The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-06-07
High School Commencement.

High School Commencement.
The commencement exercises of the
Red Wing High School took place in
Opera Hall on last Friday evening.
The audience commenced gathering at
an early honr, and by half.past seven
O'Clock every available place was filled.
A large proportion Of those present
were ladies and children, but all mani
tested considerable interest in the exer-
cises. The stage was occupied by the
scholars, the members of the school
board, officers of the city and several
other persons.
The first piece on the programme was
a "greeting song' by the public school
scholars, which was sung with appro-
pirate spirit and in good style. A
prayer was then offered by Rev. Dr..
Watson, Of the Protestant Episcopal
Church.
Mr.. G. G. Webster, rs the represen-
tative of the School Board was next in
PRODUCED, and made a well considered
address on the history, present condi.
ton and future prospects Of the public
schools Of Red Wing. He gave de-
scription of the old-time schools and the
buildings in which they were held.
Ten years ago they were removed to
the Central School building, and since
that time their improvement has been
rapid and constant until they are now
equal in grade and usefulness to those
Of any city in the State. The high
school was commenced four years ago
and its work has been highly beneficial,
although it's attendance has not been so
numerous as it should have been. Its
first graduating class is that which will
appear here this evening. He urged
that more scholars be sent to the high
school and, also, claimed that the CITY
needs more schools, and he appealed
to the citizens to stand by the board in
their efforts to extend and improve the
educational facilities CT the children of
this city and comphmented them highly
on what they had done already in this
direction.
A crowd of disorderly boys applaud
ed vigorously when Mr.. Webster conclu-
ded, and Prof. o. Whitman, Superin-
tendent Of the city schools, who acted
rs chairman and manager on the occa-
sion, administered to them a severe but
justly deserved rebuke, and the interrupt
ton was not repeated.
Misses Della Drew, Ada Child, Alice
Brown, Belle Williams, Elida Simmons,
and Minnie Adams then sang m appro.
pirate hymn, the other scholars joining
in the chorus. One stanza of this hymn
was sung by Miss Alice Brown alone,
and was remarkably we'll sung consid-
ering the age and size of the singer.
Miss Dora B. Mills, one Of the gradu-
ating class, was then introduced and
read an essay on ''The Philosophy of
Life" Miss Mills is young lady, ap-
parently not more than fifteen years of
age, and, except that her essay was too
lengthy, it was really remarkable pro-
duction, evincing profound and active
thought and attentive study. 1t was
well read and excited very general ad-
miration. On its conclusion she was
favored with several bouquets from
friends in the audience.
Master Gilman W. Smith, aged ap-
parently about seventeen years, was
next introduced and delivered IN ad.
dress on |'Pr"gress." This was an
able production, rather more so than
could be reasonably expected from one
Of the authors age. 1t showed too
great maturityo of thought and wider
range Of observation and experience than
is ordinarily possessed by man of full
age. But it was Objectionable on &C.
count of its great length. This render.
ed it tedious to the audience and embar-
RAISING to the speaker, who had Difficult
ty in retaining it all in his memory. It
was fault Of the teacher not to have
hadi it shortened. The delivery was
good, but would have been better had it
been \ little more energetic.
On the conclusion of this address, the
"Echo Song" was sung by the scholars
and was 40 excellent performance. The
graduating class was then addressed by
Mr.. G. g. Webster, who rendered them
the congratulations Of the Board of Ed
ucation and presented each of them
with diplomas. After which they were
addressed by Prof. E. r. Chamberlain,
the teacher Of the high school, who
made very scholarly speech. We
were about to term it FINISHED" but it
was not finished nearly as soon as it
might have been, and this unnecessary
prolixity prevented its being properly
appreciated by the audience, Of exert.
ing the beneficial influence which would
have resulted from its administration in
smaller doses. .t.:,, ..,-
Rev. Mr.. Burt. State Sunerintendent