The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1882-05-04
TIE GRADUATING CLASS OF 1882.

ieai py year our puDiic schools bec0m
| more and more Of a city pride and the grad
r uating exercises of each succeeding sprin.
more entertaining. From the half dozel
+ squatty frame buildings Of three or four year
ago, the children of our people now fill thre,
imposing brick edifices and the cry is for 9th
ers of the same style Our corps of teachers
has grown from two or three to fifteen or six
teen in number who, with the superintend
ent, rank with the best the State or West af
fords.
On last Friday night the largest audience
that has gathered in Wichita for year past
assembled in the Opera House to witness the
presentation OF diplomas TO the graduating
class OF the High School. Some time before
the hour for the exercises to begin every seat
was taken and nearly all standing room was
occupied. a squad of young men went to
the Baptist Church near by and brought
chairs for even the aisles and small vacant
spaces in the house, and still many people
had to go home without being able to wit
ness the exercises with any comfort
AT eight oclock five young men and eight
young ladies, accompanied by Miss Wood
and Prof. Copley, marched upon the platform
The Eagle Band played beautiful overture
entitled "A New Departure" and the Rev.
w. +. Harper opened the exercises with a
brief but appropriate prayer, asking that
strength of memory and clearness of mind
might be given to the performers, and inyok-
ing Coos blessing on all kindred educational
institutions.
The salutatory, ''0ur Public Schools BY
Miss Miss Anna r. Mulvey, was a very care
full production. II showed research among
statistics and a thoughtful digestion of the
facts CLEANED. 1t was well listened to. and
the sentiment that public schools were the
cure for crime and paupersm was applauded
to the echo.
Next came an Grafton. .'On the Threshold
by Matte Lynch. The thought was that she,
and the whole class, indeed. stood on the
threshold of new life, and she rchearsed
some OF the recent history of the class, and
let her fancy run free on what should be
hereafter. Miss Lynch is a very pleasing
speaker.
"The Liberty OF the Press" by Samuel S.
Casad, was very carefully prepared paper.
He showed his familiarity with English his.
tory and the progress which newspapers had
made in freeing themselves from official sur |
veiIlance.
The double quartet. consisting of Mrs. Ii. |
lmboden, Mrs. G c. Strong, Mrs w. r. Stem
and Mrs. l.. 6. A. Copley and Messrs II. In |
boden. James Davidson, II. Bliss and Frank |
Dale then sang the MAY Sang"
gu
was an essay OF more titan ordinary merit. |
and was read very distinctly and slowly by |
Miss Fanny Witbeck. She showed that hone |
was main spring in human life, and especial |
ly in the work of the student preparing for |
any profession. 1t was short essay. bur |
very much to the point
Ernest Z. Harris delivered an original ora
ton on "Woman's Rights" He took the
ground that women had too many rights al
ready, and that proper attention to home
duties was better than public life for most
women. His speech was often INTERRUPTED
with almost unbounded applause.
Miss Laura $. Dunning, young lady who
has won her way unaided, offered an original
poem, "Maria Theresa Flowers and an
plause told how well she had succeeded in
that most difficult OF all composition, pen
painting in poetry"
The motto OF the class, Labor Omnia Vim.
,et," was made the subje OF highly mer-
torious essay by Maria C. Dimes.
l.. l.. Abbott In the "Aliestones of Ameri-
AN History" brought out in vivid and
nasterly way formative events and luminous
IA, "A oata 4, |
n the temple Of time.
One OF the happiest and most pleasantly
eceiyed efforts of the evening was the little
original poem of Miss Carrie A. Fisher, en-
tiled "Queen Victoria" Her delivery was
n sympathy with her subject II
Chas. Miller's Grafton, "The Pioneer did
lonor to his head and heart, and "Tbe {
irowth Of Political Freedom by Il. b. .
'losser, very clear insight into the princ.
lie to which all nationality is rapidly tend
ng. Miss Beth NJ. Pope, who wrote the class /,
arewell song, also delivered an essay enti- ,
led "a Talk on Talking" which evidenced
o little thinking and tue philosophy.
When it came this year, to choosing the q
aiedictorian. the class, instead of eecting. I
equested Prof Copley to nominate, To (
ender his Judgment righteous one he took
be records Of the members Of the class for u
1ree years past and found that Miss Mary n
arshsli had won the most prizes and made
ne greatest advancement, and that to her
elonged the honor of the valedictory, which
re publish in full a
That the great audience was interested and {
elighted was made manifest in many WAYS, \
among which was the profusion a
choice flowers that were showered upon
ne stage At the feet Of each member Of the