Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-06-07
PROUD RECORDS.
Commencement of the Rock Island
High School.
entertaining Exercises at Harper's
Theatre---Essays by the Graduates,
Music and CaiIsthenics Prof.
Cooks Mastery Address.

| Last evening at Hsrper's theatre oc.
CURED tie seventeenth annual COM
mencemert of the Rock Island high
school. Every available seat in the house
was occupied. and many stood through>
out the exercises. The front of the stage
was patriotically and artistically 1raped
with flags, plants. and flowers. and as
the curtain rose it revealed a still further
beautifully designed arrangement of the
inspiring colors of stars and bars of free,
doom. while pendant from the flies was
the class motto in plain white letters re-.
lieved by dark background: Patience,
Pluck. Perseverance" But not the least
imposing spectacle was the arrangement
of the entire high school on ascending
seats, tier of twenty-four chairs
extending in semi.circle around
the stage. being left vacant for
the graduates who entered from
either side between the wings shortly
after the curtain arose. to pretty little
piano march step by Miss Bessie George.
President Thomas, Prof. ]. w. Cook, of
Normal, and Rev T. w. Grafton occu-
pied seats to the right of the graduates on
the stage, while Directors G. G. Carter,
j. nj. Barth and W, S. Knowlton, of the
board of education, with Supt. s. s.
Kemble. had the lower box on the right
side, while Principal Bishop and his as
sistants. Misses Briggs and Huntington,
Mrs. Eastman and Mrs Nessenson, Prof.
Housed and Prof. Reuter- were on the last
side of the stage.
TIE EXERCISES OPENED
with an overture by Bleuer's orchestra
followed by a chorus by the entire High
school under Prof Housels direction,
las the Mountains" etc. Rev. T. W.
Grafton then invoked divine blessing on
the proceedings, and the High school
sang unoer Prof. Housel's direc-
ton. Were Floating Down the Stream"
WILLIAM E. GLADSTONE"
Then came thu first essay, which in
reality was so we'll committed and deliv-
cred that il took the form of an Grafton.
1t was by Ralph Hsverstick and his SUBJ
jeet was William E. Gladstone" The
production treated of the great heart. and
the justice ss well as the greatness of the
life of the English statesman; his life,
character and public service; his dual ma
ture. which was due, as the speske r
claimed, to the development of character;
his stern re gard for right which made him
subject to conversion to course OF JUS
tice when once he discovered that he was
wrong. His loya l,y. capacity for work.
candor. clear sightedness aud scholarly
dignity were all touched upon 10 an able
manner. Mr.. Haverstick claiming that
Gladstone was the most practical and
moral state snan of the day.
'CHIvALRY."
was The subject of an exceedingly
thoughtful essay by Miss Clara Peetz.
The history of knighthoo1 was given, the
high sense of honor and exalted cousid.
Grafton for woman which gave rise to it
touched upon. the gallantry, loyalty and
christian devotion which had sprung
from it icing forcibly demonstrated.
Though tie practices of chivalry had
been abused, it had rendered an ever
lasting good TO mankind: the customs es>
taolshed ty the knight of the middle
ages still remain. and from him has
sprung the courteous, generous gentle>
man of today. The evil effects of
chivalry are more than counterbalanced
by the good that has come from them.
We owe to chivalry our ideal manhood,
which is the strongest safeguard of our
nation.
The High school rendered beautiful
waltz song, when Miss Eta Woltmann
read very creditable essay on the subs
ject
ZONE CAN NOT SEE ALL OF THE NOUN
at ouCe' ENci DthipS, inc cooo Jise
thought, is a puzzle such as requires
time, effort and thought to solve. We
should get to the inside or to the bottom
of things il stead of judging of them by
mere external appearances. The same Is
true of character in action. How little
we see of the results of undertakings
when we start out. The fate of the con-
spirators who killed Ceaser and of Ma
poleon when after establishing his great
empire, started out under this motto.
lone God, One King we're cited as in
stances of this. The esssyist believed the
Creator kee ps many of these things for
us until His time to reveal them in order
to teach US TO search for what we will.
SELF CONTROL"
Miss Lily Mirfie)d read an excellent es-
say on "Self Control" which she spoke
of as one o. the characteristics which dis
tinguishes man from animal; the animal
is ruled by instinct; so is man, unless he
monlds his character. Many examples
were cited Of failure of those endowed by
nature with brilliant gifts through failure
to properly control self and of the triumph
of Others ess gifted because they had
learned the lesson of self control.
The High schoo. rendered The Roses.
Miss George playing the accompaniment
as before, and Pref. Housed acting as di-
rector. ana following this came an exhi-
bition Of