The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1893-06-30
Common School commencement.

The exceedingly warm and sultry
weather did not prevent several hum
bred of their friends from gathering
in the Opera House last Friday even
ing to listen to the exercises of the
Common School graduates.
The music for the occasion was fur
nished by the Harpers Orchestra and
a quartette composed of Mrs. Reece,
Miss Power and Messrs Courtney and
Scott. The invocation was offered by
Rev. NJ. f. King of the Baptist
church.
The first speaker, Harry Bassett OF
Moran, held the closest attention OF
the audience from first to last word
of a we'll written summary off the
progress of the world in the last few
centuries. He cOntrasted past with
present most effectively in describing
modern improvements and methods
in schools and churches, railroads and
printing offices, but claimed that the
triumph of modern progress was to be
found in the wise and equitable gov
ernnents of the most enlightened ma
tions of today. The fine voice, perfect
enunciation and the manly, straight
forward carriage of the speaker made
a most pleasing impression on the
audience.
A very interesting description of
African climate, scenery and produc-
tions was next given by Miss Mamie
Barnett of Prairie Dell. This great
unknown country presents facinat-
ing field for study and the graphic
manner in which Miss Barnett touch
ed upon the most salient features in
her description, could not but rouse
her audience to still deeper interest.
Miss Barnett's quiet, graceful man.
and sweet voice charmed her hearers
into the closest attention.
The clear voice of Miss Anna Moon
ey, of District 40, made her easily
heard throughout the entire hall, as
she sketched rapidly and briefly the
career of such men as Gladstone,
Grant, Lincoln, etc., showing the
character of the marks" which they
had impressed upon the age in which
they lived and the people with whom
they came in contact. She spoke of
the fact that every life, however in
significant, leaves some kind of a
mark on the world and it behOOves
each one to notice well what the effect
of his or her life may be upon others.
Miss Daisy KnowltOn of Geneva,
followed with a pleasantly written
and gracefully delivered paper upon
success, in which she held that the
preparation of today is the infallible
measure of the success of tomorrow.
She touched upon prominent points
in the lives of many noted characters
showing how invariably every sue
cess had been preceded by years of
toll and preparation. Miss Knowl-
toms paper contained plenty of solid
truths, plainly and aptly told.
Miss Eliza Wilson of District 81, in
a quiet and unembarrassed manner
spoke most pleasantly upon her SUBJ
iect "Home" Home influence, she
said, is the most potent factor in after
success or failure The first bent
is given to the life and mind by child
hood companions and the character is
then made or marred. All the later
favors of fortune can never quite COM
pensate for a neglected and unhappy
childhood, for it will surely leave an
indelible mark upon the life.
A very pleasing variation was fur
nished in arecitation by Horace Paske
of District 50. The graphic interpre-
tation CT the thrilling story. and east
~ heard voice of the speaker held his
listeners in close attention TO the final
word.
The flowers which had been banked
upon the stage were distributed among
the graduates and Hon. +. ID. Lacy
addressed them briefly. He congrat-
Mated the class upon the perseverance
which had won them their well de-
served honOrs and with a few more
words of counsel and admonitiOn, pre-
scented them with the diplomas which
they had so fairly earned.
The entire program was very pleas
ing and reflected credit on all who
had place on it, by no means forget
ting Superintendent Jones who ar
ranged and managed it.