The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1888-05-26

Ellsworth has an unusually well developed
talent for one scarcely entering womanhoo God,
and should her tastes continue In the line of
poetic composition, La Sale county may yet
claim a poetess Of no mean ability. Miss
Ellsworth seemed at her ease on the rostrum,
and her delivery was very acceptable.
CURTAIN.
The curtain was rolled down on the FIRST
act, and as the big evergreen arch, bearing
the glass motto Dig" q genuine gold lined
spade dangling beneath it shot out Of view,
the orchestra rendered sweet strains Of
music and the audience divided its at
tention between heavy bank Of flowers
and ferns on the right, collection of pot
flowers on the left, and miscellaneous con-
versation. The intsrmission was followed by
THE KEY OF ALL AGES;
very monitary essay by Miss Molly Read
This key was persistence, the opener Of the
doors Of knowledge. When it was bright
and untarnished, II would unlock the secrets
Of all time, but when rusted by disuse and
bent by diversion, 1t lost its power and
many years would scare restore its lustre.
Miss Reeds production displayed consider {.
able use of the " key"
WILL B. HUNT
in an GRAFTON on " orators and oratory" at
tempted, with considerable success, to disa-
buse the public mind Of the idea that orators
and orstory, are mere gifts Of nature. True
the voice and natural manner Of delivery
had much to do with success; but to become
an orator, such as Demosthenes, Cicero, the
Pitts, or Webster, required years of close
application and vast fund of learning. A
cracked voice in q high minor key was as
interesting when discoursing burning SEN
fences as the voice Of Cicero.
THE SWEET SINGER OF ISRAEL,
an essay upon the life and deeds of David,
the psalmist, was the creation Of Miss Ber-
tina Finley. Music had great power over
man, and in it was the secret Of David's
power and success with the armies Of Israel
Under the inspiration Of his matchless verse
the hosts of Palestine had marched to victo-
ry, and when night overlook them, they
had lifted up their voices in the same grand
measure to the throne on high. His verse
was not of man, but of God. Miss Finley
seemed very earnest in her delivery, which
was in keeping with her subject
DWIGHT MEIGs.
the historian of the class, gave very pleas.
ing " class history" in the style Of the much
mourned Mr. Johnson. His opening. ''Ye
who have listened with credulity to the oml.
nous predictions of modern ElIahs; ye who
believe that time will fulfil their prog.
nostications, attend for q moment to the
glorious history of these would-be Alumni"
was rather unique, and the remainder of the
grafton was in keeping with its extravagant
and highly amusing standard. His delivery
was easy and natural, ma king his effort very
entertaining.
AUF wIEDERsEBEN;
story, by Gertrude Hodgeman, was, both
in composition and delivery, worthy of
" honorable MENTION if any one Of the
essays or orations could be spoken of as
superior TO ano ther. 1t was tale of a
mother whose son had left for the war, and
the reception of the news of his death. The
plot was excellent, ana her delivery had in
it the elements Of force and expression,
both in countenance and attitude, and while
not perfect, showed the gradual improve
ment of hard work. After an inlermission
during which Mr.. Willis caused the bows to
scrape, and the various other instruments to
make their presence known,
PROF COTTON
came forward and in voice which was
sometimes cholked with emotion babe good
by to the school and to Ottawa. His years
here, he said, had been the happiest of his
life, though they have been years of hard,
earnest work. He thanked all with whom
he had been associated. His words to the
class were exceedingly well chosen. He
then presented the class with their diplomas
of graduation as the names were called.
GEO. HILLS
the valedictorian, then babe all sad fare
we'll, thanking the teachers, trustees, and
patrons of the school for their interest in
its welfare He made a very acceptable
address, one of the best of the evening
The exercises closed with the class song
in chorus, the production Of the pen of Miss
Nellie Ellsworth. 1t was very pretty and
nicely rendered, closing with this sweet
chorus:
Then farewell, dear friend farewell,
We part--the time draws near;
Well not forget in future years,
The ones that loved US here.
Banquet and Reception,
The Sixth Annual Banquet and Reception
of the High School Alumni was held at the
armory rink last evening, the banquet taking