latent feelings of [page 5] philosophy and when dejected and palsied with the anguish of dread and disaster a ray of Hope (sic) springs up in the western horizon, tranquilizes their lacerated feelings and promises a rich reward for all their labors. What stronger demonstration is necessary to show the truth of our position than the American Revolution? Turn to the pages of history and see the onerous burdens and heavy taxes that were heaped upon our forefathers by tyrannical oppression.
Although the power that oppressed our Country (sic) swept the Ocean (sic) with her fleet whose sails flapped in every breeze and whose keels ploughed every wave, although she covered the land with disciplined hosts of armed men who had triumphed in the battle fields of Europe. Our fathers nerved by the justice of their cause, believing that right gives might and buoyed by the bright Hope of Liberty and Happiness (sic), shouldered the implements of warfare, left their homes and peaceful firesides, subjected themselves to all the inconveniences of warfare's rough campaigning and marched under the unfurled banner that won waves over our republic, declaring Themselves free and independent.
Amidst all the toils of the march, all the deprivations and sufferings of the camp, and all the dangers of the battle, they were sustained by Hope, bright Hope and in the end achieved for our Country (sic) Liberty (sic) and Glory (sic). [page 6]
Notes:
*Arabella O. Dean graduated from Wesleyan Female College in 1845.
**The second wife of L. Q. C. Lamar
***Graduated in the class of 1844
****Taken from Thomas Campbell's Ode to the Memory of Burns, 1777-1844.
Presented by her grand-daughter, Mrs. Lillian Estes David, of Macon, Georgia.
The Graduation Essay of Arabella O. Dean of Houston County, Georgia was read at her graduation from Wesleyan College in 1847*. She was the daughter of James Dean and Elizabeth Lowe Dean, and entered College as a boarding student at the age of nine. She was in the sixth class to graduate from Wesleyan College. Her sister, (Mrs. L. Q. C. Lamar)** graduated in the class of 1846***. After her graduation, Arabella Dean moved to Macon, and married John E. Jones, President of the Central of Georgia Bank and of Southwestern Rail Road. All of her daughters attended Wesleyan College (Elizabeth, Henrietta, Eva, Florence, and Nannie) as well as her grand-daughters (Belle and Mattie Collins, Lillian, Nannie, Evelyn and Claude Estes). All were members of the Philomathean, or Phi Mu Fraternity.
Essay
"O deem not, midst this worldly strife,
An idle art the Poet brings;
Let high philosophy control.
And sages calm the stream of life,
Tis he refines its fountain-springs,
The nobler passions of the soul," **** [page 1]
What is happiness? It is that state in which all the desires of man are satisfied where his long and expected anticipations have been fully realized, and he feels conscious of having in possession a combination of all these gratifications. But how few where we consider the great mass of mankind are now in the possession of all the earthly enjoyments. Let us examine that man who has apparently all the luxuries of life thrown around him in the enjoyment of health and strength whose domestic fireside presents an emblem of peace and quietude and ask him if he is happy? His response will be that so soon as he has obtained some object in the future which he hopes ere long to secure, that then contentment and happiness will be his. This response bears us out in the assertions that "Hope is happiness."
Men, whatever may be their peculiar avocation or circumstances assert that their lot is fraught with more difficulties, that they have more unbending obstacles to encounter than his fellow men, that not withstanding (sic) their many disappointments, although despair may have hovered over them with her dark wing. Hope with its heavenly power throws a gleam of sunshine in the gathered cloud whose very blackness presents in bolder relief the glorious arch which spans it in rainbow beauty giving promise of a brighter, happier, more beauteous day [page 2] to come. What is it that induces the author and the poet to continue their arduous efforts where their first productions have been discarded and criticised (sic) by others who are known to be their superiors and whose literary fame has established an acknowledged and unshaken reputation.
Is it not Hope that whispers in their hearts and bids them persevere with undiminished energies giving promise of something more flattering in the perspective and they make a greater effort with the prospect of success. Again we see persons journeying along the rugged mountain on whose towering top stands the temple of fame, throwing out bright scintillations to cheer their drooping spirits and guide them in their onward march promising a reward of no ordinary magnitude for their untiring exertions, dissipating the gloom that ever and anon intrudes itself in their pathway and bidding them persevere with unshaken courage to the goal of happiness.
Still barriers mighty and stupendous present themselves and when well nigh worn out with fatigue and oppressed with discouragement that most precious gem comes in as an auxiliary bids defiance to despondency and promises happiness as a future reward. Is it not Hope that points out the road that leads to success to the statesmen of our Country (sic). See them where their spirits are buoyant and the wheels of government are in successful operation triumph stands as a beacon light in the distance holding out inducements [page 3] for their enterprise and perseverance, but ere the zenith of their aspirations has been reached, clouds bleak and lurid in their character spring up their feelings droop and are depressed, their lives well nigh sacrificed in the adjustment of political difficulties, and despair is ready to claim them as its victims.
"Hope" ever ready and active points out the path to crown their efforts with success and gild their pathway with sunshine and happiness, and it is there we find the condition of mankind whether in prosperity or adversity ameliorated and cheered with The Hope of Happiness (sic).
When we consider the situation of the Outlaw (sic) who has entirely divested himself of all philanthropic feelings, a misanthrope at heart; regardless of the finer feelings of his nature, whose motto is gain irrespective of the manner in which it is accumulated, infringing upon the rights of his fellow men, disturbing the peace and harmony of society and finally destroying the lives of his countrymen, it is presumable at least that his conscience has become seared and hardened as adamant (sic) yet ask that man and he will tell you that there is yet a glimmering ray of Hope left, he cherishes it as if it were the last vital spark and looks forward not doubting but it will yet lead him on to the goal of happiness.
Again, we perceive a man who has been charged and found guilty of crimes of the deepest dye. The sentence of judgment has been pronounced [page 4] upon him, alone and deserted he finds himself locked within the walls of a prison, shut out from all the enjoyments of society, no gentle voice to soothe him with its cheering melody, no hand to smooth the rugged pillow of his dungeon, his conscience lashes him, he pictures the horror of eternity and although his friends may have rejected and his foes vilified him still Hope (sic) offers a palliative and there is yet some light amidst the gloom. Our subject is applicable to men in every vocation to the mechanic, the planter, the speculator the erudite and the unlearned.
How often do we see persons entering the field of speculation regardless of the consequences attending it, the desire of gain carries with it an influence that throws a bright lustre (sic) upon every object.
Their operations are unlimited, they look forward with eager expectations to the day when their immense anticipations will be realized and the harvest of their operations be golden, and although misfortunes apparently heavy may come upon them and dampen their energies, still Hope (sic) remains and by its potent influence, they divest themselves of lethargy and are again pressed forward seeking happiness though in the distance. See the planters upon whose success rests the prosperity and even life of mankind. They too are surrounded by difficulties the sudden changes of the weather hang heavily upon their clouded brows. The storms of darkness rage exciting fearful apprehensions, no soothing representations to awaken their latent feelings of [page 5] philosophy and when dejected and palsied with the anguish of dread and disaster a ray of Hope (sic) springs up in the western horizon, tranquilizes their lacerated feelings and promises a rich reward for all their labors. What stronger demonstration is necessary to show the truth of our position than the American Revolution? Turn to the pages of history and see the onerous burdens and heavy taxes that were heaped upon our forefathers by tyrannical oppression.
Although the power that oppressed our Country (sic) swept the Ocean (sic) with her fleet whose sails flapped in every breeze and whose keels ploughed every wave, although she covered the land with disciplined hosts of armed men who had triumphed in the battle fields of Europe. Our fathers nerved by the justice of their cause, believing that right gives might and buoyed by the bright Hope of Liberty and Happiness (sic), shouldered the implements of warfare, left their homes and peaceful firesides, subjected themselves to all the inconveniences of warfare's rough campaigning and marched under the unfurled banner that won waves over our republic, declaring Themselves free and independent.
Amidst all the toils of the march, all the deprivations and sufferings of the camp, and all the dangers of the battle, they were sustained by Hope, bright Hope and in the end achieved for our Country (sic) Liberty (sic) and Glory (sic). [page 6]
Notes:
*Arabella O. Dean graduated from Wesleyan Female College in 1845.
**The second wife of L. Q. C. Lamar
***Graduated in the class of 1844
****Taken from Thomas Campbell's Ode to the Memory of Burns, 1777-1844.
Category:
8: Communication Artifact
Date:
1845
Dates of Creation:
1845
Object ID:
COMP1
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