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. s. @. Smiths Eloquent Adj
dress.

L
| 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 1T is wiser to grad
uate few well qualified persons than to
turn out 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 off
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.
Latin course, and Miss Margaret S. Ga
BILE and Mr.. Benjamin F. Shepard in the
English course. They presented good
appearance.
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,
as they came in, left handsome bouquets
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. q. 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 '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 a few
other gentlemen whose interest in edu-
cational matters entitled them to the
compliment.
The ladies of the class were elegantly
dressed In white fabric. Miss Davis
wore a white Henrietta, trimmed with
Gable wore a 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. +. M. Rule, spoken
in words appropriate to the occasion.
Mr.. Manly B. Haynes rendered a solo,
"lnfelice," in very excellent manner.
The speaker of the evening, Rev. Sam
uel q. Smith, of st. Paul, was then intro
duced, and gave fine descriptive ad-
a visit made by him to that watery city
some years ago. He spoke with much
He opened by an explanation of why
he had not taken theme that might
have seemed more appropriate to the
occasion than the one he had chosen.
True education, be said consisted of
thorough knowledge of books, men and
nature. AS an illustration of the princi-
pie laid down he would take the audi
ence on a 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 a year or so forty years ago knew lit
tie as compared with the graduates of
our own time, who take many years to
complete their education. He thought
1t would be better age when it takes a
man fifty years to get over his boyhood
days. We do not stop in London, as
that is city where money without art
is found. Paris Is too gay, Rome too
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 was
described in fine word picturing. Among
those mountains the myth of William
Tell is believed in by all the rustic in
habitants. The speaker couldn't under
stand why every remarkably grand and
majestic formation was napi.s4 aftor-tte-
devil, as the DEVILS Arm Chair, DEVILS
Bridge, DEVILS Lake, HelPs Half Acre,
etc. Such scenery belongs to all that
signifies truth, and is the nearest to
God. 1t is theory that that which was
Paradise is under the sea, another that
it was in the orient, still another that il
was at the north pole; but ! would To-
cate it somewhere on the borders of
Lake Como. God seems nowhere to
have been more gracious. After grand
trip over the mountains, passing Lake
Como, Secco, etc., we at last come to the
city of Venice. 1t seems like descent
| frnYo Il roo nd into tho nra q flo rc
of this world, SO great and unpleasant is
the change. There was reason in the
founding of Venice in the sea. Refugees
| from the conquest of Attila the Hun
| founded the CITY in the sea in order to
be safe, leaving vast salt marshes extend
ing between it and the main lane. The
| Venetians learned that large wealth
comes from great commerce.; they learn
| ed the lesson that commerce is the only
road to wealth, a lesson that many mod
erns are yet learning. They sold things
to their own people as cheaply as possi-
BILE: They did not tax books and pic
lures, that piece of provincial stupidity;
they believed that ideas should
con of light in an opposite
direction from our present policy and
America will never reach such inherit
ance until she makes it possible for
| American built ships, manned by Ameri-
cans, to trade in foreign lands, laden
with American goods. (Applause.) The
| Venetians were also very thrifty in war
| and always had an eye to the booty. 1t
| is in art that the best life of nation is
manifest. Some magnificent pictures
were described, which are world re-
nowned. The religion ofthe Venetians
is illustrated by the great cathedral of
st. Mark. The people are thrifty in
their religion. The government of Ven
ice is symboliZed by the great ducal pal
ace, with all its magnifcence above and
dark dungeons below. 1t is said that
Lord Byron lay one night in one ofthese
dungeons and let the rats and spiders
run over him to enable him to learn how
to write a certain poem. 1t would seem,
said the speaker, that rats and spiders
dictated large part of his poems. The
speaker reviewed the varied and bloody
political history of the city. He strong
| ly pictured the danger of political cor
ruption in this country, having a good
example in the experience of Venice.
For thirteen hundred years no foreign
flag foated in the square of Venice, the
largest continuous duration of power OF
any political institution. The way to
leave Venice is by sea and at night,
when the whole city shines with the
magic splendor of fairy kingdom. AS
we depart, the PREACHER GUS silver light
of the moon makes the lights of the city
dance in fantastic style. The speaker
closed with an eloquent and impassion-
| ed description of the journey by sea