Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1894-06-28
Elk Point High School Graduates
Presented to the Public.
They Honor Their Teachers and Ire
Received With Applause,
The Opera House Crowded Pull to Listen
10 the Programme.

AA~ L
Point high school.
The stage was beautifully decorated
with flags, bunting and potted plants
scattered here and there. On the left
side OF the stage, surrounded by palms
and ferns, resting upon an easel, w. a
large-sized photo Of the late Prot. H. G.
Frye. When the evenings entertain
ment began the stage was filed with
those taking part. On one side was
the school board, Messrs. Gilmore,
Talcott and Bovee, and on the opposite
side Prof. Miller and assistants. In
the center, facing the audience, was
the graduating class, Will 9. Talcott,
Carrie Murphey and Harry G.. Joy.
Back OF them was the next class lower
in grade.
was an overture by the orchestra COM
aad Hoffman, with Miss May Miller at
the piano.
After an invocation by Rev. A.
Jameson, the B class rendered a cho-
rus. "The World Is Not Wholly For
saken."
viii C. Talcott then delivered a
Latin salutatary, indicating a wonder
full readiness, for one SO young, in the
dead language. Mr.. Talcott is only
II years Of age, but for all OF that
reeled of his Latin composition with
the same ease for which the monks OF
the thirteenth century were noted.
After a solo by the first primary
under the direction Of their music
teacher, Rev. A. NJ. Pipes, Miss Carrie
Murphey delivered the English salu-
tatary. 1t was well written, nicely de-
livered, giving Inference to many
beautiful thoughts.
The instrumental duet by Misses
Ringsrud and Smythe from Gobbaerts'
"Pluie de Corral" was the pleasing
event Of the programme. The young
ladies are accomplished musicians.
PURPOSE IN LIFE.
Harry G.. Joy delivered the first ora
ton, the subject Of which was "A Pur.
pose in Life" The speakers delivery
was good, his voice being clear and
could be heard in all parts Of the room.
The composition of the grafton speaks
for itself and is full Of splendid
thoughts.
In all that God created there was a purpose.
The creation Of the material world was for the
purpose Of bringing about the incarnation of
Christ. The purpose Of the heavens Is to declare
, the glory of Ghd and the armament to show
forth Ills handiwork. The purpose OF the moon
is to give light by night aud that OF the sun to
give light and heat to the material world. Gods
purpose in creating man was TO have given unto
Himself all honor and glory. and through mans
own efforts, by will and purpose. to prove him
self the rOwning piece of Gods workmanship.
Our Creator had a purpose in everything that He
did. and as He created man after HIS own like.
ness and made Himself u guide and example,
why should not man have purposes and aims
in life?
upon as u time when all meditatiOns of care and
| trouble, rrflectlOnS and plannings and purposes
and aims for the future are ~furtllest from the
onward and the ~carefree child energies into
| manhood. thoughts and prospects III the busy
future are brought windy 10 the mind. There
is a charm In opeuing manhood and wOmanhood
which has attracted the imagination in every
age. II is the beginning al life in the sense Of
independent and seifsupporting action: Hitherto
aud dependent existence. a home discipline
Of authority and guidance and communicated
impulse. But henceforth 1t Is a transplanted
tivlty. In which the handspring Is no longer
authority or law from without, but individual
principle and Judgment from within. lie has
and fortunes Of this busy world. His destiny
Is in his own hands, and he has the power to
rise to the highest round OF prosperity and
ity and vice. II a determined person, he will
! l::.ve some purpose to attain and will never !c:
ANY distractions turn him from ills path which
by a clear and steady brain. But. II u person
| who has nothing In life but aims. he Is as Il
bundle OF resolutions Away making resolves.
laying plans and having such good intentions
that one could not improve upon them. Their
| aims are Oftehtimes high, bus very wide Of the
] mark, because they do nothing that would cause
Such persons live transitory lives. Having no
purpose. they have no nucleus about which to
materialize their highly cOncepttve aims. aud
they drift nither and thither like the chatf
driven about by every wind Today he may
conceive SONS high ambition and direct his
plans and actions toward the eminence at
which he aims. but tomorrow some new ideas
aud schemes present themselves and away he
goes to dabble III this or that. which the man Of
purpose would shun a. = pestiilence. Such
people, 1t might truly be said. live In air castles.
These IRE IA much Out Of proportion rs their
acts in life. Their castles are usually OF Babel
dimensions. but lack the solid foundation of
purpose consequently their plans never mate
~rialize, but tOpp.e into obscurity for want OF
sufficient support to bring them to perfection.
,, rhoss ws9 % have awe no ptanr |ss I, w me 40 ot TO-, apply r'Sy
up aiming and drift upon the tide OF other peo-
pies determined will and purpose. ~ the light
cork floats upon the stream. Their lives are
similar to the blind mans tune played upon
broken strings.
BMt the man Of purpose IS as strong as Samp.
son, "when lie bowed himself with all his
might" Failure and disaster are ~ stranger Ia
them. Their resolution and purpose are held
together by an iron will. forged and welded by
force ia their ~ nature. Like the stream. When ! !;
comes to the mill dam II IL for y time stopped
in Its onward course. but there Is . force be
until at last the obstacle In its way is sur
mounted. and the water leaps onward unim
peded; so 1t Is with the man Of purpose. He
like other men, " constantly coming ia contac,
with obstacles, which. Il" the improvident
would be as the lofty Alps; but before his de
termined vision they become as mere mounds
attempted to accomplish anything he WAS moi
like most persons, deferred by the diiiiculttes OF
his undertaking, but persevered until success.
To those Of deep, determined purpose but few
human obstacles exist that can not be overcome
Napoleon said impossible Is an adjective q
fools" and we know that with him mature ha(
no obstacle that he did not strmount. space NJ
opposition that he did not spArn." Decision
flashed upon his connsels. and it was the sam,
7 e brink Of the Rubicon: Did he Think Of turn
ing back or relentinR? No: He had \ plrpos,
t. iuinli: Rome must be taken: The die VIA.
free no more. Did Hannibal allow the lofty AM
perilcus Alps to stand between him aud the DIES
ytl8ttOb WHICH lie ING Resolved 70 Fe8EDy No
He crossed. though II cost him unknown suffer
ing and loss. Over halt Of his vast arm!
persisted from cold and hunger, yet he was no
disheartened but pushed forward to attempt b
fulhll the VOW which he had AIKEN In his yOutl
that was. to destroy the hated Roman rxce.
So It Is with every man who has made wha
we call hts marx IN this world. He has had
purpose to attain. = duty 70 accomplish. Was!
ingion's purpose was 10 free this American
nation from the cruel. tyrannicai. power Of
haughty. selfsh Kingdom. With what patienc
and perseverance, Lincoln lAbored to bring xbOu
the purpose which he had determined to accom-
plish the emancipation Of the siav6S-thos
who knew him can only know.
II we would sa.cce~d IN life. nothing Is NOR
necessary than q Arm foundation upon which t
J bui,d our hopes and desires. purposes and d.
term!naitons. The .~touh6ation once laid Az
; stNcles along the path " victory VIII become y
mere str1ws before n strong gale.
1t Is true all car not becOine Caesars, Ham
, balls. WashinktOns. Lincoins. Txlmages q
Mn0dys but that ID NO reason why We shout
be Booths. Grtteaua. Pend-rgasts or Coxeyttei
Tiers u An honorable place an this earth d
III. but only thMse who aet out with an EOaO,
T. L.