The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1894-06-29
commencement

As early as half-paSt SIX edneSday
evening people began gathering at the
Rink TO enjoy the commencement eXer-
cises of the class of '94, and before eight
O'Clock every available inch of room had
been occupied and no less than fifteen
hundred people awaited anXiously the
appearance of the class. Meantime they
examined the decorations of the stage
and found much there to admire. The
stage was divided into four divisions.
On the extreme right was an alcove for
the singers and teachers; the center was
reserved for the class; next on the left
was a recess for the school board and
clergy, and on the extreme left and
little forward was an apartment for the
orchestra.
Suddenly the forward arc light was
turned off and the stage was ablaze
with "a myriad of incandescent lights.
In the rear was IA representation of the
rising sun composed of the class colors;
over this were group of lights form
ing the figures "'94," ," and over the front
was suspended the motto "What Next"
At S:lS, accompanied by the strains
of the orchestra, the class marched in.
After prayer by Rev. Warren, the or
chestra rendered fine selection COM
posed by one of its members.
Irmah Wilcox stepped forward and in
few well chosen words delivered the
salutatory She extended hearty well
come to all, and said, What an unso-
cial world this would be were there no
salutatiOns or greetings" Comparing
the class to soldiers, she said, I'VE are
here before you for the final rev lew"
Following her classmate came Daisy
Orr and, by giving in brief the early
history of Rome, showed that that
mighty city twas not built i'm day"
Thus it is with our lives; not by one
herculean effort can we accomplish
great ends, but it takes years of patient
labor directed toward one special Oh
ject.
Heights by great men reached and kept
Were not attained by sudden flight"
The vocal duet rendered by Messrs.
Jennings and Hoyt needs no comment
here, as the gentlemen are well known
to Paw Paw audiences.
"The power of music" was handled
by Estella Hutchins in a manner that
showed that she plainly understood the
power hidden meath gentle strains.
Even Nero, when yielding To the mag
ic spell of music was nearly human
+" Music has oftimes swayed power
when physical force availed not"
By many examples drawn from the
lives of those near us, Ralph Jones il
lustrated the evil effects of Wasted
Resources. The speaker evidently had
examined closely the workings of hu-
man nature. Labor is the lot of man
and the law of his being" Man should
be thrown upon his own resources in
order that the finer qualities of self
reliance, decision of character, and en-
ergy, may be brought into more active
use and more perfect development.
DIR. Hoyt then sang solo and was
heartily encored, but did not respond.
The "Class History" was delivered by
George Andrews, and his method of
handling his subject was rather treat,
being out of the stereotyped line. His
hidden expressions. sometimes in irony.
were very keen. He dealt with the class
as whole rather than with each one
individually Much humor was dis
played by him at times and he left the
impression that the class of '94 was in
deed wonderful organization
Americas possibilities and peris"
were discussed by Matte Cooley. She
pointed out the various perils we are
exposed to, but advanced the argument
that all these can be successfully coped
with by the American people. She used
The quotation that I'm America are not
many sovereignties in one common
wealth, but many commwealths in one
united sovereignty" Enlarging upon this
idea, she claimed that American was
destined to be the most populous coun-
try on the globe.
Lotta Showerman introduced her es-
say by giving history of the building
of Solomon's temple, which was con-
"a. ..f Il
mer." Every stone was cut with math-
ematical exactness at the quarries, and
fitted perfectly when brought to the
spot Thus it is with wondrous deeds
they are accomplished so silently that
we are not aware of their inception un-
til they suddenly spring forth in all
their splendor and glory.
Miss Mildred Carlisle, in an imaginary
trip in an air ship in 1915, found mem
bers of her class in various positions.
Surely, if her prophecy" be true,