The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1889-07-05
Glass Of 'se.

in the opera house, last Friday evening,
with the largest class, and before the great
est audience ever known i'm its his
tory. 1t may be well to state that Owossc
is going up the grade, surging along with
power and hope; and the High School rises
grandly in the advance, keeping proud ster
with the progress we are making in wealth
and population.
The day and evening were all that could
be desired. The fame which had proceeded
the class, and the fine entertainment which
was promised, awaked an unusual interest
in the community; and an hour and hall
before the exercises began, the people were
seen crowding into the opera house with
the view of obtaining an eligible seat, in the
jam, which everybody anticipated. AT
eight o'clock all ingress was suspended, and
the disappointed crowd retraced their steps
down the staircase into the streets, and dis
persed to their homes.
The orchestra sat on the main floor in
front of the stage. At their left stood two
tables for the floral and other gifts designed
for the graduates and contributed by friends
in bountiful profusion. Upon the arch
overhead, ran the class motto, ''Ilonors wait
at Labors Gate" and beneath, the mono
gram, ''S9," in large white figures, inter
laced, hung in mid air, attracting attention
by its beauty. The High School, as it will
appear at the opening of the next term,
was massed in the front row in the gallery.
with an organ at the center. AS to the rest,
every available Sitting and standing
place was occupied, and fourteen hundred
people were awaiting with impatience for
the curtain to rise. When it assembled the
audience cheered their approval and delight
as the lovely picture On the stage broke up
on their view The graduates, eleven ladies
dressed in white, and three gem
tlemen, the neatly fitting Prince Albert
adorned with a boutoRRierc, sat i'll semi
circle at the rear of the stage, and recpro-
Gated the fond look bestowed upon them by
their loving kindred and friends. At their
right sat their five teachers Mr.. Swain, Mr.
Bates, Mr.. Taylor, Miss Dawson and Miss
Ferguson. AT their left hand were several
of the school board and such
clergymen as were invited to participate in
the exercises.
The orchestra gave q beautiful opening
piece of music, and Rev. j. 0. Cuts, pastor
of the Disciple church, offered an earnest
N, oynr for thn sohooI tho +oooLors o,,J tI,ot
class. There then followed a surprise, in
deed, for most of the audience. Prof. Trim
mer at the organ led the High School in
splendid chorus song of welcome. The
singing was inimitably enlivening, but of
sudden ceased, and what seemed whisper
first in the distance proved to be whistling
grew louder and louder and was repeated.
to the immense pleasure of the audience,
which cheered heartily in token of their APP
probation. The performance was decidedly
a new thing among us, and was highly cred
liable to the girls and boys who gave us this
fine entertainment.
Mr.. Swain stepped forward and compli-
mented the citizens for turning out in vast
thought he saw in this attendance
a love for the High School and asked the
hearers to be quiet and give the graduates
a chance to be heard. He then introduced
Miss Mamie b. Shanafelt, who gave the
salutatory address, in most satisfactory
style. She said, Parents and friends of
the class of 'S9, it is with mingled feelings
of joy and sadness chat we, the members of
the class of 'S9,greet you on this commence
ment OCCASION" To her classmates she
said 1--WE trust that these years of study and
discipline have not been spent in vain, but
that here we may have learned those les
sons which will be Of use to us in all coming
time, and which will enable us to travel
whatever path is allotted
us. If our pathway winds through the
seemingly trackless desert, let us look for
the oases, forgetting the scorching rays of
the sun, and let us reach helping hand to
others who may be even less favored than
we." Miss Shanafelt's writing is beautiful
like the thoughts it expressed.
Miss Inez l.. Carson followed discoursing
eloquently upon Opportunities" Her adj
dress was distinctly heard and highly APP
preciated. She declared that ''opportuni-
ties" are the links, which, If properly adjus-
ted by us in pure motives and just actions,
will form the anchor chain that holds sure
and steadfast midst the adverse storms of
life, and when the shores of time shall re-
cede from view."
Miss Ella M. Saver gave the class history.
The close attention paid to the reader and
the mirth her hits produced, attested to the
value Of her documentary evidence. She will
herself pass into history as an excellent his
torian, truthful and painstaking, witty and
wise.
The orchestra gave O fine piece of music,
and Mr.. G. Lynn Bryan took the stage and
pronounced an Grafton upon Hero Wor-
Ship 1t originated thus, he told us: ''In
ancient times hero was regarded as God,
Hercules, Perseus, Theseus, Castor, Pollok
and a hundred others, were sons of Jupiter,