The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1888-07-06
Vernon Commencement.

From the lnter-Lake.
The graduating exercises of the Vernon
High School, on Friday last, drafted to
the hall about the last man, woman and
child in this vicinity. Such gatherings are
usually large. but this time it was larger;
largest Not only were all the seats
crowded but all the standing room was
occupied.
Everything moved off like an Elsin
watch or a Seth Thomas clock. The or.
chestra had greatly improved since we
had last heard its "soul reviving strains"
We hardly want to say that the declama.
tions and essays were better than former
years, but they were certainly as good,
and, the flowers composing the dainty bo-
quets were just as beautiful and fragrant
as those of last year. And then the hall;
it had undergone complete metamorphose
since we last saw it, and it was as neat
as Nabob'sparlor.
There were four graduates-May New
berry, Robert Mcknight, Herbert Need.
ham, and Britton Mattoon. Mr.. Nc
Knight Grated on Personal Effort" 1t
is said that this was about his first person
al effort at platform speaking, but personal
effort brought him to the front in grand
style. HIS voice was clear, full and ring.
doctrine and capital hits.
Herbert Needham was the next gradu-
ate TO speak, His subject was Conflict
of opinon." Mr. Needham has been on
nearly every graduating occasion and there
has never been any Conflict of opinion"
as to his merits as a speaker But he has
greatly changed in his style of delivery
since he spoke year ago. He has less
impetuosity and more precision, little
less thunder and more lightning. Before
he had raging torrent of words, now the
torrent is checked and controlled, which
we think is decided improvement.
Miss Newberry read an essay on "What
NeXt?" She described the present state
of things in a graphic manner-its wonder
full railroads, steamboats,, telegraphs,
telephones. machinery, etc. ,and then
pressed her question-What next2 She
attempted to answer it by transferring her.
self into the distant future and describing
visit she made to New York City in the
year 1908. She went by lightning and
came back in a balloon schooner. We
we're pleased to note that she found the
world great deal better as well as smart
ct, than now. She couldn't find saloon
in New York city.
Brtton Mattoon grated on the Effects
of the Civil War" He did what politi-
clans have striven in vain TO do-com.
pletely reconstructed the South; obliterated
the color line; annihilated the sectional
feeling, and buried the crimson shirt.
We used 10 think the south was great
country but now we know it. Figur-
atively speaking, the speaker made the
Republicans laugh and the Democrats
weep by asserting that the South was in
favor OF protection.
Interspersed between parts taken by
the graduates were some very interesting
interludes. Miss Carrie Wolcott recited
Kentucky Belle" in manner that did
her great credit. Guy Hammond got into
the shoes of Daniel Webster and gave us
Liberty and Union" in manner which
brought no particular reproach on that
great orator. And then the pianoing by
the Misses Garrison and Holly was superb.
Ditto the song by Messrs Whelan, Strong,
Gee. and Palmer. John Swain read the
class history in semicomic manner which
elected rounds of applause. Next came
the class prophecy by Miss Esther Yerkes;
her manner of picturing the future of the
graduates was unique, and if her horo-
scope tells no fibs the world will stare
when the things foretold begin to come
about