The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-03-30

THE graduating exercises at the Second
Ward School House, on Friday last,
were very interesting, and enjoyed by
one of the largest and most intelligent
audiences which ever assembled there
on any occasion. The exercises were
opened by Mr.. Hosea Barns, Principal,
who gave an interesting review of the
statistics of that school for a few years
back and showed, from figures at hand,
wonderful increase in attendance and
no less surprising decrease in cases OF
hardness, as Will be observed when we
state that during the year Immediately
preceding the one in which Mr.. Barns
assumed control of the school there were
4, 500 cases Of hardness recorded. Dnr-
ing the last school year there were less
than 200 cases-a showing to which he
is justified in pointing with pride. He
also referred to the moral growth of the
school, and showed that the scholars in
attendance were. more gentlemanly and
lady-like in their association with each
years, and ended by eulogizing the able
corps of teachers and the scholars for
their efforts in this direction as well as
for the evidences of increased learning.
At the close of his remarks the audi
ence was favored with some fine vocal
music, with organ accompaniment, by
half dozen scholars from Miss Barr's
room, followed in turn by Miss Elite
Markham, who rccited ssThe Scottish
Weaver" to the evident delight of her
hearers. The recitation, from it's charac-
ter, was difficult. but Miss Markham
brought her fine voice so completely I'M
der control that the varied scenes were
described with life-like vividness, and had
a telling effect in the many eyes to which
the dampness would come in spite of
them.
An essay on ''History, read by Miss
Lizzio Merrill, was well received. It
brought the important events of the
past 6,000 years together in very concise
form, and was an evidence of study and
considerable research on her part.
MIR. Walker, County Superintendent,
was introduced and in the course of his
remarks said many things which could
be acted upon by both teachers and par
ents to great advantage His remarks
showed him to be deeply Interested in
the success of our public schools, and
All earnest worker to that end
A song, ''All Hail, Smiling Spring."
was evidently selected before the decid-
ed setback to the arrival of that season
came in the form of a December SHOW
storm. The weather did not interfere
with its perfect rendition by seven young
ladies, however
Miss Mary Nelson read an excellent
essay on Industry" in the course of
which she pointed to the wonderful
transformations observable on land and
sea, all brought about by the industry
of insects and plants, and made her es-
say instructive and interesting to great
degree.
A recitation-'Good Bye"-was rem
dered in charming manner by Miss
Katy Fellows, a young lady who ranked
as one of the most intelligent of the nu-
merous scholars of her age who attended
the last term of the school. This was
her "last day in our midst, as she goes
from here to take up her residence with
relatives in Minnesota.
At the conclusion of her recitation Mr..
Barns, In few very appropriate remarks
presented to Miss Mary Nelson her di-
ploma, she having finished the course of
studies pursued here. We shall be sur
prised if Miss Nelson is not heard from
in the role of finished scholar-a grad
uate from the highest institutions of this
state at least-in the pursuit of which
education she will be accompanied by
the good wishes of numerous friends
who know and appreciate her.
The exercises closed with song by
Miss Gertie Sibree, accompanied on the
organ by Prof. Bielieng. All who have
heard Miss Sibree sing can imagine with
what pleasure she was listened to-espe-
cially as the song in question presented
an opportunity for the full exercise of
her magnificent voice.