The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-05-13
THE CLASS or '02
The Tenth AHneal Commencement of the
lola High School.

before 50 handsomely decorated as III
was last Tuesday evening. All the
unsightly signs were hidden and the
flies were covered with masses of eV-
ergreen, making rich dark back
ground for the bright flowers grouped
ON either side and for the silver letters
OF the class motto: dream not;
work.
The exercises were announced to
begin at eight o'clock and they began
at eight o'clock, very much to the
surprise doubtless of 4 considerable
portion Of the audience who came
Struggling in from that time until
nearly nine o'clock. IL comes little
hard, but we might as well begin to
teach ourselves that when Prof Pick
en- sets an hour for any program under
his management to begin, it Will be-
gin at that hour whether we are there
TO hear il or not. Prayer by Rev.
J. +. Huckleberry, followed by piano
Duet by Miss Beulah Reimert and
Mrs. Docia Northrup opened the eX-
ercises.
The first speaker on the program
was Vernon l.. GrOesbeck who ad-
dressed himself to the subject OF
"PToblems.r lie spoke first of some
of the great problems that have been
already sOlved-the problems OF reiig-
ious liberty, of political liberty, OF
personal liberty of freedom of speech.
And then he spoke of some of the
coming problems, the equal distribu-
ton OF wealth, the adjustment Of the
strife between labor and capital, and
the settlement of traffic disputes.
The speaker seemed to think that free
trade would be a panacea for good
many Of these ills; but he is too bright
a boy to cling to that belief very long.
1t was q good speech,
With the simple word "If," as a
starting point, Miss Clara klaumann,
perhaps the youngest member of the
class. presented an entertaining pic
ture of the the things that might have
happened if the things that did hap
pen had not happened. What would
have become OF all our great inven-
tions, of our religion, OF our school
system, Of as, il Columbus had not
discovered America. was very ingen-
iusly set forth in cOloquy between
"Mr. Loyalty and the Fairy. Miss
Klaumann spoke with easy self-pos-
session, ia 4 well mOdulated voice,
and made a most favorable impression
upon the audience.
''The Temperance Crusade" was the
title given by Miss Olive Thayer tc
an essay which recounted clearly and
completely the history Of the temper
ance movement, from its feeble begin
ing a hundred years ago, to its pres
ent imposing proportions, and which
pleaded earnestly and cOnvincingly
for the continuation of the war against
the LIQUOR traffic. 1t was a well writ
ten and pleasingly delivered address
and was warmly applauded.
Adlai NJ. Ewing spoke strongly and
well upon Americas Contributions
to Civilization" America is a big
country $50 blOOmin' big that Column
bus couldn't help discovering ii" as
the Englishman remarked. And we
are much given to boasting Of our
purely physical greatness. But the
things we should be PrOudest Of are
achievements in constitutional gov
eminent. in education, in invention,
in science. in literature, Cor mall these
things we lead the world.
We of the present generation have
become so used TO all our modern con-
Yenieuces and luXuries that we take
them quite as Il matter Of course and
rarely stop to think Of the mode of
life followed by our forefatheTs. Miss
Della Ladd reminded us of the differ
ence by picturing the dress and work
and play of the people ''In Old Colon
ial Times II was. an entertaining
picture. skillfully drawn, and fally
Justified Interpolation Miss Ladd en-
lows as one Of the brightest students
that has yet gone out from the school.
Miss Josie Hewitt spoke of the
Worlds Fair as - National Educa-
lor'' showing how it will afford Oppor-
tunitytora comparison OF the progress
Of the nations, and describing III a
highly entertaining way some of the
features of the great exposition.
American Manners was the title
OF witty and ingeniuS paper by Miss
Lily White. the gist of which was
that in the first place our manners
are all right, and in the second place,
If thew are not we have sense enough
to correct them whenever we have the
tire and think it worth while Miss
White spoke with rare cleaTneSs,
sweetness and compOSure, AID her
address was greatly enjoyed by the
audience.
he closing essay was 'Songs and
Singers" by Miss Nellie Warner, and
was one of the best Of the evening.
Beginning with a defense and eulogy
of poets generally, the speaker Outlln-
ed the development Of literature in
the United States, and closed with
rapid but lust characterization Of some
of our greatest American poets 1t
was an excellent address, pleasingly
and effectively delivered.
In presenting the diplomas Capt.
Ewing spoke briefly but happily, as
he always does, cOngratUlating the
class and admonishing its members
that the imperative duty laid upon
each Of them was to be useful, useful
to themselves. 10 their family and
friends. to the community and the
country.
After the presentation of flowers,
great baskets full Of them, and the
singing Of 4 merica, the audience was
dismissed with the benediction by
Rev. Shaley.
As should perhaps have been stated
in the beginning, but as has no doubt
been already discerned by the reader,
the central theme Of the evenings
program was America. The essays
were interspersed with patriotic mus
ic. rendered by double quartetJe as
sisted by the pupils of the High
School. and from beginning 70 end
Our Country was the one thought up
Dermost in every mind. 1t was a
happy idea to have it thus.
taken all the way through this
Tenth commencement, in the pertec-
fion ofall the details Of arrangement,
in the snloOthness with which every