The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-06-04
High school,

good wishes.
| High school.
| The annual commencement exercises OF the
Ottawa township high school took place In the
Congregational church on last evening. As usu
al, the audience was an immense one, complete
ly filing the house, and many stayed away, be
lleving they could not get into the house. The
decorations were quite handsome Over the mot
to, mo Depths without Digging" in white on q
green ground, and stretching across the wall be
hind the class was 'Sl, similarly made, and from
either end Of the motto was hung wreath In from,
OF the stage was a pillar Of flowers, while bou
quets were plentifully distributed along the rail
The class were dressed in white with natural
flower ornaments. To the music OF Baldw.n's
orchestra, they entered the room, taking places
on the stage. The class was as follows: Alice
l.. Ames, Winnie V. Childs, Maud Fellows, Me
dora Fry, Carrie NJ. Fuller, John II. Finley Car
rie j. Glover, Julia Leland, Julia X. Mekeel, Eva
L. Nicely, Alice J. Phillips.
Messrs. Phil CLARK, Ed. Cameron, Ed. Miller
Lewis Lewis, Tom Lynch and Dwight McNair
acted as ushers.
The Sautatory, awarded for best average exam
nation, was read by Miss Carrie Fuller, to which
was added an essay, pilgrim Mothers"
The Salutatory compared life to a ship, and
the commencement to the launching OF the ship
1t was very nicely written address and well
read.
The charms of "Friendship" were related by
Alice Ames.
Graduating Essays" by Miss Childs, was an
ironical pntf Of graduating learning, with wit
ty description Of how such an essay is written.
Then came "Unrecorded Heroes" by Maud
Fellows, plea for the good deeds OF unknown
heroes
Woven Threads" by Miss Fry, told us how
the threads of life are woven into the completed
web-one of the most elegantly written essays OF
the evening.
"Are the Planets Inhab.edW Miss Glover an
swered, by sending an expedition to explore the
sOar system, who report some most wonderful
customs and characteristics as belonging TO the
IcurOus inhabitants of the various planets. The
worlds beliefs on the subject were then briefly
stated, especially those of the astrologers.
"The Workmen fall, but the Work goes on "
was by Miss Mckeel. Tie Cologne cathedral
was many generations in building; the workmen
fell one by one, the architects fell one by one,
but the work was at last finished. SO we of to-
day reap the benefits of the accumulated labors
Of the generations gone before, each continuing
the work of the preceding. We to-day drop the
seed for others to cultivate, and still others to
see ripen.
The Ship is launched, where is the Porty" 10y
Miss Phillips, was enquiry, by a familiar com
,parison, what becomes of him or her who te@ins
the voyage of life; embodying certain sugges
tons, after showing why many are wrecked, foi
the successful completion of the voyage of life.
"The Mists are Rolling Away" vas the sub
Iiect Of the Grafton of John II. Finley, the only
boy in the class. Man is weak, but he is pro
crossing. History shows how he was in the
lpast; to-day shows the changes. The future
looks still brighter. AS we study mans pro
grcss, who shall put a limit 10 his advancement
in the generations to come-in learning OF
liberty?
The "Class History" was read by Miss Eva
Neeey. The changes during the past four years
1.-THE change from the old Sd ward building to
the church, thence to the new building in Jan.
1850; the skirmishes to Deer Park the attacks on
the gum stores, social entertainments, &c, were
duly noted, and duly commented on to the en-.
Ijoyment of the audience. The characteristics of
the class were witily touched upon-in verse.
Statistics: weight, 1891; heaviest, 100; lightest,
30 Length 63 feet; talest, 5 # 91G; shortest,
5 IT, 3; Ages, 1876 years; oldest, 20 yrs. 10 days;
Youngest. Is yrs. 5 mos. Is days. Four are
Methodsts, Baptists, 2 Congregaticr alsts,
Presbyterian. Seven are Americans, 2 Irish,
German and one French. Thirty-fve entered The
class, II graduate, and one is deau.
The prophecy" by Miss Leland was very en-
Itertalring, but would be murdered by condensa
tion. 1t was wei read, and took" as well.
Mr.. f. f. Bull then presented the diplomas with
an appropriate address.
Prof Boltwood suggested the best way to see
what the school is doing would be visits by the
puhc-not 10 Of whom do SO.
The NaledictOry, awarded by vote Of the class,
was given by John Finley, in happy manner
when the audience dispersed