The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-05-31
GRADUATING EXERCISES.
A Glass of Four Leaves the High School
Rev. 5. q. Smiths Eloquent Ad-
dress.

Rev. s. O. Smiths Eloquent Ad-
dress.
"Die Paine dem Sieger" is the motto
which the class of 'S9 of the high school
long ago adopted. Friday evening they
partially realized Its significance as they
received from the hands of the superin.
tendent the coveted diplomas. Their
lack of numbers has been considerably
commented upon, but it is wiser to grad
uate few we'll qualified persons than to
turn out a large number of half taught,
immature individuals. In short, it is
this sitting process that has largely made
our high school noted as one OF the most
excellent in the state.
The exercises last evening passed of
to the entire satisfaction of all concern
ed. The program was short, well man
aged, and interesting to all: The plan
OF having lecture instead of exercises
by the members of the graduating class
again proved successful, and is appreci-
ated for change, though many prefer
the old way.
The graduates are Miss Abbie r.
Davis and Eva G. M. Boegen in the
Latin course, and Miss Margaret S. Ga
bic and Mr.. Benjamin F. Shepard in the
English course. They presented coed
appearance. an
The opera-house was completely filed
some time before the hour announced
for closing the doors. Only the limit
placed upon the number of tickets pre-
sented such jam as to make comfort
out of the question. Those who had re-
served seats were indeed fortunate, as
the crowd began to arrive as soon as the
doors were opened. A large number,
NJ. 4hau no,,a in IaFt ho Ioo,na hnrUuafa
with the ushers to be given to favorites
or friends in the graduating class.
The floral decorations were not as pro-
fuse as last wear, owing to the request OF
Rev. S. G. Smith. A handsome bank of
blooming plants occupied the right end
of the stage, presenting pretty contrast
with the the dull colors of the house.
This was surmounted by the statue of
some divinity comforting crown of lau-
rels. The class motto was suspended
above the stage, the literal translation
of which signifies that which was occurr-
ing below-the bestowing of 1.-The Palm
to the Victor"
The stage was occupied by the grad
uating class, high school faculty, board
of education and ex-members OF that
body, the clergy of the city, and few
| other gentlemen whose interest in edu-
compliment.
The ladies of the class were elegantly
dressed In white fabric. Miss Davis
wore a white Henrietta, trimmed with
| Persian pearls, and cream roses. Miss
Gable wore white tulle, with forgetme-
nots. Miss Boegen wore a white en-
broidered dress, and tulips.
1t was ten minutes past eight O'Clock
when Supt. Bechdolt advanced and ask
ed the ushers to close the doors and adj
NIT no one else. The wisdom OF this
was noticed in the extreme and rather
unusual quiet that afterwards existed
throughout the building.
| The program was opened by the
invocation by Rev. F. M. Rule, spoken
in words appropriate to the occasion,
Mr.. Manly B. Haynes rendered solo,
"Infelice," in very excellent manner.
The speaker of the evening, Rev. Sam
uel G. Smith, of st. Paul, was then intro
duced, and gave fine descriptive ad-
dress on "a Visit to Venice" describing
visit made by him to that watery city
some years ago. He spoke with much
eluQuenCo.
He opened by an explanation Of why
he had not taken a theme that might
have seemed more appropriate to the
occasion than the one he had chosen.
True education, he said consisted of a
thorough knowledge of books, men and
nature. AS an illustration of the princi-
pie laid down he would take the audi
T ence on journey to Italy. In referring
to the length of time it requires anything
to develop, as measuring its value, he
said that men who went through college
! in year or SO forty years ago knew lit
{ tie as compared with the graduates oil
our own time, who take many years to
complete their education. He thought
1t would be better age when it takes 9
} man fifty years to get over his boyhood
days. We do not stop in London, as
that is a city where money without AR
is found. Paris Is too gay, Rome toe
cold and majestic. The one place in the
world where real ENJOYMENT can be OBJ
tanned is Venice. 1t should be ap
> preached by the mountains, perhaps by
way of Lucerne. The beauties OF storm
as seen below from mountain top wal
a described in fine word picturing. Among
those mountains the myth Of William
Tell is believed in by all the rustic in
L habitants. The speaker couldn't under
r stand why every remarkably grand anC
: majestic formation was naps.A after thu
devil, as the DEVILS Arm Chair, Devils
Bridge, DEVILS Lake, Helfs Half Acre
y etc. Such scenery belongs to all tha
= signifies truth, and is the nearest Il
God. 1t is a theory that that which wa
Paradise is under the sea, another tina
). it was in the orient, still another that /
y was at the north pole; but / would 10
q cate it somewhere on the borders o
: Lake Como. God seems nowhere t.
. have been more gracious. After CRANE
u trip over the mountains, passing LAX
Como, Secco, etc., we at last come to thu
: city of Venice. 1t seems like descen
y from dreamland into the practical affair
of this world, so great and unpleasant
the change. There was reason in tn
/ founding of Venice in the sea. Refugee
from the conquest of Attila the HUI
q founded the CITY in the sea in order t
= be safe, leaving vast salt marshes extend
ing between it and the main land. Tn
Venetians learned that large wealth
l. comes from great commerce; they learn
D. ed the lesson that commerce 10 the onl
@ road to wealth; lesson that many mod
"a erns are yet learning. They sold thing
70 to their own people as cheaplY as posi-
l. BILE. They did not tax books and pic
l. lures, that piece of provincial stupidity
a. they believed that ideas shout
10 be free. History points its bes
10 con of light in an opposit
L. direction from our present policy an
1t America will never reach such inherit
10 ance until she makes it possible fo
. American built ships, manned by Amer
70 cans, to trade in foreign lands, lade
to with American goods. (Applause.) Tn
ut Venetians were also very thrifty in wa
at and always had an eye to the booty.
is in art that the best life OF a nation
70 manifest. Some magnificent picture
r. were described, which are world n
c. nowned. The religion ofthe Venetian
90 is illustrated by the great cathedral
IS st. Mark. The people are thrifty
3. their religion. The government of Vel
IL ice is symbolized by the great ducal pa
to ace, with all its magniticence above an
dark dungeons below. 1t is said thu
Lord Byron lay one night in one OF thes
as dungeons and let the rats and spider
ng run over him to enable him to learn no
NJ to write a certain poem. 1t would seer
said the speaker, that rats and spidel
dictated large part of his poems. III
90 speaker reviewed the var'ed and blood
n political history of the city. He stroni
mr. ly pictured the danger of political co
y, ruption in this country, having a GOO
III example in the experience of Venic
lat For thirteen hundred years no foreie
at flag fioated in the square of Venice, tt
nt largest continuous duration of power
any political institution. The way
no leave Venice is by sea and at nigh
its when the whole city shines with IL
ell magic splendor of fairy kingdom. 4
90 we depart, the treachelou silver lig
of the moon makes the lights of the eli
en- dance in fantastic style. The speak
OIL closed with an eloquent and lmpassio
l. e kla hxy a