The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-06-19
STATE NORMAL. SCHOOL.

t'Ourtn annual commencement u"
State Normal school at Spear-
fish, South
On a recent trip to Spearfish our road
lay through the chain OF valleys, COM
monty called the race course, which lies
inside the outer rim OF foot hills and
circles the Black Hills proper. Wefound
the country at It's best. The refreshing
spring rains, for which we have not
lacked this season, have brought on an
abundant growth OF vegetation. The
range is fine and stock generally was
found to be in good condition. To our
left lowered the B ack Hills, covered
with a thick growth OF pine and o
and then a break in the timber won d
reveal a picturesque mountain park.
Every little ways we would pass the
mouth OF a canyon winding down be-
tween the Hills and through several OF
which flowed small streams. Thu sides
OF these canyons were generally covered.
with pine and the bottom with a heavy
growth Of scrub oak, cottonwood, elm,
ash, box elder and willsw.
To our right ran the chain OF loot
hills, covered with a few scattering pines
and a good growth OF grass to their
very brow. Through this chain now
and then we would find a gap, made by
some stream on it's way to the Cheyenne,
and through which we could get a glimpse
OF the green valleys and rolling divides
to the eastward. All kinds OF small
grain was looking fine. We found sew
eral ranchers still blowing. The Cen
| tennial prairie, which is az pretty Il Sec
ton as we passed through, is dotted
oyer with large, well-kept farms, all
under fence. We noticed that nearly
every farm had a large acreage OF TIM
othy, which seemed to do well, several
fields Of which were ready for the mower.
After IL driye OF fifty some miles we
rolled into the town OF Spearfish about
$50 p. m. We found the town, al
though small, pretty well scattered. and
the one feature which attracted our at
tention was it's shade trees. Trees,
trees, everywhere. The soil seemed
adapted to them. They grew in album
dance along the stream which flowed
through town and along every irrigating
ditch, while almost every residence was
surrounded by them.
Several miles to the westward towers
Grow Peak, while just east OF the town
rises Il small hill, somewhat larger than
the surrounding loot hills, called "Look-
out" We visited the latter and fromits
summit got a good view OF the surround
ing country. The bare steep outline OF
Bear Butte doomed up to the east, while
spread out in the distance to the north
east lay the valley OF the Belle Fourche.
COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES.
Tuesday evening was taken up by the
scholars Of the public school OF Spear
fish. The children all did well, showing
hard work and careful training. Quite
an active part was taken by the little
folks OF the primary department. The
hall, which was beautifully and tittingly
,lCC(I iUcu Will OllC hldlS Nv SoIApSoi
flowers and evergreens, was literally
packed, there hardly being standing
room. The elias S night exercises by the
graduating class Wednesday evening
were a noyel affair. 1t consisted OF Il
class banquet. The names OF the grad
yates, thirteen in all, were as follows:
Albert Magnus Anderson, Sturgls; Susie
Bird, Minnesota; William Henry BARN
ger, Lead City; Nora Burris, Spearfish;
Damon Houser Clark, Deadwood; An;
Hough, Stulgis; Carrie Anna Phillips
Grashull; Cora Alta Parsons, Deadwood
Alice Day Pratt, Piedmont; John Ray
mond Russell, Deadwood; Agusta vii
Jeanette Melbourne, Spearfish; Olive Roe
Smith, Deadwood. The address OF vel
come by the POSTMASTER, Mr.. Russell
was ably rendered and the response by
the different members OF the class was
good. Miss Smith dwelt upon The
past record of the school, it's various
classes, and the class OF 81 in particu
lar. Miss Pratt's subject, "Whither the
fates CALL" was very appropriate at this
time, when the paths OF these young
people, which for the last few years have
J run side by side, diverged and each must
60 their separate way, and wasvery ably
handled by Piedmont's representative
Mr. Clark in his address to the class OF
'92 gave them quarts OF good advise
pointing out to them the fine example
set by the class OF 81. Miss Melbourne
in handling her subject OF Education
forms the man." spoke OF the benefits in
general arising from education, and ir
referring to the number of scholars who
leave our schools under the age OF ter
years offered as a remedy compulsory
education laws. The class a]stroeoger
Miss Gore dwelt upon the future OF the
different members OF the class. Thesu
ject, "Not failure, but low aim is crime
was ably handled by Mr.. Anderson, who
urged the students to a high aim in life
The program was interpersed with class
songs and Normal choruses.
The program Thursday evening con.
o'otSu VI IL 6iauudUlHS CNCICISC5.
After a Normal chorus, "Praise We the
Father" prayer was offered by Rev. A.
A. Brown, of Spearfish. After a short
address Mr.. Barlnger gave a few expert
mrnts in chemical changes. Miss Par
sons IN her essay entitled "The WILL"
showed by different illustrations, such
as the weakness OF a %drunkard, or any
one under the influence OF some evil, or
the worthlessness OF a person having no
mind OF their own, that the will instead
OF being broken, should be directed in
the right channel. Miss Hough in GA
plea for English" urged that more time
and care be given to the study Of our
own language, the coming language OF
the world, and not SO much to the Ian
guage Of other nations, Miss Burris in
- -- -