The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-05-25
GLAD GRADUATES.
Successful Commencement Exercises at
the Opera House Wednesday Night.
The Normal Adds Thirty-Nine to
it's Alumni.

The State Norman school sent ont the
largest graduating class in lis history
last evening. Thirty-nine bright young
people received the scraps of paper that
declare them competent 10 teach in the
schools of the state. The class contains
some fine talent and is, as Il whole, fully
up to the average of those of previous
years. The Normal faculty is proud of
the class and has reason to be il those
who appeared upon last night g program
are fair opponents of the intelligence
and ability of the entire class. The ex-
ercises passed off IN manner highly
satisfactory to all concerned and the
immense audience went away thorough
ly pleased with the entertainment.
The roster of the class is as follows:
ADVANCED COURSE.
Maria j. Boland. Sibley; Frank D. Davis,
Mank alto; Lucy r. Durham. Nicollet; Jean A.
Flittic, Madelia; Marcus FrcdericksOn, Ma
della; Petra Gjems. RushfOrd; Lucinda E.
Harvey, TiyOli; Ole X. Haugen; Albert Lea {;
Francis L. Hudson, Fargo, ID T Henrietta F.
johnson, st. Peter; Emma j. Johnston, Owa-
tOnna; Fannie Johnston, Owatonna: George
J: Keenan,, South Bend; Kitty s. MoultOn,
Root, Redwood Falls; Charles Schellbach,
Mankato; Jennie s. ShOrtt, Austin; Darwin
L. Stockley, Pipestone; Fanny F. White,
jamestown, ID. TO
ELEMENTARY COURSE.
Louie ID. Barnes, Vernon Center; E. Jennie
Bennett, Winnebago Civ; Ida N. Bunse,
MankatO; Z. Luella Darr. Mankato; Belle
Goodwin, Mankato; Maud Graves, Vernon
Center; Angie X. Hern, Clark, ID. t.; Joseph
ire F. Hughes. Lake Crystal; Elias J. Lien,
Deleyan; Robert LoOsemCre, Huntley; Julia
G. McDonough, st. James; Lewis p. Mueller
Mankato; Nettie Peterson, WOrthngton
William Schellbach, Mankato; Flora A.
SpIcer, Watertown. ID. T.: Lille NJ. Turrittin,
Kasota; Cora b. Webster, Mankato; Clara L.
Wilkins, MankatO.-l9.
AS usual on such occasions the crowds
began to arrive soon after seven o'clock
Fashion was laid aside and there was q
rivalry to be first at the Opera House
instead of last. Indeed, those who did
not put In an appearance by a quarter
OF eight found nearly every seat taken
and and only the back rows of the gal
lery still available. Those who had
purchased reserved seats were thorough,
ly convinced of their wisdom. Threat.
ening weather had no effect i'm keeping
the people at home. The hack lines
reaped harvest and were in constant
demand. By eight O'Clock fully four.
teen hundred people had assembled.
The stage decorations were not elab.
crate but they were tasty and showed
good judgment in arrangement. A
large and beautiful bank of Towering
geraniums occupied each of the lower
boxes. The upper right-hand box con.
tanned a transparency, "Class of 49,
same, translated, appeared in the OPP
posite box, reading Ito be, rather than
to SEEM" On little table on the left
reposed the coveted sheep skins.
The Germania orchestra struck up
Herrman's "Arion Overture" at 8:15 and
played the piece through i'm a manner
that well showed the artistic skill and
musical ability OF its members.
The curtain then rolled up on a lovely
scene. The whole rear of the stage was
occupied by grand chorus of one hun
dred young ladies and gentlemen on
seats raised in amphitheatre style. On
the left in front were seated the clergy
of the city, the resident director and
President Soaring. Immediately i'm the
rear OF these was the Normal faculty.
But most attractive of all were the
thirty-nine graduates seated on the
right-twentv-seven "sweet girl gradu-
ates" and twelve bright young men
Twenty of these were in the advanced
course and the remainder IN the ele-
mentary. The young ladies were uni
formly dressed In white and presented
a truly enchanting appearance. Many
OF the dresses were very costly-per-
haps, on an average, more so than ever
before on similar occasion.
Rev. r. M. Carter opened the exer-
cises with short prayer.
The grand chorus of students sang
"The Heavens are Telling" from Hay
denis Creation" They showed what
long practice and drilling, united with
native ability, could do. Miss Hattie A.
Hale is deserving of great credit for the
manner in which this
passed off.
Miss Julia ]. McDonough was the first
speaker and gave an essay entitled
Memories of the Mediterranean" The
essay, which was a very meritorious
one, showed the young lady to be well
yersed in ancient history. She delved
down into that far distant period and
brought to view some delicious morsels
of history and traditIon-memories of
the dim past. Several beautiful quota
lions served to give viriety to the essay,
which was well delivered.
Miss Kittie L. Moulton took for her
subject "Seals" and made from a COM
NUN pidC0 buDJCCJ Ill dTtIClC I0dJ WAS
anything but commonplace in character.
In very interesting manner she de-
scribed the curious habits and distant
homes ofthe much-sought-after animals.
The mode of capture was described and
many interesting facts concerning them
were given.
Marcus Frederickson next occupied
he stage and took for his theme "Should
Foreign immigration be Restricted?"
lie described the two opposite points of
view from which this question is looked
upon. The one side thought that the
lime for general restriction had not vet
arrived by some centuries, as one halfl
Of the country was as yet uninhabited |
md the other half capable of increasing
is population many fold; that the unre-
'tricted immigration of foreigners helps |
,uild up the prosperity of the country. |
The other party, however, which held |
Iounder views, were opposed TO the i'm
absorption of Europe's
paupers and anarchists. It'll
vas no point against them, however,
hat some Of them were poor. He held /
hat the habit of intemperence among
hem would gradually die out. There |
yare some who would nrohahlv nayart