The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-06-08
HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI r1EETING.

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bers 1874, about half of whom were
present at their annual banquet at
the High school on Saturday evening.
The social literary and banquet
features were excellent. Miss Flora
Wise opened the program with an in
strumental solo, after which Miss
Corinne Jacoby read a bright spark
ling poem.
Miss Daisy Wallace gave a good
recitation.
Miss Marie Chapman read well pre-
pared history of the Alumni. 1t told
the story of the life and occupation of
each member of the entire nineteen
classes who have passed out of the
High school since 1875. Six of the
number are dead, and the rest are
scattered the world over.
Mr.. G. E. Goodell, of the class of
1885, gave the Alumni grafton on
'"The Duties of Citizenship" The
following are some of the points
made:
The assertion is frequently made
that our schools are not fitting young
men for the business of active life.
This is true in sense. There is an
evidenti lack of harmony between the
spirit of our schools and that of prac-
tical politics. Independence is the
central figure of our modern system of
education. But independence is
scarcely thought of and little appre-
ciated in the sphere of politics. The
purpose of the address was to warn the
student that in all discharge of all the
duties of citizenship, he should re-
main true to the training he has re-
ceived within these halls. Many of
the demands of political parties are
calculated to interfere with his indie
pendence Of thought and action, but
they should not be needed. These are
perilOuS times and demand the faith
ful discharge of our duties as citizens.
NOtthen as Hannibal, Once standing on
the frozen crown of the Alps pointing
to the sunlit plains of that fair pc
ninsula, sought to revive the dropping
spirit Of his soldiers as he exclaimed:
men! you stand today upon the
acroprOliS of Italy. YOnder lies Rome"
Not SO would L address you tonight,
but rather would say: Friends, we
stand today upon the foothills of mod
ern civilization. Directly athwart our
path to progress tower the mighty
Alps of social diStruSt and national
discomfort. We must conquer or be
conquered" The address closed with
an appeal in all things to place country
above party, never sWering from the
conscientious observance of our duty
as citizens.
After vocal solo by Philip Helmer
all adjourned to the hall below where
an elegant banquet was served.
Prof. G. +. KenaStOn was the toast
master of the evening and introduced
the post-prandial speeches by some
stories full of wit and humor, closing
with an earnest eulogy on the worth,
work and uses of the Public schools.
The worth of the Public schools to
each individual, home, church, good
cause, to society, state and the nation
is beyond computation. The High
school is no less valuable to all classes.
1t is the poor mans college, Business
and Normal school, carrying the ele-
ments of science, literature, history
and the arts to individuals, homes and
circles, where the light of the higher
studies could not come without it.
How much good has the High school
done for you, your home and social
circle? How much it is doing for
every good cause and institution in our
city. Let all do their uttermost to
raise our high school to the highest
plain, with the broadcast and best
course of study, and keep our young
people in until they graduate.
'"The High School Boy" was re-
sponded to by Miss Florence Soule, in
happy and witty manner. 'The
High School Girl" was the subject of
rich talk by Herman Schmitt. Dr.
E. j. Davis, of the board of education,
made thoughtful and tender address
on "The Glass of '94," and the eXer-
cises were closed by a felicitous talk
by Mrs. Ben. ID. Smith
The annual banquet was replete
with good things for all.