Nebraska advertiser., 1878-06-06
BR0WNVILLE HIGH SCHOOL.
Closing Exercises, Thursday Evening,
May 30th, 1873.

evening last, were highly creditable
to the managers and teachers Of the
school, honorable to the graduating
class. and most satisfactory TO friends
patrons, and the community. This
was the first graduating class of the
school. The members were, in the
order named-Miss CELIA FURNAS,
Miss BERTHA CHURCH, Miss FANNIE
CHATF1ELD, and Mr.. BENJAMIN LO-
RANCE. The "Salutatory" was by
Miss Furnas, and the "Valedictory"
by Mr.. Torrance. The department OF
this class, the character of their grad
uating essays, and the excellent and
forcible style in which they
were delivered, won the admir-
alton and applause Of the crowded
audience in attendance, as was
shown by the deluge of bOquets
thrown on the stage as each speaker
closed. We could not, If we would,
distinguish any one Of the class as to
merit In any respect. All were su-
perb. That our readers who were not
present, may know more than we can
write, we solicited from the class cop
les of the addresses of each, and pub
lish them In full IN this issue of our
paper. They are worth reading and
preservation.
Prof. Mckenzie closed the exercises
with an address to the class and a
word to the audience, In which he
spoke with that stirring zeal and en-
thusiasm for which be has so long
been characterized as a leading edu-
Gator in this State. His address we
also publish.
The musical exercises intersperse d
with others of the evening, were ex-
ceedingly fine. sustaining the reputa-
ton Brownville has for home musical
talent. The participants were the
lady teachers and pupils of the school,
assisted by the volunteer services OF
Miss Cora Gates, J. G. McNaughton,
and Prof. E. NJ. Lippitt. Seldom has
our people been favored with such
splendid musical rendition as on this
occasion. 1t is no disparagement to
other participants to say that the solo
-"Old Crow"-by Miss Eva O'Pelt,
was executed in an extraordinary
manner for one Uf her age. She
evinced rare and peculiar volume of
voice and native talent, as we'll as the
excellent vocal altraining by Miss Gates.
After the graduating exercises, a
pleasant surprise was presented by
Miss Balm, the principals assistant in
the High School department. She
advanced to the front of the stage,
and announced that she had been
furnished by friends of the school
and graduating class, with the letter
she would read, and the presents she
would now make. The following was
read by Miss Balm, after which she
presented each of the graduating class
with a splendid solid gold finger ring:
We, the young ladies. present you with
these rings as token OF our esteem for your
earnest and persistent pursuit of knowl-
edge; and while we are proud that few Of
our members, by their untiring diligence.
have ascended the hill of science so high as
TO receive the highest honors that our school
can confer upon you, rest assured that we,
who remain, inspired by your noble exam
pie, Will toll on until we too shall drink deep
at the fountain of knowledge. Accept these,
not for their intrinsic value, but as memen-
tos of our high esteem. We trust that oil
your actions and impulses will ever be as
the gold from which these rings are made.
And may they also serve as finger boards,
directing your minds back to the happy days
spent In the Brownville school.
Professor Mckenzie responded, in
behalf of the class, in the following
remarks:
Permit me in behalf OF the Graduates to
return to you, and through you TO the dom
ors OF these pleasant souvenirs, the sincere
and heartfelt thanks of the recipients.
What memories cluster about the ring.
How many present this evening have pre-
cious remembrances that are very dear and
lasting connected with IL. History and BIZ
ography are full of Incidents. 1t is said that
by some means William Penn had obtained
a diamond ring that formerly belonged to
Charles l. This ring had been kept as sa-
cred relic OF the unfortunate king and had
been transmitted from father 10 son as a pre-
cious heirloom. When Penn desired to get
q new Charter for his Colony. he presented
this ring to James II. This simple present
did much. no doubt, toward securing the lib
eral terms granted I'm the Charter. How Oft
ten has the ring been a link in the golden
chain of friendship, and tonight this little
token of esteem Will add strength to the
chain already strong.
AS an emblem OF eternity 10 fifty typifles
the enduring nature of the friendship that
shall ever bind the first graduates OF Brown
VILE school to the friends who have SO gen.
erously remembered them.
The Brownville Silver Cornet Band,
always ready to aid on such occasions,
and as an evidence of their apprecia-
tion of educational efforts, favored the
audience with several we'll executed
and appropriate outdoor pieces Of in
music as the finale of the
evening.
Altogether this was one of the most
events in the history of
he city and our schools.
During the evening the following
telegram was received from the Nor
nal School:
Peru SCHOOL, May 80.
TO Graduating Class, Brownville:
Normal Class 1873 sends compliments, and
wishes you all abundant success.
NELLIE HARMON,
ALICE EMERSON,
JNo. WNTERs,
7. w. BLACKBURN.
SALUTATORY.
BY MISS CELIA FURNAs.
FRIENDS, PATRONS AND STUDENTS:-In be- |
lalf of the graduating class of the Brown
lille High School. 1 welcome you to these ex-