St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-06-08
The High School Commence
ment Exercises at the
Grand.
An Event Which Arouses
Local Patriotism to C
the Utmost.
The OratOrical Contests for.
Prizes Formed Interest :
ing Features.
An Animated Scene That Was
Not Down on the c
Bills.

Eighty-one young men and women,
composing the graduating class of the
Minneapolis high school, occupied the
stage at the Grand opera house last
night for the graduating exercises.
Naught hid the beauty of the young
ladies from the immense audience
which filled the auditorium save the
board of education and the gentlemen
taking part in the exercises of the
evening, who were arranged in the
first line of the occupants of the stage.
Back of them in five rows extending
across the stage were the pretty girls
and bright youths of the class of 1889.
resplendent in their dainty graduating
costumes and first "Prince AlbertS;';
also their teachers.
Prof. CrOmbie, principal of the high
school. directed the programme. When
the applause had subsidized subsequent
to the disclosure of the class. the pro-
fessor announced Rev. D. j. Burrell as
the otferer of the.opening prayer.
ESSAY AND SALUTATORY.
commencement Day." by Julia Alice
Day, the young lady who holds the sec
ond place of honor for the four years
course, was the opening of the exercises
of the class. On the announcement OF
the subject and name young lady of
prepOsSessing appearance came for
ward to the front of the stage from the
midst of her classmates to give wei
come to the audience, who had
gathered out of interest in the
school and the class. The public
Schools" she said. "could never be
hoff fhon hn
in the audience she saw indications of
happy sentiment from the public.
She spoke touchingIy of the joys and
the sorrows of Commencement day.
This meant so much to the school,
and especially to the class, as it was
both commencement and an ending.
She had been greeted with applause in
coming before the audience and was
shown its appreciation by applause
when she took her seat.
Music followed the salutatory and
then the Grafton ''Men of One Idea"
was given by Charles Flagler Miller.
In opening he gave Shakespeare's
Longfellow, Byrant's and the apostle
Paul's idea of life in their most striking
phrase. An grafton showing much
thought followed on these as a basis.
Mr.. Miller has good voice and showed
considerable life and feeling in his de-
livery. He spoke of great men of his
tory, showing how they were in every
case men of one idea. 9
Alice Louise Mccain, OH the topic,
''After Graduation" Miss Mccain,
one of the youngest of the graduating
class, and being the first of the three
contestants for the Gale prize, excited
no small attention. The essay seemed
all outcome of ambition, was excellently
worded and read in way to impress
the idea that every word was meant.
She spoke of what the occasion was to
the class now and what it must always
be, and then of the aspirations OF the
graduates.
This was followed by a recitation by
Jessie H. Smith. The subject on the
programme was lilly ServOsse's Ride"
(from "a FOOLS Errand''), but she
spoke ''Perrhasius and the Captive"
by N. P. Willis.
The delivery was full of life, and
showed culture in elOcutiOn. The
audience would have given an encore
Music followed the recitation.
George Hancock Spear, the second
contestant for the Gale prize, followed
with an Grafton on the subject PRUSSIA
and the Exile System" The history of
Russia and her tyranny was well por-
trayed. George KEENAN,. the American
author who has disclosed so many of
Russia's wrongs, was eulogized. The
young orator used plain language, and
said what he wanted to straightfor-
wardly.
An essay, "The True Idea of Useful
ness" by Abbie Jean BlaiSdell, was
No. production of high thought, show
ing much soul back of the words that
were spoken. The audience was
pleased with the essay.
Progress in Japan' was the next
subject for essay. 1t was respond
ed to by Grace Annie Rood, whose
gracious delivery and manner
made it seem quite natural for her to
read paper on such a missionary sub
ject. 1.-The progress in Japan" she said,
twas one of the marvels of the age"
the third contestant for the scale
prize. The audience, though it had
seemed much pleased by the whole pro-
gramme, paid particular attention to
Miss Rood. 1t was not the elOcution in
her delivery nor the flow of language in
her wording. but the genuineness of the
young lady that seemed to win her
favor. 1t was plain that the audience
wished her to be the winner in the con-
test.
1.-The Gentleman was the subject
Thomas Freeman Wallace had chosen.
The young man seemed favorite, and
was greeted by applause. His Grafton
was one of the best of the evening. His
subject was novel one, and was well
used. He passed by Greece and Rome
to the knights of England for the gem
tlemen of remoter times. Charles
Lamb was the model whom he set up
as first among true gentlemen. An
audience.
The valedictorian was Miss Maud
Comfort Colgrove, the young lady who
carried Off the highest honor and high.
est mark in the four years of work..
The young lady read an essay in con-
nection with the valedictory address,
on the subject, ITO See More One Must
Be More. Miss Colgrove has good,
strong voice and impressive delivery,
and her essay was good also in thought,
impressing the idea that no one could
appreciate what was beyond him. She
addressed the board and the teachers
and the class who rose for her words.
Her address was the closing act of the
class as a class. A storm of applause
followed the young lady. DR.. Burrell. {
in the true wit that comes so natural to
the reverend gentleman, made the pres
entation of the Journal prizes for high
est averages. He called particular at
tention to the fact that the two highestS
were young ladies, by pretending to
think they we're young men. till he read
the names. Maud Comfort Colgrove
who stood first with an average of
$3.50 per cent. received the check for
$50. Julia Alice Day, whose average
was 9531 per cent, received the second
prize, aud Charles Eland Young, who
stood94.57 the third prize.