Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-06-12
FIRST YEAR ENDED.
THE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
COMMENCEMENT.
The Schools Closing Exercises Large
ly Attended The Pupils Reflect
Credit Upon Themselves James
Willis Gleed's Able Lecture.
Special REFLECTOR Correspondence.

| Wills Ul6Gu AOlC hCCbU4C.
| Spcciai REFLECTOR Correspondence.
CHAPMAN, Kas JUNE Last even
ing witnessed the closing exercises Of
the Dickinson county high school, The
first years work has proved successful
beyond the most sanguine hope Of
those most interested and has beer
indeed a surprise to those who looked
for failure. The past week has been q
busy one, examinations and literary
exercises fully occupying both the days
and evenings.
ANNUAL MUSICAL RECITAL.
On Wednesday evening occurred the
annual musical recital, given by the
musical instructor Miss Ottilie
Schmitz assisted by her chorus class
and those who have been takin2
private lessons in voice culture and
instrumental music. The program
was an excellent one and reflected
great credit upon the instructor and al
who took part. The high school is
surely to be congratulated upon having
so efficient an instructor in this i'm
portan. subject. Although classes in
vocal music were organized during the
year especially with the idea of giving
to those pursuing the normal course
and fitting themselves for teaching a
thorough knowledge of the rudiments
of music and skill in reading music,
vet all classes have been open to other
students and many have availed them
selves of the privileges offered. Her
many friends will be glad to know that
although Miss Schmitz had expected
to attend the Boston conservatory of
music next year she has consented to
remain i'll tie high school.
LECTURE BEFORE THE SOCIETIES.
On Thursday evening Hon. J. Willis
Gleed, of Topeka, delivered the annual
address before the Garfield and Dick
inson literary societies. These societies
were organized last fall by the young
ladies and gentlemen of the high school
and have done most excellent work.
Each society has a membership of
about forty students which have met
regularly every week and held very
interesting and profitable sessions.
Mr.. Gleed had chosen for his subject
kansas and Her Schools" He spoke
for over an hour and charmed the audi
ence' with the wealth of his dictiOn, the
beauty of his illustrations and depth
of thought. He showed the necessity
of educating the masses and gave this
as the solution of the labor question.
He magnified the teachers calling and
claimed that lavish expenditure in sup
porting our schools is the greatest
economy. He would have education
consist of culture of the mind, culture
of heart and harmonious development
of the whole man. Mr.. Gleed is becom-
ing we'll known in the state as writer
of great ability, having delivered
addresses before the societies of the
State University, Washburn college
and other educational institutions. The
students of the high school will not
soon forget the rare treat he gave them.
ANNUAL CLOSING EXERCISES.
Over an hour before the time for the
exercises to begin the beautiful assem-
bly, room of the high school began to
fill, and at p. m. every inch of stand
ing room had been taken and the stairs
and approaches were crowded with
those unable to gain admission. Fully
five hundred people were within the
hall and hundreds went away because
of the impossibility of getting inside.
1t seems unfortunate that large audi
torium was not provided for when the
high school building was erected, and
IN fact it seems certain that the build
ing will prove too small for the accom-
mediation of the students within year
or two.
In calling the asseMblage to order,
Prin. S. NJ. Cook spoke briefly of the
success of the first years work, con-
graduating the students upon the ad-
vantages offered so freely to them by
the county, and urging them to con-
tinue in the institution until they
should complete the course. He stated
that the conviction among many that
the school would be failure had been
happily removed and that the prophecy
that the youth of the rural districts
could not be persuaded to attend the
institution had proven false one; that
during the year over $50 students had
been enrolled and the average attend
ance for the three terms had been
about ninety.
There being no graduating class,
students from various sections Of the
county had been chosen to represent
the school. Orations upon interesting
subjects were written and delivered by
Misses Hart and BetZ and MeSsrs.
Wick, Engle, Kelley and Early. Very
entertaining essays were read by Misses
Halbert and Lowry, and declamations
were rendered IN most acceptable
manner by Miss Mary Nicol and
Enrene KimmerlY. In thought and