Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1883-06-27
AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL.

AUSTIN HIGH. SCHOOL.
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES.
Seven Young Ladies and Three Young Cen
tlemen Comprise the Glass of '83.
1t was a beautiful sunset hour that
welcomed the patrons and friends of the
Austin High School to the commence
ment of 1883, at Jones hall, Thursday
evening last.
Long before the time every available
seat was occupied, and still the multitude
came thronging in until even the standing
room was densely packed, and many went
home unable to obtain entrance to the
hall. 1t seemed as though everybody was
there-ministers, lawyers, doctors, mer-
chants, fathers, mothers, the old and the
young, even to the bad boy with his ire
pressible whistle.
The rostrum was beautifully decorated
with flowers, while the class motto, "AS
the Work so the Reward, hung suspend
ed overhead. Promptly at O'clock the
exercises were commenced by a chorus
from the young people, followed by pray
er by Rev. w. E. Stanley.
Miss Edith Short delivered the saluta-
tory and first Grafton. Her subject was,
Reading"
We shall be able to give brief out
line only of these orations and essays.
Miss Short said Our school work is
ended, but we cannot say our education is
finished. AS long as we live we expect to
learn, not merely from observation and
h,pf h0n Vsy1,i
the places of the living instructors we
have had, and from whom we are now about
to part. We may not be able to travel in
foreign parts, but books of travel by dis
tinguished travellers will acquaint us with
the principal objects of interest in other
lands, and of the progress these countries
are making under the light of the 10Th
century. What kind of reading can be
more interesting than books of history?
As the stability of our Republican form
of government depends upon the intelli-
gence of the citizens, all should be in
formed about the history of other coun-
tries. Biography is most beneficial read
ing, as it stimulates one to perseverance
amid all the trials of life. Fiction is both
entertaining and profitable when it define
ates the characteristics of famous people,
as Luther. In the Scotia Family" To
profit by our reading we should read only
one book at a time, and that one so thor
oughly as to be able to give the principal
points. We should also have note book
and write out an outline for future. refer
ence. All reading should be thorough
and systematic. Much of our time we
give to reading books of little value, while
the gems of the press are offered us in
vain.
Miss Gertrude Sherwood followed with
an Grafton on ''National Songs" An
eminent French writer once said, LET
me make the songs of country and care
not who makes it's laws" That music
exerts powerful influence over the
man heart admits of abundant illustration.
The birds song palsied the uplifted arm
of the truant lad !; Moody and Sankey's
song, Ninety and Nine" was blessed to
the conversion of thousands In Scotland
the old Guard at Waterloo rushed to
glory and the grave singing the Marseilles
hymn. These national songs embody the
prevailing sentiment of their respective
nations. The desire of France for military
glory burns in the Marseilles hymn Eye
Sons of Freedom Wake to Glory" In
contrast with the French is the love of
country manifest in German songs
Loved Fatherland let Peace be Thine. "
The national songs of England, and those
of our own land, are similar in many re-
spects. The most popular song of Eng.
land is "God Save the Queen" expressive
of loyalty to the Queen and love of coun-
try, both noble sentiments. We hold OUR
own songs above all others, and as the
time draws near when we celebrate anoth-
er anniversary of our national independ
ence, such songs as ''The Battle Hymn of
the Republic" and the RED, White and
Blue, will resound through the land, and
to crown all every loyal heart joins with
the multitude in singing, ''My Country
It's of Thee"
Miss Katie Gibson followed with an
essay. Subject, "Class History" The
speaker gave recital of a pleasant fairy
vision, in which there fell into her pos.
session volume belonging to the patron
saint of fairy land, containing the Incl
dents of her rambles in the year 1870, in
which the fairy had met and chatted with
the members of the class of '83 in their
early homes. maggie, the classical,
was found at AshipOn, Wis; Charles,
the chemist" at Waterloo Eastward no
and not far from a group Of Green Noun.
tain boys, perusing an almanac, sat
Horace. the sage" Cora. our floist,
was gathering May flowers in Oxford,
Maine; In Peoria, ILL.,, willard, the
lawyer" was umpiring game of base.
ball. Returning to Minnesota, "Addie,
the Artist" was found sketching upon 8
fence Edith, the historian" was listen.
ing with unwonted interest to the story
of battle. A beautiful song called my
attention in the direction of little cir
swinging in and out among the trees, and
| saw Gertrude, the musician, Turning
away / discovered little maiden Olsen
tangling bit of cord with untlring zeal
and beheld Jennie, the persevering."
remember, as looked to see what my
own record was, that first saw the ligh,
of day in the former home of the rebe
General, Robert E. Lee. Average age Of
class, 18 years average weight, 1926.
"Humor: :" Humor differs from wit, which
is sudden and hasty. Wit laughs at things
humor with them. We find humor il
the literature of all countries. Cervantes
''Don Quixote" is considered the mos
perfect example. Dickens and Thackery
are the best English humorous authors O
the 10th century. American humorist
depend chiefly ON exaggeration, or tn
blending of solemn things and jests
Lowell is humorous in his description O
a negro $50 black that charcoal makes ,
chalk mark ON him." ARENAS Ware
produces laugh by observing that tn
highest part of hill is the top" Their,
are number of books of humor BY
American authors, of which Washington
Irving's ''Sketch Book" Lowell's "Bige
low Papers," Charles Browns "Artema
Ward, from which he derived his sobri
quet, and Mark Twain's t"Tom Sawyer
and 'InnQcents Abroad" are the bes
known. Josh Billings has introduced
new species of humor. The humor lie
mostly mo in the bad spelling. Thus he say
strait and narrar path he'd just bette
skirmish along in that ere line himself
Humor, in its place, is an influence TO
good, but in excessive use, it may do harm
Miss Cora ChadbourRe then forecas
the future destiny of her classmates
s T1FG 3 sR gaee S sfMsg s2gy sa
| teaching class of deeDlv intereSte,