The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1893-05-05
THE GLASS OF '93.
ELEVENTH ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT
OF THE lola HIGH SCHOOL.
MOT YEARS, BUT WISDOM .

=
Abbie B. Ewart Lotto A. Scott.
George Freeman. Willie II. scott.
RollO C. GrOesbeck Ella Taylor
Nelson Grubbs. Lucy l.. MOO0ln
The largest class that has yet grad
uated from the lola High School en-
tertained an audience on Tuesday
evening that filed every chair which
could be crowded into the Opera
House. The program was announced
to begin at $50. And it did. Less
than two thirds of the audience were
in their seats, but it would have be-
gun Just the same if less than one
third had been there. 1t is good
thing to have a lesson in punctuality
once in a while.
Prof Picken always has some CEN
trail theme for his Commencement.
Last year it was America. This year
it was American Literature, and the
audience received a lesson on that
delightful topic which not only enter
tanned but instructed them for three
hours.
After an invocation by Rev. Isaac
Hill and music by the Harpers Or
chestra. the lesson was begun by Miss
Anna Moore who rapidly but careful
Iy sketched the beginnings of Ameri-
can literature, calling to mind the
chief writers of the Colonial period.
The first place on any program is al
ways a most trying one, but Miss
Moore gave no evidence of embarrass-
ment, her graceful manner and rich
voice making very pleasant impress
sion upon her audience.
Miss Lottie Scott took up the theme
where Miss Moore left off, speaking of
the work done for A American literature
by Madison, Hamilton, Jay, Adams,
Henry, jefferson and other notable
writers of the Revolutionary period,
paying to each fitting tribute.
Miss Matte Eshbaugh concluded
the introduction in thoughtful and
discriminating essay devoted to
Irving Cooper, Poe, Paulding, and
Willis, the most famous authors of
the first half of the century.
The first recitation of the evening
was given by Mr.. Leveues Bostwick
and was an extract from r. H. Stod-
dord's fine criticism of Irving. Mr..
Bostwick has a pleasant, mellow
voice and made his authors meaning
very clear.
Mr.. Herbert Eshbaugh, the baby of
y
in brains) sketched the life of Bryant,
giving many interesting details and
quoting fine passages from some of
his best known poems. Herbert Esh-
baugh is only II years old, perhaps
the youngest graduate the school has
had, bit he is fine manly fellow
and will make his mark.
"LongfellOw and his Creations"
IL l. l., Ill,
by Miss Ella Taylor. The poet was
represented as entertaining at his
home in Cambridge a roOmful of the
characters he had created, each being
described by quotations from the
author. But even if the essay had |
been less interesting, it was so pleas |
ingly delivered that there could have |
been no room for criticism.
Miss Abbie Ewart continued in the
direction of Miss Taylor's essay by |
presenting a very cleyer paraphrase
of LOngfellow's "Hiawatha", telling
in graphic prose the charming story |
that the poet has set to music. 1t is
not as easy as it might seem at first |
blush to turn poem into prose and
still keep the breath of life in it, and
Miss Ewart's minutes talk repres-
ented, doubtless, good many hours
of close and careful work.
Miss Halle Irving made so modest
and pretty an appearance on the
stage and spoke so deliberately and
easily that it seemed quite natural
she should talk about the quiet
Quaker poet. She dwelt particularly
on the moral influence of Whittier's
poems and on the purity of his life,
and gave him the high rank he deser-
yes in American letters.
This essay was appropriately fol-
lowed by a recitation of Whittier's
well known poem, "Mabel Martin"
which was given with splendid effect
by Miss Bird Reimert.
Mr.. w. H. Scott gave brief bio
graphical sketch of Mrs. Harriet
Beecher Stowe and gave an interest
ing account of the way in which her
great book Uncle Toms Cabin"
came to be written and published.
Mr.. +. A. Jordan talked in a very
way for five minutes
about Emerson, sketching his life and
quoting very literally from his cpl !
grammatic comments on life and
things.
Mr.. w. B. Ledford occupied his q
time in giving an extract from Geo.
b. Smiths estimate of Hawthorne and
his works. Mr.. Ledford is fine,
young man and it {
was pleasure to hear him. '
Mr.. Nelson Grubbs presented well I
written biography of Oliver Wendall 7
Holmes, and Mr.. George DrumgOuld
with an extract from 1.-The d
Autocrat of the Breakfast Table"
These two young men are the first
eolored graduates from our school, G
md they have every reason to be =
proud of the part they took on this q
program and of their reception by the :
audience. Both did very well in :
Iced and received more applause per- 4
laps than was given to any others. a
1t is pretty hard luck for anybody
o be asked TO debate such a question
s English Writers versus American sc
Writer'S. 1t is on line with the
Fire VS. Water, and 1.-The Indian VS. sd
he Negro" questions, which ought to
ave been sent long ago to join the la
unce block, the ferule and other an
iduities in the limbo of discarded ed h.
cational paraphernalia. But MIR.
ieorge Freeman and Miss Lucy
Voodin bravely stood up for the
blawsted Britishers," although it w
,as easy to see their hearts were not ri
l it. and Miss Pearl Anderson and d,
LIZ. Willis Henderson enthusiastical- al
: champiOned the Americans. The al
rcuments on both sides were clever, al
lSenius and well put, and for so bad tr