Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-06-28
NORMAL SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT.
Seventeenth Annual Commencement OF
the State Normal School, held at
Platteville, Wis.,, In the City
Hall, Wednesday June %,
1856.

Commencement day came in rather
dark and cloudy and it was feared by
many that it would be stormy, and that
many who desired to attend the gradu-
ating exercises from the country and
other towns would be unable to. Hap
PLY, however, before the time for open
ing the hall arrived the sun appeared in
all its splendor, and people flocked into
the city as they only do on similar oc-
caslons. The hall was opened about
nine o'clock and in less than quarter
of an hour every seat in the large as
sembly room was filled, while scores of
people had to stand up. Standing
room was in great demand and before
the time for the beginning of the exer-
cises it was all utilized indeed if more
had been available it would have been
used, as mahy went away unable to get
near enough to hear with any degree
of satisfaction. The front of the stage
was beautifully decorated with flowers.
Miss Felt had charge of the decorations,
and one needed but to glance at the
stage to see that the work could not
have been put under more perfect
supervision. The flowers were con-
tributed by the citizens, who are ever
ready to respond when they can in any
way contribute to the success of the
occasion. Had we time and space we
would give more extended description
of the beautiful decoration, but will be
content with saying that they were such
as lent beauty, refinement and deli
cacy to the occasion.
Promptly at $3.50 o'clock, the time
appointed for the opening of the pro-
gram of exercises, the orchestra began
the Overture-La Tyre Dor, by Her.
mann. The orchestra was composed of
Frank Thomas, violin; William Eggars,
fute Miss Myrtle Goodfellow, piano.
''La Tyre Dor is fine selection and
the Interpretation and rendition of it
by the orchestra were indeed admirable.
Rev. Henry Goodsell offered an earn
est prayer, invoking Divine blessing on
the class about to be graduated.
Music. trio and, chorus, Lift thine
Eyes" from Elijah, came next under
the direction of Prof. d. Z. Gardner
The selection itself was very fine, but
the exquisitelY delicate manner in which
it was rendered made it one of the most
pleasing numbers ever listened to by a
Platteville audience. As musical di-
rector Prof. Gardner has certainly few
equals. The most careful critic can
find no fault in his Interpretation of
every piece he has presented here, while
his handling of the chorus has always
been admirable. One cannot hear his
chorus of singers without feeling that
every point has been brought out per-
fectly, that the expression has been in
consonance with the dictates of the
composer and that, as one aptly express
ed it, at means something
The first literary exercise of the class
was by Miss Mary E. Campbell, and
the subject of her essay was 1.-The Mis-
sion of the Beautiful" Miss Campbell
appeared perfectly at ease and read in
a clear, distinct tone of voice, which
was plainly understood by the audience.
Her handling of the subject was in the
strictest harmony with the subject,
the thoughts being well arranged and
clothed in the most appropriate lam
guage. The desirability of just ap-
probation of the beautiful was plainly
demonstrated, and the necessity of re-
cognizing and cultivating the love of
the beautiful, which must be found i'm
the complete existence, fully brought
out Miss Campbell could certainly
have made no more appropriate selec-
ton of subject. and when she retired
received well merited applause.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. a Source of
Civilization. by James NJ. Ferebee. came
next. He introduced the subject by
saying that when the ancients had con-
quered nation they made agriculture
the basis of their prosperity. He also
referred to the agriculture of the Mexi-
cans when Cortez landed among them,
and gave glowing description of our
agricultural advantages. The secret of