The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-05-26
THE STEPPING STONE
Graduating Exercises at the Opera
House Largely Attended.
ALL YOUNG MONTANANS
Speeches Which Proved the Ability
of Those Who Delivered Them
-Missoula Proud of Her
Aspiring Youths.

Missoula May 25.-The threatening
skies OF the early part of the day some
what dsmayed the graduates and
their friends, in whose exercises at the
opera house this evening centered so
| much interest. But, as the day ad-
vanced and no rain fell, they gained
hope and began in earnest the prepara-
] ton of the opera house for the days
! interesting exercises. When they had
completed this preliminary work, the
! opera house never presented more
1 attractive appearance. The stage was
beautifully decorated with cut flowers
and potted plants. and everywhere
were evidences of the interest taken by
the friends of the pupils whose course
OF studies in the public schools was to-
day completed.
| At . o'clock this afternoon the exer-
cises OF the eighth grade were held,
and the opera house was crowded with
/ friends Of these young people who have
completed the preparatory work or the
| public school course and who Will next
| fall enter the high school. This class
| is composed of the following pupils:
Belle Libbey. Gustavus Steward. Boil
den Steward. Dora Lehson. Frank
Jones. Jessie Booth, Fanny Maley,
Emma Swenson. MILFORD Trudeau, Guy
Morton. Belle Jameson. Bertha Logan.
Edith Ireland.
The exercises were extremely inter-
esting and all the parts We're well re-
ceived by the audience. The essays
showed thorough and careful prepara-
ton and the Rotations were well de-
livered. The members Of the class oc-
cupied seats on the stage, and the
afternoons exercises were promptly
and exeellently rendered throughout
The programme was as follows:
song. Brightly. Brightly" The class
Invocation.
Essay, THE Paradise OF the Pacific. ......
Observation-Disclosures. Gustavus Steward
Recitation. The Yankees Still Ahead.
Observation-Disclosures. Belle Llooey
Piano solo, Selected. George b. Villas
Essay, The Autocrat" ........ Emma swenson
Recitation, "Tne Felon's Wife,. Dora Lehson
Piano solo. selected .......... Miss Grace Grain
Essay. Territorial Development OF the
United states" .....-.......f anny Maley
Recitation. The Unknown speaker.
......................... FRANK Jones
Song Farewell TO Books" The class
Presentation of certificates e1oi i IL Ham ItoD
Benedictioh
The large audience that crowded the
opera house this evening was evidence
of the popularity of the young people
whose public school work was ended
by the receipt of their diplomas to-
night The class of 1895 leaves an ad-
mira BILE record for thorough and earn
est work and possesses the added merit
of being composed entirely of Montana
born girls and boys. Each of the young
people who received diploma this
evening is a native of the Missoula or
of the Bitter Root valley. Their whole
public school education has been re-
ceived in the local schools, and the ex-
cellence of their work reflects credit
upon the school system which has
graduated them with such high hon
ors
The class roll is as follows: Elsie
Reinhard. Lenore a. Rennick. Lynn
Kennedy. Lynde Catlin, Benjamin ;.
Stewart and Clifford Rittenour. The
class is the youngest ever graduated
from the Missoula High school, the
average age of its members being but
little over 16 years. The class OF 1879
is also interesting from the fact that
the boys outnumber the girls, a rare
case in Montana, where the girls take
more kindly to higher work in schools
than do the boys. 1t is gratifying 10
know that all of the members OF the
/ class will continue their studies. Miss
Rennick will at once assume the duties
| of teacher in the Bitter Root valley,
| and will later carry on the work which
| she has so successfully performed in
the High school. Miss Reinhard will
| enter the ST. Louis normal school ana
will take a thorough course in that in
/
/ work OF teaching. The boys, Kennedy,
Catlin. Rittenour and Stewart, will all
/ enter the state university this fall and
expect to complete the course in that
/ institution.
| The essays and orations this evening
were of a high standard of excellence
| and, If they may be taken as charac-
teristic OF the school work which the
| graduates have done, that work is
creditable indeed. The subject matter
of each was well prepared and the de-
livery was excellent. The programme
| was as follows:
| Eyangeist-fantaSla l.........-.....J Junior band
| Invocation.
| Salutatory--American Public schools. ......
.........................Cl Clifford H. Rittenour
| Piano solo-lmpromptu.. schubert
/ Miss Grace Grain.
The Builders OF Nations 60. e.. Lynn A. Kennedy
| The Victories OF Peace ..... Lenore \. RennicN
Selection 49,. Mandolin, Banjo and Guitar club
| The -cottish Bard Lynde ;. Catlin
| Electricity in Modern Life....................
/ .....................B Benjamin ID. stewart
Vocal solo selected 80. Miss Della Harding
Valed.ctory Uitra....... Elsie ;. Reinhard
Presentation OF diplomas. ....................
CT. Davis, president OF board of trustees
Quartet Moonlight WIN Come Again. ......
Mesdames Power and Collins. and Messrs.
Barnicoat and Francis.
| Clifford Rittenour. the president of
the class, chose for his subject the
American Public Schools" and intro
duced the class of 1895 as product of
the system of which he would speak.
The speaker traced the history of the
public schools from the small begin
| nings in Massachusetts, New York and
| Virginia, TO the present magnificent
! systems Of the "A states, crowned in
each with "a university.
In the colonial days, when ''lickin'
| and larnin' went together. the school
master was expected not only to teach,
but If he wished to live comfortably
| he must also add to his duties those of
grave digger and bell ringer. The orr
| gin Of our sYsInm of higher educa-